New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-08
possible. The iron clad" oath belongs to the
same class OF rubbish.

same class oil rubbish
At one time its reservations repetitions ana cir
cnnlOcutions had all impressive significance When
the storm of war ragged round the capital, it was
natural that the lawmakers should wish to assure
themselves that thore enemies or traitors IN
their midst by administering oath to all corners
so stringent to leave loophOle for equivocatio
For this purpose the test OATH which soon aterward
got the popular name Of "iron-clad," was devised
by Horace Maynard of Tennessee, the law prescrib-
ing it bearing the date July g 1862. After recon
struction, the oath became a stumbling-bloc and
an irritation fer most of the new ohice-holdcrs in
the south and the Congressman from that section,
and for their benefit modified form of obligation
had TO be authorized. This was done by the act of
July II, 1868.
Oflate, the test oath. with its bristing points,
designed to catch tho conscience OF the unwary mas
become useless absurdity like scarecrow in
cornfeld after the crop has been harvested. Wheh-
ever it is administered in the House it excites
smiles on the faces of the large number OF members
who cannot take it, and who called up afterward
to take the modified OATH The absurdity of its con-
tinuance was strkingy shown at the opening OF the
present session, when the House extended the ex-
ceptonal courtesy TO the late VicePresident OF the
Southern COnfederacy of allowing him to choose his
seat before anybody else except Mr. Dawes after he
had been obliged to wait with the great body OF
Southern members until all who could take the
"iron-cladn oath had been sworn before he eould
be qualified.
Ii is a curious circumstance that Mr.. Maynard,
who drafted the iron-clad il to introduce the bill
for its repeal Tho text Of this famous historic oath,
soon to be swept from the statute-book, may DO OF
interest to the reader. II is as follows:
], A. b., do solemnly swear or affirm, that nave
never voluntarily against the United States,
bava bcen "A cit
ry given no aid, countenance, counsel or encourage
ment persons engaged In armed hostility theretoi
that have neither sought accepted, nor attempted
to exercise the functions of any Office whatever under
any authority pretended authority in hostility TO the
United States; that have not yielded voluntary sup
port any pretended Government authority power or
Constitution within the United States, hostile or mimi
cal thereto. And do further or affirm, that to
the best OF knowledge and ability Will support ana
defend the Constitution OF the United States against all
enemies, foreign and domestic that will bear true
faith and allegiance the same and that take this
obligation freely, without any mental reservation, or
purpose OF evasion and that will well and faithfully
discharge the dutes OF the Office on which sm about TO
enter 10 help me God.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE PosTMAsTEB-GENERAL INVITES THE STEAMSHIP
COMPANIES TO MAKE PROPOSALS FOR CARRYING
TIE EUROPEAN MAILS.
WASHINGTON, Dee. :, 1873.
The Postmaster General has addressed let
ter to the agents of the different. transatlantic
steamship lines sailing from NewYork informing them
that he prepared TO receive proposals in writing the
conveyance OF the mails from NewYorS 10 the ports OF
the United Kingdom and Continent OF Europe for con-
tract term OF two years, commencing jan l. lsh Gach
propossl must name the steamships rendered for the
service the sailing days FROM NewYOrk, and must DO
accompanied by satisfactory evidence OF the average
speed of the steamships offered for the transportation OF
the mails They further informed that 1t Is his pur-
pose TO effect such arrangement OF the sailing days
respective lines from this side as Will secure the
best practicable mail service for the Department and the
public. and that the compensation Is restricted Dy law
TO the amount of sea postage on the mails conveyed
lie also informs them that nj noon on MONDAY Dec 10
next he will consider such proposals as sal then nave
received for the purpose OF awarding the contracts
and viii hear such oral statements explanatory OF the
proposals, the respective lines rendering Tor tne
service may desire 10 present for mis- further niorna
ton.
THE UNITED STATES AND SPANISH CLAIMS COM
MISSION.
The United states and Spanish Claims Commission
have decided the ease OF Fouke administrator OF Ed
uardo Cisnoros, and guardian OF Maria and Emma Cs-
neros The claim was for damages growing out OF the
se0uestraton iof estates amounting 10 ssOo with In
terest The claimant urged that by the laws both of
tbo United states and Spain and by the express terms
OF the embargo ITSELF the title OF the persons Affected
by il was Invested and that upon the death OF any
such person the property enlarged passed to ms DIS
ributees that the laws OF the United states all per-
sons born therein citizens thereon and entitled 10
protection against unlawful detention OF their property
and that Emma Cisneros such citizen, and her prop
erty cannot be detained by Spanish embargo Inc Drle
shows That Eduardo Clsneros was formerly resident
N Havana and removed and resided in New-f0rk
from Feb To- 1862 20 May 1871 when ne ded ntestdte
Emma Csneros born in New-York In April, 1870;
There being difference OF opinion between the United
states and Spanish arbtratOrs Baron Lederer the n-
pire decided that the child OF spanlard porn IN
he United States ~ not citizen or the thlted ntdtes
within the intent of the Convention
QUESTION OF AUTHORITY.
II Is freely stated by members of the House that
Speaker Blaine had authority to appoint the Com
mittee on the Reorganization of the Civil Service that
il was select committee. which, under the rules ex
ire with the last Congress and could not he revived
,on, nv the abortion OF resolution for that purpose
7, was the intention Of Mr.. Willard OF Vermont 10 have
introduced such a resolution but the Speaker did not
wait for IT, As select committee under the usages OF
the House it should have been constituted with ma
iorty of its favorable TO reforming the Civil
Service As standing committee however lhe speaker
could make IL up as he pleased Inc oininltee Is un
doubtedly the hands of the opponents OF REFORM ana
might as well be abolished for all the good 1t ID likely to
accomplish or even propose.
CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT OF THE ACTION OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Az least 100 members of Congress called on the secre
tary OF the Navy on Saturday the reception continuing
from ,oao 10 o'clock Their conversation chiefly
on the subject of supplying deficiencies in expenditures
and placing the navy in better condition to be pre-
pared for All 6ossible contiu gences Bills will be intro
dueed for this purpose this week. and also several look
inc IN the independence OF Cuba, several gentlemen
having already speeches prepared on the latter suec
The members generally are In accord WIN lhe SECRETARY
of the Navy, and will therefore support him III his
measures.
THE FUNDS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT NEARLY |
Exhausted