The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-02-03
Repeating the Test OathS.

The roin, Pleasant Register thinks
that the test oathS, rs applied to law
ycrS, teachers and suitorS. Ei"ht, with
advantage. bc aS well repealed now. a.
Il; any future time: especially tn"
su::n:S oath. which, the editor SAYS.
serves ~ foster r&.r:!isy. He
thinks. however, in regard to the Oil
rrrs oathS and the di>.innrhi>inI laws
they should hr lc;t rs :hcy arr far I"
rr.y imicfaiIc rrriOl Eut the Wells
burg N:iw'd is inclined - think thu;
even they might be modified with
advantage ii no, repealed. Speaking
Of III; QUESTION the Ncr"id says:
The tendency o.: ia" A." is in that
direction an,l i, is generally better 10
do voluntarily and with Il COOL @rnr".
wilma, ultimately VIZ will very certainly
be- impr!Ird to do l'y public opinion.
Tie raI.yin~ cry OF the Gran; rtm-
pai.n w@S " IT,; lis have peace; that
was thu .rniimrn, Ut the nation unmi>-
tahah,y Expressed, and We never can
have il Il. =. cher" Away, will br Il bit
t"rnrs, in party STRIFE. while such
laws rc;apim in force. the feeling in
favor Of homu%"nity i bound (" grow
a",i raaan, be- rrpr">>r,, and the party
that oppu>r- it. i >hnT->ightrd ~ ere
The old alvoaa;e, OF slavery. ANIL wiii
20 20 the wall.
We rannu; SAY that wc would favor
,"uv great haste in thu matter o. re-
act:in. these ,l!SquaiiticatiOnS. but W.
would favor the Republican party OF
West Virginia Keeping fully abreast OF
tie spirit OF the age in i h"ra!lly to-
war, the reconstructed rebels.
We here talk: occasion TO SAY 10 our
home rrbrl>. that while we favor lib
crafty. NOW. We do il merely because
we think the time for lihrrallty has
come. The laws were all right when
enacted, have answered their purpose
and NAV now b. modified or repeated.
as i, strikes the mind: OF the men wl"
made lhrm. We think the tiiac has
about come.
We should br .iad to see the mos!
liberal action taken by the Legislator"
if only exception of i Few non-rccon-
>,ruc,cl rebels and sta"-at-holnc trait
urs could b. made. We are certainly
ia :avnr o; the repeal OF the suitorS
test DATA, provided i: can be done III
>uck way ,l::; suits for damage. &c.
nav no: 20 opened or rc-opcncl. AS
regards Attorneys and teachers il,
might be well TO allow them to pursue
;hc:r PROFESSIONS on iiiinS petition
with the Circuit Court, such as is now
required to he presented To the Lcgis-
larurr rrnouucing secession, sc.
Blu. with the example of Maryland
and Kentucky before Us. i. will be wei!
for n t" "n,kr hast" slowly i'll the
matter Of sna'rl.". food citizenship
for u limited number OF years. (>ay five.
mor" or less. since quitting the Con.
. :rhrra,r <rryicr}. including the rcco@-
n;'ina and support o: all laws. might
10. substituted for the present test in
, the c:r<c ef;ho<c now dis!ranchiScd by
way Of Constitutional Amendment
to ~ proposed BY the present Legisia-
tire. II should. however, be under
stood that this comes voluntarily from
! the people who were loya! to the Gov
rrulnrnt. AMI not TO be claimed rs i
fright" bv those now ,lisGrarchiscd.
: One thing. we can't do worse iniost-
ire to ourselves than by failing to lr;
honest men who were led oil into the
! rebellion. but who have rcnounccd It's
hrrrsic.. know that the Union Rrpub-
li,rn party ur" disposed to treat them
x;.t the crates, possible libc,T'i,y.
! az sI:c Chicago .post-oiicc during
: ,Shs there ..ere GB.G5x,5SO letters sent,
! 49,, 4 Ill