The Lincoln County herald., 1870-10-06

really tniuk u vaIuaOIc, uuu VIII sAotcn
the outline, barely depict hy q stroke OF
two of the pencil, "its old, familiar face"
as it has been looking upon us through
passing years.
THE TEST OATH PROSECUTIONS.
remember with psinful distinct ocss
one of the earliest transactions Of the rev
government. Iu1s4O.l made the nc.
quaintanre Of o MIR. Highland, in Marion
county, n very interesting man, and con-
tracted for him strong personal attach
ment. He was farmer of slender means
and poor health, unlettered but talented,
and more than once he expressed to me
his great anxiety 10 secure for his chill
drcn On education, as the best legacy he
could leave them. Mr.. Highlond died
just before o. soon nfter cane to reside
in this place. In 1865 received letter
from, Anna Highland, daughter Of my
old friend. 1t seems that be had left this
orphan daughter with no other means
than what education she had got, to mako
her way through the world as best she
could. l learned from this young girls
letter tnat she was teaching a school for
livelihood, and had been arrested by
the State officials for not taking the test
oath. She could pay no fee, but appealed
to me as her fathers friend to defend her.
did defend her, aud successfully; and
I regard the fact as an honor of my pro-
fcssional lite. l believe Miss Highland
was a short time imprisoned. l know
she was prosecuted and prosecuted till
October, 1867, and then acquitted.
A TERRIBLE ENGINE OF POLITICAL. TERROR
The arrest ard prosecution Of tender,
innocent girl for most honorable and
praiseworthy action, converted into cru
city by the Radicals, made lasting i'm
preston on my mind Of the folly, wicked.
ness and cruelty of the test. oath govern
ment and its principles. How many
such prosecutions there were know not
but they we're not few. Such use O!
power could serve no legitimate end Of
government but as an engine Of terror
political thumb screw to aid in promot
ing party purposes, power over the
means Of the living cannot be overestl
mated.
PARTISAN PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH,
A similar provision demanding of al
ministers of the gospel to renew thei'
license to preach by conforming to the
requirements ofthe Radical party, sent i
panic into every portion Of the State
Many ministers could not take the "test
oath," because it would be false in thci
case. But these claimed the right, i
they were the greatest criminals in The
world, to worship God according to thu
dictates of conscience. Others coulc
truly take it, but were conscieutiously
opposed to receiving their commissions
from tho Radical party and not from
Carist. The plea OF piety and para
mount authority of Christ's headship o.
the church was rejected.
RADICALIsM PARAMOUNT TO RELIGION
The Radical law was inexorable. Non
confirming ministers were s;lcneed thei
nocks scattered. their churches broker
up wherever the law was enforced. Th'
religious sentiment is perhaps the mos
intense and enduring that human mature
knows. 1t was the purpose of the Radi-
cal faction to crush the religious feeling
of their political opponents between tn
upper and the neither milestone. Tn,
torture was never more skillfluly di
rected. You remember the scope of it
prohibitions, embracing bishops, priests
deacons, ministers, elders and clergyme1
Religious people beheld with di,may tn
assertion Of principles by the Radical fac
tion, which, if carried out, would abolls
the Christian chsrch in twelve States O
tie Union, and among eight millions Q
+ people.
q THE GROWING INFAMY OF ALL.
But tho &C: Of injustice transcendin
all others, was committed when som
sixty odd persons composing the conveI
ton Of 1864 5, mutually attained an
! disfranchised two.thirds Of the constitu
: ents who elected them, and destroye
j. popular government in Missouri. Th
disfranchised clause literally embrace
:; only rebels and rebel sympathizers, br
= the faction have SO manipulated their re.
istrars, as to exclude from suffrage, fro
: fifty to a hundred thousand voters. III
preteuse that the persons so excluded al
' either rebels or rebel sympathizers
= false. notoriously false. Everybod
= knows 1t is false. This fragrant erin
against liberty lies at the door of i
> perpetrators and will be there till the gel
: eral judgment. 1t has been rare indee
J that an act so unjust, SO regardless Of ii
moral censure of the world has been con
s mitted even by a faction. While th
disfranchisment continues, the majori
c of the people of Missouri have no righ
g but such as the faction grants them
r their voice is not heard their will is n
Q expressed or recognized. They are lee
). islated for and taxed without Representa-
It ton, and are now powerless to CORE
Is sbuses or direct any thing concerning the
n most important interests.
UNPARALLELED PLUMBER OF THE PUBL
ls PURSE
le To 49,. A.. Al