The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-02
The IrOn-CIad Oath.

Ia the House of Representatives Tues
day, as stated in the telegraphic summary
yesterday, Mr.. Porter, from this district
made speech in opposition to the Senate
bill prescribing the oath of Office (which
practically repeals the 'iron-clad oath')
In the course of his remarks, he said:
am in favor, Mr.. Speaker, of opening
the doors to the enemies of the country
when | can see the doors open to loyal
men. voted against this bin in the COM
mittee-room this morning; and am here
now to protest against its passage in the
| House.
Mr.. Beck-Has the gentleman a right TO
state how he voted in committee If he
has, want to say that he is the only man
who did SO vote, thank God
Mr.. Platt-I ask my colleague tMr.
Porter) whether he will allow me to ask
him question:
Mr.. Porter-Not till l get through with
this point.
Mr.. Speaker. if have violated any
parliamentary rule, beg pardon.
The Speakar-The Chair does not hold
that the gentleman has done so. He has
! the right to state how he voted, but not
| how any one else voted.
Mr. Porter--So, from the attempted cor
rection of the gentleman from Kentucky
| (Mr. Beck), | turn and meet the approval
OF the Chair.
Mr.. Beck--Did any one beside yourself
in the committe vote against this PROPOSE
ton
Mr. Porter--If I were to answer that
question I should be subjecting myself
| justly to the censure which the gentleman
attempted to put upon me unjustly a
moment ago
In closing his speech, Mr.. Porter signi-
| fed his readiness to answer the question
ton of Mr.. Platt. Mr.. Platt rose, but
Mr.. Cox of New York obtained the floor
and submitted few remarks in favor of
the bill. He said:
| Mr. Speaker, wish to say one word in
the kindest spirit toward gentlemen on the
other side of the House. | think that
| they have shown a commendable spirit of
kindness in their willingness to remove by
| this bill some of these disqualifications.
At the beginning of this session I submit
ted proposition to abolish the committee
on reconstruction. | thought that COM
mittee was not producing tranquility or
harmony North or South. There are some
matters Of legislation in which we ought
to join here without regard to partisan
feeling, and certainly without regard to
sectional feeling. I now feel inclined to
| congratulate the reconstruction committee,
and gentlemen generally on the other side
| of the House, upon at least these steps
toward generous policy 10 the treatment
of the South.
| would be willing to 60 further than
this bill proposes and vote, according to
| the suggestion made on the other side, to
declare that hereafter the only oath re-
quired shall be simple oath to support
| the Constitution--such an oath as we had
IN the old times. accept this measure as
| step in that direction, because oaths have
become odous in this country by reason
of their frequency and their ''iron-clad"
character. They have become as cheap as
"custom-house oaths" or ''dicers' oaths." :"
Nobody seems to care much for them. Let
us crush out this multiplication of oaths,
especially as bills like this are calculated
to bring into official positions better class
OF men who will act more in harmony with
| the spirit of our government.
The gentleman from Massachusetts Mr..
Butler) shows himself on the march toward
a general spirit of kindness and amnesty
when he becomes the organ of the COM
mittee to present this bill here. But | do
not believe, from what have heard from
him, that he has that ungentle spirit this
afternoon exhibited by this member from
Richmond, Virginia.
Why, Mr.. Speaker, is it not time we
should stop talking about outrages, when
they are the very consequence of our
lack of tranquility in the North and
South and among the people of the coun-
try? Good government brings tranquil
zation of the people. 1t is a sign of bad
government if there be unkindness and
want of comfy between the States and the
people, and every move we make In the
direction of removing these oaths and dis
qualifications cultivates better spirit. 1t
is like intertrading it is like intermixing
it is like love it is like Gods own law
and | congratulate the other side of the
House that they are marching up to that
duty, and hope before Congress closes the
gentleman from Massachusetts, will give us
an opportunity to vote for that true and
liberal system of amnesty which / have
had the honor to advocate heretofore on
this floor.