St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-11-30

our lives, our fortunes and our sacred
honor"
When constructing the Constitution
for the national government, the emin ent
statesmen of that day manifestiy felt
sure they were living and acting under
.the providence and guidance of their
Creator that the strongest bond to Sc
cure the performance of the duties irnpos-
ed by the Constitution was an oath; for
the Constitution provides that the Presi-
dent before entering upon the execution
of his office, shall. with nplifted hand,
take the oath of office: Il do solemnly
swear that l will faithfully execute the
Office of President of the United States
and will to the best of my ability, pre-
serve, protect and defend the Constitu-
ton of the United States" that THE
Senator's and Representatives and the
members OF the several State Legislatures
and all executive and judicial officers,
both of the United States and of the
several states, shall be bound by oath or
affirmation to support this Constitution. |"
Under the terms. all executive and judi
cial officers, all officers of the government
not specifically named, are included, all
in the service of the government, in the
army and navy, whether as privates or
officers.
By the oath, they deemed, that they
placed all these officers under the most
solemn obligation to discharge the duties
prescribed by the Constitution intelligent
~, faithfully. fearlessly and honestly.
To thinking, observant man it is such
an obligation. This is, and then was, a
Christian nation. The great body of its
people then and ever since have so consid-
cred the oath. Some may never have had
it brought intelligently before their minds !;
Others may, in the presence of their fei-
lows, scott at the oath. Nevertheless,
when, with upIifted hand, theyitake up
on themselves the obligation of the oath.
solemnly pledge their word to their Gre
ator, that they will honestly perform the
duties specified, it has its influence and re-
straint even upon such scoffers, whatever
they may say. tits the most solemn, far
reaching obligation man can take upon
himself. 1t is his pledged word to the
Being who gave, and continues him in
existence, and through whose sustaining
power he hopes, when he shall go the
way of all the earth. he shall come forth
to lie eternal. Most men consider that
their word deliberately given to fellow
mortal must be sacredly observed. It
must be sacredly observed to retain the
confidence ofthose to whom it is given.
How much more must their word solemn
ly given, to their Creator from whom
they receive existence and it's manifold
blessings, be sacredly observed?
Hence the Fathers carefully provided
that under the government established,
every one elected or appointed to- any
Office, legislative, executive or judicial,
should not enter upon the discharge OF
it's duties, until he had become solemnly
bound by his oath to discharge the
duties of that office honestly in the spirit
of the language OF the oath. The oath
thus becomes the sheet anchor of the
Ship of State. The nation and state
take, ia general, no other security that,
the officers, in the three departments OF
state, shall be true to, uphold and main
tain them. \
The nation derives all its power from
the states of which it is composed.
In the several states the oath is fully
as much, if not more, the only conserva-
tive force. E
The Constitution of Vermont, in many
of it's provisions. recognizes the existence
of Supreme Bling, who rules in all the
affairs of mankind, and requires that the
rights OF every citizen be protected by a
solemn oath from every one who has to
do with WELDING the sovereignty Or
with administering tbs institutions of
the state. No one can become voter. a
legislative, a judicial, or an executive
oath. The same is true of the constitu-
tons of other states The language of
| many OF these oat his express the duties OF
the voter. and officer, in clear, forcible
terms. Under the constitution OF 1777
the language in the commencement OF
the oath diff, rs slightly from that now in
use. It then was: 81 do solemnly swear
by the everything Cod" Each member
of the General Assembly was then re-
quired to make and subscribe a declar-
alton, containing, among Others, the
following ~ do believe in one God, the
Creator and Governor ot the Universe,
the rewarder of the good, and punisher OF
the wicked" The forms of the oaths now
required are very expressive. Let us re-
call the language of a few. s
OATH ADMINISTERED TO THE FREEMAN OR
VOTER.
.'You solemnly swear that whenever
you give your vote or suffrage TOUCHING
any matter that concerns the State OF
Vermont, you will do it so as in your
| conscience you shall judge will most con-
| duce to the best good of the same as
established by the Constitution, without
| fear. or favor OF any man. So help you
| Cod" This clearly requires independ-
| ent individualism OF the voter.
THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
"You do solemnly swear that you will
| be true and faithful to the State of Yer
mont, and that you will not, directly, or
| indirectly. do any act or thing injurious
| to the Constitution or government there
of as established by convention. So help
| you God."
OATH OF OFFICE. s.
You do solemnly swear that you will
faithfulIv execute the office of ina ming If \
| for (term of and will therein do equal
right and justice to all men, to the best oil
| your Judgment and abilities, according
| to law. So help you God"
OATH OF MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL
| ASSEMBLY. e
| "You do solemnly swear that, as a
member of this Assembly, you will not
| propose, or assent to. any bill, vote or
resolution, which shall appear to you in
| furious to the people, nor do or consent
| to any act or thing whatsoever that
shall have tendency to lessen or abridge
| their rights and privileges as declare by