The Van Buren press., 1875-06-01
A Becomlngly Spirited Rebuke-The
Test Oath.
Augusta (6a.l Chronicle and Sentinel
STATE OF GEORGIA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,

ATLANTA, March Is, 1875
Hon HAMILTON FISH, Secretary Of State,
Washington, d. c.:
Sri have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the
tenth instant, incloslng the appointment
of Mr.. George Hllyer as commissioner
to represent the State of Georgia in cele
5rating the centennial anniversary of
American independence, AT the city Of
Philadelphia, in the year 1876 Accom-
panying the Presidents commission is
an open letter from yourself to Mr. Hill
yer. advising him OF his appointment, to-
gether with the printed form of an oath,
which, in the event Of his acceptance. you
direct him to execute and return, that the
same may be placed on file in the State
department. A portion of the oath re-
ferred to is as 70 flows:
81, -, do solemnly swear that |
have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States since | have
been Il cit zen thereof, that | have vol
UNFAIRLY given no aid, countenance, or
encouragement to persons engaged in
armed hostility thereto that have nev
er sought nor accepted, nor attempted to
exercise the functions of any Office what.
ever under any authority in hostility to
the United States that have not yield
ed voluntary support to any pretended
government, authority power or consu.
tuition within the United States, hostile
or inimical thereto"
BY requiring the commissioners to take
this oath the southern States are, in eff
feet, excluded from all voice or partci-
patton in the celebration referred to. 1t
must be known TO the President that al
most the entire body Of white people at
the south were engaged, actively or 9TH
erwise, in behalf OF their own section, in
the late war between the States, and that
they can take no part in the exposition
under the requirements now made of
them. Indeed, if the commissioners, or
OFFICIAL representatives of the States, are
required to take obnoxious oalhs, | see
no reason why the exhibitors, or even
the visitors at the exhibition may not be
called upon to do the same tiing. |
know of no provision Of law which re
qurcs any such oath to be taken 10y the
commissioners, and what good is eX
pccted to he accomplished by going be
yond the requirements Of the law in this
regard | am at loss to imagine. may
be pardoned for suggesting, at this point,
that Georgia was one Of the thirteen
States which revolted against British au
thority, and that she has the same inter
est and the same right to celebrate the
one hundredth anniversary OF American
independence that Pennsylvania or New
York has. Her delegates signed the
declaration of independence, and have
vet to learn if her sons have ever hcsi-
tatcd TO make any sacrifice necessary to
maintain the great principles cnunclaled
in that declaration. And yet, it is now
promised, not only to tax her people, in
order to meet the expenses attending the
celebration of American independence,
but to exact an oath which practically
excludes them from all participation
therein CandOr constrains me to say
that if this gratuitous and wanton re
quirement is insisted upon, the people of
Georgia will not, with my consent, take
any part whatever il the proposed parti-
san celebration at Philadelphia. | had
supposed that the people of all the States
were expected to take part on the joyous
occasion, and that not only the people of
these States, of every creed, color and
condition, but the lovers of liberty
throughout the civilized world would be
cordially invited and welcomed, without
preliminary oaths or exactons of any
kind If in this have been mistaken,
and if, as it now seems, only a partisan
celebration by the dominant political par
ty of the country is contemplated, tnen,
regret TO say. that a great opportunity
has been lost, and that neither the gov
ernor nor the people of Georgia will be
responsible for that misfortune Imust
ask to be pardoned for having troubled
the President to appoint a commissioner
for this State. Ny desire was that
Georgia should be represented at the
celebration 10y natIve-born citizen but
candor compels me to say that | am not
acquainted with native fit to represent
the State who could, or would, take the
oath required. Certainly Mr.. Hillyer
cannot take it, and respectfully decline
to be the channel through which he is
invited to do so. have the honor to
return, herewith, the commission intend
ed for Mr. Hllyer, with accompanying
papers, and to ask that ! be allowed to
withdraw his nomination for the position
of commissioners | have the honor to
be, your obedent servant,
JAMES Nj. SMITH