The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-02-09
Abolition of the Test Oath.

1t is we'll understood that the oath prescribed
by Act of Congress on the End Of July, 1862,
has operated to the exclusion of thousands an
over the South from election or appointment to
Federal office. 1t is known as the test oath, or
more generally rs the "iron-clad," and none
might accept the humblest office under the
Federal government, not even postmaster OF
the rcmotest post Office, if there was the faintest
connection of the individual with the so-caled
rebellion. 1t has been an effcctual barrier
against the re-establishment of the mail service
all over the Southern States, and in this light
alone has been plentifully fraught with mis-
chief and inconvenience. Well, this abomina-
BILE test-oath has been repealed, or rather abol-
ished, and we are duly thankful for its dis
placement from. the statute-books.
At the last session of Congress, q bill was
introduced by Senator Sawyer, of this State
providing for repeal Of the test-oath. 1t
passed the Senate, but was not considered by
the House of Representatives until few days
ago. The debate was short and acrimonious,
but the conservative Republicans and Demo-
Gratis finally triumphed, and the bill was passed
by vote of 119 to 49, 1t has been sent to the
President, and will doubtless receive his sigma
ture, although the carpet-bag element from the
South urges him to a contrary course, as they
alege that the Republicans will lose every
Southern State, if the bill becomes law.
The bill, as passed by Congress, provides an
oath of Office for those persons appointed or
elected to any position under the Federal Gov
ernment, who, though not under the disabilities
imposed by the third section of the Fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, are yet ineligible on account of their
participation in the rebellion. Of course, all
the disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth
Amendment are yet i'll operation, and these
restrictions, it will be remembered, applies to
all who held Office before the war and after
wards engaged in the Confederate cause. But
aside from this class, which is yet numerous,
and includes many of the ablest men in the
South, the abolition of the tcst-oath relieves
many thousands. For instance, every male
citizen of South Carolina, under thirty years
of age, becomes eligible to Federal office under
this bill, from the fact that he cannot be dis
qualified under the Fourteenth Amendment, as
he was too young to hold Office before the war;
We append full text of the bill, as it passed
both Houses of Congress:
Be it enacted, That when any person who is
not rendered ineligible to office by the pro-
visions of the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution, shall be elected or appointed to
any Office of honor or trust under the Govern
ment of abe United States, and shall not be
able, on account of his participation in the
late rebellion, to take the oath prescribed in
the Act of Congress, approved End July, 1862,
said person shall, in lieu of said oath, before
entering upon the duties of said office, take
and subscribe the oath prescribed in an Act of
Congress, entitled "An Act prescribing an Oath
of office to be taken by persons whose legal dis
abilities shall have been removed" approved
July ii, 1868.