The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-24
Dailp Argus.
Tuesday Evening, August "a, 1859.
THE TEST OATH IN VIRGINIA.

ouired by the reconstruction Legislation OF
Congress is to be administered to the mem
bers elect of the Virginia Legislature is ag''
tsting, to an unusual degree, the whole fra
terpity of political quidnuncs. The tele.
graph makes an even tally of any even num-
Der of days on the question, one day assert. |
ing it will be required and the next that it |
will not be. Political papers in every sec
ton of the country give the question its full |
1t is discussed from almost
every point of view, but chiefly by Demo
cratic papers from the implied pledge OF
the administration that this odious oath and
remnant of disgraceful proscrptiyeness
should not be exacted. 1t is said by many
that there we're positive assurances that The
indulgence of this belief on the part OF
some interested parties should not prove
delusion, aud that in this way several be-
came candidates and were elected to the |
Legislature Of Virginia, who would not 9th
erwise have stood in the way of the eiiec'
tive success of the Conservatives. Kepuo'
lican papers on the contrary aver that the
pledges of the administration were OF
very general character, and did not warrant
the conclusions drawn from them, and that
as Virginia is merely in q transitory state
between military district and State, it is
emineutly right and proper for the test oath
to be administered.
il seems to US that among iair.minded
people there can be but one feeling on this
question, when the whole case is considered.
A convention, called together under the obi
Gus and proscriptve measures OF Congress-
had met and formed q constitution which
contained rs qualification for Office al
oath which was dsgraceful to the civiliza
ton of the age, as well IS to the men VINO
framed and proposed it as clause OF the
fundamental law of one Of the Oldest States
in the Union. For some reason, proper or
improper, no opportunity was allowed the
people OF the State to vote on the adoption
or rejection of the instrument till the public
sentiment Of the country cried out against
not even allowing them to avail Themselves
Of the privileges Of laws passed to punish
them. Populaf feeling also revoted
against the proscriptiveness of the proposed
constitution. This feeling Of the country
or these two features of the situation in
Virginia made itself felt in Congress and in
the Executive Department Accordingly
legislation was had authorizing the Presl.
dent to order an election, submit the pro-
posed constitution, and to submitthe partlc'
ularly Objectionable features separately. 1t
is asserted that he promised to submit al
the features TO which the people Of Virgins
ia their local pride and self.respect objected
but it is enough for the purpose
of this article that he did submit thos
clauses of the constitution containg the oh
jectionable oaths prescribed for officers anc
voters, to a separate vote. These clauses
were overwhelmingly rejected, in On cleo
ton which the military master OF the pee
pie voting, declared was perfectly fair an
free, except so far as it was deprived Of Il
latter character by the Legislation Of Co
gress, and his duty under it, Now, Il
Legislature chosen at the same time is
be assembled. BY the very terms and Of
jects Of the reconstruction measures doe
not this body sit as the first Legislature III
der the new constitution? Where are tb
duties of this body defined, if not in tn
new constitution? 1t will not be argue
that their qualifications as to age, residence
terms OF service, compensation, or indeed i
any other respect whatever, are to be sough
for outside Of the constitution under whic
they are to be called together. 1t woul
seem to be the climax Of absurdity to SUI
nit to the people the question whether the
would ratify clause of the constitutio
prescribing q great part of them from hole
ing office, and when it has been overwhelu
ingly voted down, then to insist on admin
lstering to them the parent Of the We,
measure just revolted against, and by
turning away from the halls of legislat
the very men through whose influence a
exertions the obnoxious clause was defeatt
Without any reference to pledges or fairne
BY the party in power; the law, if the aut
ors of the reconstruction measures OF Coz
gress insist that they are law, construed b
well-established rules of construction, a
well as justice and common sense, forbid
that any other oath or test of qualification
for membership in the Virginia Legislator
shall be required Of them than is prescribe
by the constitution under which the body
TO engage in the business of legislation.
The adoption Of constitution under IL
reconstruction measures is compile
change of status; il is a sloughing off
the old man Of sin and putting on of II
new man OF modern political righteousness
according to Radical theology, and when
ia insisted that this new man shall come in
the enjoyment of his new liberty, rnanacl lie
and shackled with all the insignia Of II
old military dispensation, not only pain
Bile absurdity but shameless outrage is a
yocated.