The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-06
THE TIES E-OATH.

THE TEsE-OATH.
Although the bill recently passed by
both Houses of Congress, and which will
certainly receive the approval of the
President, does not abolish the iron-clad
oath, yet it is for all practical purposes
virtual repeal of that oath. 1t is
a full pardon to at least ten millions
Of Southern people for participation in
the rebellion, while it will save great
many Northern Democrats who symps-
thixed with the South, from doing violence
to their conscienoes by committing perjury
when elected to Congress, or appointed to
Office. A good many Republican repre-
sentatives were in favor Of repeating the
the oath altogether, and among them was
the Hon. James H. Platt, Of this State |;
but that would not have made the measure
of amnesty any broader or more general.
1t would not have relieved those who are
disabled by the Fourteenth amendment
which can only be done by two-thirds
vote Of both Houses.
As the general public does not seem to
fully comprehend the Importance or un-
derstand the meaning of this very mag
unanimous act, we will endeavor to make
Its significance as clear as possible by a
word of explanation. The political disa-
bilities originally imposed on the South
erners are suamed. up in two branches !;
the fourteenth amendment, excluding from
Office all who held Office before the war
and the "iron-clad," excluding all who
stood by the South in the war, even
though not holding Office before. By act
Of Congress of July IL, 1868. it was pro-
vided that those amenable to the four
tenth amendment should, on having the
disabilities thereby imposed removed, take
4 certain form of oath before entering on
Office and the bill just passing Congress is
to allow all who are not amenable to the
fourteenth amendment but are to the 'sron-
clad to hold office on taking the ssame
oath. The act for those relieved from the
fourteenth amendment Is as fellows:
N
persons from whom legal disabilities shall have
been removed.
Be it enacted by tho senate and House of Repre-
ssntatives OF the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That whsnever any person who has
psrtic sated in the late rebellion and from whom sll
legal disabilities arising therefrom have seen
moved by act of Congress by vote Of twothrd5 Of
cech HoUse has been shall be elected appointed
to any cflics place of trust in under the gov
srnmsnt of tbs United States he shall, before
gsupon the duties thereof instead of the oath pre-
scrbed by tho act of JHly 1882 take and subscribe
the following cath affirmation 1, A. b., do |
.olenny swear Tor afarm) that will support and |
defend the Constitution of the United States against
all enonies foreign asd domestic that will bear |
true faith and allegiance to the same that take |
this obligation freely, without any mental reserva-
ton or purpose of evasion and that will we'll |
and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on
which 1 nma6out to enter. So help mo God. Appro-
ved July ii, 1868.
The bill just passed for those amenable
to the 'iron-clad" only reads thus:
Be il enacted 90, That when any person who is |
not rendered ineligible to office by the provisions of
the fourteenth amendment to the constitution shall
be elected or app ,inted to any office of honor or
trust under the government of the United States,
and shall not be able, account OF his participation
in the lato rebellion, to take the oath prescribed in
the act of Congress approved July 3D. 1892 said per-
shall. in lieu of said oath, before entering upon
the duti-s ef ssd office take and Subscribe the oath
prescribed in an act of Congress entitled ian act
prescribing oath of office t. be taken by persons
whose legal disabilities shall have been removed"
Approved July IL, 1868.
SO that, with the Presidents approval of
the above bill, the law as to Confederates
holding office is that any man relieved of
his disabilities under the fourteenth amend
ment, or any man never amenable thereto,
m " hold any office, State or Federal, on
B lking the oath prescribed in the act of
July IL, 1868, above quoted. Those not
relieved from the amenability to the four
THE BIG RAILROAD LEASE.