Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-06

ci,v. ia authorized TO act IS Northern
advertising agent of the PUBLIC LEDGER.
ATTORNEY GENERAL HOAR AND
THE TEST OATH.
After a months consideration, the At
toruey General Of the United States has
rendered bis decision as to whether the
newly elected members to the Virginia
Legislature will be required to take the
test oath. The opinion is ambiguous,
and is scarcely ineligible after three or
four times careful perusal What is in
tended by greater part of it cannot be
OWNED and what was decided. we will
venture to say that Hoar himself don't
know. There is, nevertheless, one thing
certain, that the opinion is rs
easily understood as the doubtful
position of Virginia, for no one
can determine, according to Radical
rnling. whether the old commonwealth is
in or out of the Union, whether State
or O territory.
We are aware that Virginia ia subject
10 the laws of Congress and to military
dietstion until she is assigned her proper
Mace in the Union again; but until that
time how the act Gratifying the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States can be regarded as legal is
incomprehensible. The Old Dominion
ia either in or out of the Union. Hin the
Union, then, according to DIR. Hoars
opinion, the State may prescribe the quar-
iiication of its own members TO the Legis'
lature; but if out of the Union, then it
ia a military district, subject to the recon-
struction laws, and the test oath pre-
seribed therein. But at this particular
iuncture, the Attorney General fsiis to be
as clear az we would desire, in informing
us whether be regards the State IN or out
of the Union, when it's Legislature shall
meet to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment,
previous to its scceptsticn by Congress
as member Of the Federal family. 1T
free to legisaie upon the subject OF ratlt-
cation, then Congress has no authority
to prescribe the test oath or any other
qualification to the members OF the Leg
islature. For we hold that the act of en-
dorsipg this Constitutional amendment
is the act of sovereign, which Virginia
could not be with the miserable test oath,
like milestone, swinging about its neck.
The opinion of Attorney General Hoar,
IL it means anything, would convey the
idea that the Legislature of Virginia may
meet together for the one purpose of rat
flying the Fifteenth Amendment, and its
members not be required to take the test
oath; but for no other act of legislation,
or to do anything else whatever, can it
assume to legislate. That, we say, is as
clear as mud, and no doubt the PROPOSE
iicn. suits the state; and being
of the Attorney Generals mind, for it
is never in any position than one of dark.
ness. Like the load, he is fond of hiding
himself in the secret recesses of some
dark spot, where prying eyes may not
discover his ugliness, nor look on the
deformities of his stature. But we will
pull the gentleman out from his hole
where he would hide the villainous doings
Of himself and party. Why is it that the
members of the Legislature just elected
by the people Of Virginia will not be re-
quired to swallow the test oath when
that body meets before the State is
accepted aud recognized. by Con-
eress2 This body Of men certainly
do not meet under the Constitution Of
Virginia, for ihsi is an inApimate exist
euce, and will remain such until Con-
gress shall have breathed into it the
breath of life. Then If the Legislature
meets to take action on the one single
thing Of rAiifying the amendment alluded
to, il derives its only power of legislation
from The act Of Congress authorizing it
to DO 10, which enactment never once
aIludes to the test oeth. We would like
again to know how it is that Virginia
can perform free act, when st the time
her people are enslaved by the manacles
of Congress and its agent, General
Canby2 What farce is reconstruction.
What a miserable mockery is it upon
republication to pretend people are
free. and yet make them perform the
most designating aud distasieful acis, which
every impulse Of Southern nature revolis
at This is. perhaps, the peace that Gen.
Cant alludes to in his letter of accept
sncs 10 the Republican committee. lis
the quiet bnly of death, which has be-
fallen liberty At the hands Of iyrsHt.
The devil appears to have got into the
r.rro preachers OF Alabama OF late.
Psv Peter Goode, Of Montgomery, Rev
Henry Morgan, Of Demopolis, and Rev
Henry jackson. Of Snmmerheld, are
cbarced with rape, or attempts commit
repe. on the persons Of negro children
Henry jackson was hound oyer % las