The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-01-31
| NJ Z, repeating the Teachers Test oath,
nar nut upon lis ,.rond rehling.


NJ Z, repeating the Teachers Test oath,
wa, put upon ITS second rending,
Mr.. Wheat moved to amend by prefxirg
preamble. r.siting that diversity Of
opinion exists among the County Superin-
tendea.s as to what constitutes loyalty"
many deening the Oath the test, and that
many persons known to have aided the
rebellion, having taken the oath, were en-.
gagged in teaching,
Mr., Lamb stated that the preamble
simply expressed the opinion of the mem
her from Morgan, that his (Mr. Lambs
side Of the House being in minority they
must put up with such liberal measures US
they could get. and that i no better could
be done, be supposed they would have to
swallow the preamble for flc sake Of the
repeal.
Mr.. Golf said be was not particular
about preanbles and tschaicalities lie
wanted clean sweep made Of all these
Test Oaths, and intended to vote steadily
i'll that direction. The member from Ohio
County had spoken Of "hi, side of the
House. The speaker did not know to
what. side of tile House he himself be-
longed; he hoped lie belonged to the rish.
side, but ofono thing he WIS certain-he
was in favor Of .lls speedy aud thorough
removal Of disabling ouths. Such had
been his position for more than three
years. Looking around him, be felt that
he was about the only man in ihe House
who had been a member in 1866. Al.
that time he had tried to inaugurate meas.
ures repeating the Test Oath system. He
had failed in the attempt, but the views
he then entertained be still held, and now
that opportunity offered, be wanted the
House to como squarcly up to the work
and sweep these Test Oath laws from the
statute book. lie hoped especially that
those who acted with him politically would
stand by him and help push the work to
conclusion. Mr.. Golf continued at some
length in advocating repeal, and in de-
claring his purpose 10 give tLcm hearty
support. fs,i
Nj. Flick said prsamblcs were prsfxed
to laws to assign reisops for the passage
of those Laws. Dir. Wheat's reasons Nere
not bis rcosons. lie should vote for re-
peal Oh very different grounds from those
eop,uined';n the preamble, and so would
largo majority Of the members. He
therefore protested against the member
from Morgan being allowed to .hrus. bis
reasons down the throat Of tho House.
lie was willing that Mr.. Whea. should
spread upon tho record bis own reasons
for the repeal Of the Oath, but llc should
no. place the whole House upon record as
voting for repeal for reasons which they
did not entertain. Besides this, hs feared
the preamble was proposed to defeat tho
repeal, and he hoped it would be Voted
down.
The question being put upon tho pre-.
,mLlc, it was voted down BY 4 large ma
iori,y.. sf I'D 70.
MIR. Flick then offered an amendment
to the bill, striking cut all after tile enact,
ing clause. and inserting provision re.
curing every teacher to take an oath to
support the Constitution 81 the United
States and the Constitution Of West Viz.
ginia, and to faithfully discharge bis du-
ties as teacher, no other oath to DO re.
qairsd. Tho amcndmant .wss adopted,
and the bill az amended ordered to On.
gossn,snt aud third reading.