The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-13
THE IRON-CLAD OATH.

The law requiring applicants for Office or
positions of any kind to take the on-clad
oath was passed on the I'd of July, 1862
Eight years afterward it was modified so as to
admit Southern members Of Congress who
had been whitewashed. It was finally re-
pealed in 1872 While this act was in force it
was perfect success, as it barred traitors out
Of the council Of the nation. The good
things hoped for from its repeal have never
been realized, and probably never will be.
Few people any longer expect them or any Of
them. The election Of eighty-three Demo-
Gratis from the South to the next Congress has
excited some alarm. They will be the MAORI
ty of the dominant party in the next House.
If they are all admitted to seats, they will
rule the Democracy and the Democracy will
rule the House.
Patriotic men have, in consequence, be-
come alarmed, and are looking around for
a way to prevent the country falling into the
hands of those who tried to wreck it under
Buchanan. One of the measures proposed is
the re-establishment of the iron-clad oath for
members of Congress. Probably not ten per
cent of the members elect from the South can
Sake this oath. We learn that none of the
three Democrats elected from this State can
do it. We do not like to contemplate three
vacancies in the House, following SO closely
upon two or three years partial representa-
ton in the Senate, but we are admonished
that it will not be as we say. We are in the
hands of the Republican party Of the
North-the party that has ruled SO wisely
for fourteen years. Il they deem the iron
clad oath necessity in 1875, as their prede
cessors did in 1862, we shall be obliged to
submit. A prominent Democrat of North
Louisiana testifes that there is general &C
. quiescence in the authority Of the National
Government, as 1t ,oOud b. impossible to resist
It. The case might be different were success
reasonably certain, but the burnt Southern
children dread the fire, and magnanimously
consent to endure what they cannot cure
So it may be with the iron-clad, if reimposed
upon us by Congress; such Of us as can take
it will do so. Those who cannot will besiege
Congress for coat Of whitewash.-N D. Re
publican, FEB. 10.
The Iron-Clad Oath.
The iron-clad oath, one of the most impor-
tant of the reconstruction laws, is yet in full
force. By Joint resolution of Congress it is
waived in cases where ex-Confederate officials
are elected to Congress. Mr.. Garfield, mem
Der of Congress from Chicago, elected to I'LL
the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Rice,
took the unadulterated iron-clad oath when
he was sworn in few days ago. II he had
been an exConfederate it would have been
waived It is now proposed to return to the
old practice of administering 1t to all appil,
caHtS for seats IN congress alike. ~ Woulu
exclude about eighty-two applicants for seats
in the next House, but their places could
easily be filled by the election OF other and
more loyal men.-Republican, Feb. IL.
The foregoing extracts are quoted from the
Republican, not for the purpose Of calling at
tention to the opinions Of its editor, (about
which few care to be informe6 but as evidence
that the Radicals in Congress seriously con-
template the enactment of such a law as will
in effect exclude from the House so large
number of Southern Representatives as to
give majority to the party now in power
The revival of the-iron-clad oath OF office, IN
its original. terms, rwould effectually deprive
nine-tenths of the members elected to TIE
House from admission, and wholly disqualify
an equal proportion Of Southern white men
from holding any position whatever under the
Federl Government
To US it seems very probable that the
President and his party do not intend to
suffer the control of the House to go into the
hands of the Conservatives, Democrats and
honest Republicans Grant will not tolerate
. Democratic H;use for single day. Ae /,