The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-23
evening State guarnal.
MONDAY EVENING, JAN. 20, 1871.
sPIRiT OF THE MORNING PRESS


The Enquirer has one ofthecalmest ter
pered and most dignifed political articl
we have seen recently 10 any Southern p
per of its faith; and we cannot help thinkir
that il will go farther towards accomplish
ing the good purpose intended, the repe
of the test-oath, than would volume
the usual kind of abuse. Soft wore
turn away wrath; and it is not in the nj
ture of the Saxon race to allow itself
be either blackguarded or dragooned int
measures. You may coax but can
not drive them. Nor would we ask ths
part of our great family which dwell
in the South to degrade themselves b
assuming the grovelling and unmanly at
titude of ssppliants, but that they lay thei
grievances before Congress and the countr,
in frank and dignifed manner, and Will
asking their removal indicate their inten
ton and desire to resume friendly relations
and to bury the past in forgetfulness II
opening the article to which we have re.
ierreu, tue enquirer says
It has long been matter of surprise that
the Congressional bills looking to what was
termed general amnesty, should have con-
templated relief only for that Comparatively J
limited class of the disqualified, which suffers
disabilities under provision of the fourteenth
article of amendment. Not only have all the
resolutions hitherto offered, (thoss of Messrs.
Butler, Bingham, Farnsworth and Wood, J
had application solely to this numeri
cal minority of the prescribed, and
showed inconsistency in this respect; but
1t has seemed more strikingly singular that
Congress-viewing service with the Confed-
eracy as a crime, and considering dsqualifca-
ton punishment and its removal boom
should have devoted time and consideration to
pardon of higher class of offenders, lin their
judgment of the case,) while entirely passing
over the claims of those whose simple offence
was military enlistment, and that may have
been involuntary, under the Southern govern-
ment. For while the penalties of the four
teenth amendment attach only to those
persons who plead guilty to three several
conditions of so-called criminaity, viz: to
having held Office under the United States
before the war, to having taken the oath to
support the Federal constitution, and to sub
sequent connection with the rebellion; the
iron.clad, or oath of Office of 1862, applies in
discriminatory to all persons, without reference
to age or circumstance, who were in the
armies of the Confederacy. Further than
that, it applies to all who were bona tids citi-
zens for the terms of the oath are so stringent
that we have an authentic instance of colored
man who refused it on conscientious grounds.
There is still fresh in the public mind the case
of the Virginian youth who, appointed to the
military academy from an upper district, was
unable to take his place at West Point because,
though mere child when the war closed, be
had imbbed the sympathies aud prejudice of
his surroundings, and was, therefore, unable
to subscribe fully to this searching instrument.
During the past two years. the JOURNAL
has frequently urged these very reasons in
favor of the repeal of the test-oath We |
could not see the justice of relieving such |
men as Senator johnson and Gen. Long |
street, and thousand others, while the poor
private soldiers of the Confederacy, who |
had never held Office, or boys who were |
children during the war, we're still de- |
prived of the full enjoyment of all the
rights of American citizenship. 1t is con-
tended that unless man have disabilities
under the fourteenth amendment, rs
cannot have his disabilities removed
that is, that if he make application
for the removal of his disabilities because
he cannot take the test-oath, and Congsess
should pass special act, that it is inope-
rative, because he was never disabled.
This, however, is. a mere technical objec-
tion,-for we belive it is understood by |
Congress that relief from the test-oath is
sought, and the intention is to give that
relief. We would like to see the test-eath
repealed, too, that all temptation to perjury
might be remoyed,--for we fear there are
only too many, everywhere in the country,
who, with tho humpbacked tyrant are
~.
thou troublest here in vain" land would
freely swallow it for the sake of Office
or to get claim through Congress for
loyal property destroyed. 1t keeps honest
and conscientious men olt of the party,
and out of the service of the country, and
prolongs the restoration of harmony and
good feeling among the people of this
section.
The war is over, and let US remove all
of its bloody footprints as fast as possible,
that the people may forget. We are very
anxious about the undying hatred that is
being engendered in the hearts of the
French against the Prussians, and all our
prominent journals can appeal to Prussia
to show herself magnanimous, and retire
from the contest new, that friendship may
U6 tuo iuOiO Cootlr iO-OopuOiiohOu coo ohOt
don't seem to practice here at home what
they preach to those abroad. They are
like our missionaries who carry the gospel
and clothing, Helmbold's buchu, Bran
dreth's pills, and fne-tooth combs. to the
"Heathen Chinee," and yet forget that the
heather is at their own door. We boast
of our magnanimity. Let US make it still
grauder, and then talk less about it.
By the repeal of the test-oatb 95-100ths
of the people of the South will be fully |
restored to citizenship. The others will
be disabled by the fourteenth amendment,
and as the Enquirer suggests, can afford to
wait the slower process of relief, as they
are mostly in retirement now. 1t is as
much matter of justice as of favor. The
people of the South have acquisced in
universal suffrage, and now in return they
should have universal amnesty.
As to the effect which some Of our sell |
fsh-office seekers fear it would have in
diminishing their chances, we care very
little for that. This government was not |
made merely to put few people in office,
aud support them in elegant leisure at the
public expense but to administer honest
ly, faithfully and justly the affairs of the
people. The Enquirer, however, makes a
passing allusion to this objection, and |