Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-17

said he snail not bdk6 tHe UScI
oath, but another which it has pre-
scribed. If there is any question, 1t
is whether Congress will stultify it
self. Are we to act On the presump-
ton that it will legislate for the relief
of an individual, and then, having re-
lieved him, refuse to allow him to be
sworn in on the terms especially pro-
vided and prescribed by itself? This
would be a procedure barefaced and
damning enough to dig the political
grave of any party capable of it. We
do not believe the Infamous Radical
party itself dare do it. And we think
that, if it should, it would be Demo-
cratic capital worth more than a mem
Der of Congress. But the Committee,
in its answer, has gone farther than it
was asked to do, and urges as safest
that lone should be elected who can
not take the test oath, because the
clerk would not do his sworn duty to
enroll them, and thus they might be
prevented rom participating in the
organization. fla few days delay in
the admission of a Representative was
a matter of grave importance, and it
was indispensable he should be pres
ent and participate in the organiza-
ton, this objection would seem in
s~uperable, on the supposition of mall
feasance by the clerk. But electors
may prefer, and have a right to
choose, if they will, one liable
to be kept out a few days by
an unscru pulous clerk, in preference
to one who never sympathized with
them in their late struggle and COM
mon distress, and who would be
therefore more readily admitted.
The admission of either would be
equally certain after more or less de-
lay in one case or the other. Obsta-
cles may in like manner be thrown in
the way of any Democrat. AS to
that we must take our chances. But
we are unwilling to advise to such eX-
treme timidity, as calls for making
low Obeisance in the presence of a
purchasable clerk, who, for aught we
know, in view of the upheaval of
public sentiment throughout the
North, may be siding over to the
Democratic side already. If a
man whom Congress has par
doned will not be admitted
to his seat on taking the oath which
Congress has especially prescribed for
him, and on which it has been its
practice without objection promptly
to admit others we may as well choose
blind, for we know not what true
Democrat it would admit. The case
Of Dr. Leftwich is entirely unlike this.
He was elected triumphantly. But
he went to Washington withouta GER
tifcate and as a contesting candidate.
In a 5 of electing a man now who
had been relieved by Congress, he
will go with his certificate in his
hand and offer to take the very oath
which Congress has provided he
should take, and which the clerk will
pejure himself by ~neglecting his sworn
duty if he refuses to administer.
Under this opinion of the Executive
Committee, the issue presented is,
whether we shall venture to risk the
exclusion of our member elect for a
few days of organization, or whether
we shall elect n who stood neuter
during the war, and against whom
some other objection may influence
the clerk, 0nlyin order to secure more
prompt admission to a seat. A man
who sided with and aided the south
ern people, when even ''union" men
stood, like Preston and Smith, by
their State, their brothers and friends,
right or wrong, was, and we may he
lieve is, at least a tried friend, and
capable of being a true represent
alive. We will not speak as the
partisan for any candidate before
the Convention. Nor viii we consent
that this opinion of Mr.. Randall about
50 small a matter az whether the
member elect should be present at the
organization, should prevent the cleo
ton of either candidate in the field for
nomination. We like prudence, and
consent to the extreme of prudence in
some cases. But when it goes so far
as to prevent our eating for fear Of
getting choked, or speaking for fear
Of the bronchitis, we think it is time
to venture a little toward the edge of
What we desire is a salts
factory selection of a representative
man, such as is legally entitled to a seat
in Congress. Such a man we are will
ling to risk. If he has been under
disabilities we shall know that he has
sinned and suffered with ourselves.
If he is a Southern man and has no
disabilities we shall know that he
must take the following oath:
lido solemnlyt swear, that / have never
held the Office or exercised the duties Of a
Senator or Representative in Congress,
nor been q member of the Legislature of
any state Of the United States, nor held
any civil Office created By law for the adj
mlnistratlon of any general law of a
state, or for b administration of Justice
IN anrr GNnHn - 49, 81
United States, and thereafter engaged in
instruction or rebellion sgainst the Uni
ted States. or gave aid or comfort to its
enemies, or rendered, except in conse-
quence of direct physical force, any sup-
port or aid to any -insurrection or rebel
lion against the United States, nor held
any office under or given any support to
any government Of any kind organized
or acting in hostility to the United States,
or levying war against the United States.
help me God.
In Georgia the question raised is
not whether persons whose disabili-
ties have been removed are eligible.
Nobody doubts that. But the .ques-
ton is rather whether any man
capable =of the &" fron-elad n can
at all truly represent the
Southern people. The Atlanta Intel
igeloer fully as high authority AYERS
that there are no Democrats in Geor-
.ia willing to support n of the iron
clads. 1t demandst to know if there is
any Demoeratie journal in the State
which viii support a man who avows
that if elected be can and will take