Year: 1867

Texas did not adopt II, because she
believed its provisions prejudicial to
her best interests, and dangerous to
the public good. But then she had
no reliable and sufficient induce
ment TO aid in engraiting principles
upon the Government which she
did not approve, and TO make n
sweeping disqualification ofso many
of her useful citizens as TO make it
almost amount TO self imposed deg


relation. She may yield to such
fate ifimposed by others, or possibly
under some species Of duress, and
it is to be hoped that her people
will do it, if they must, with that
uncomplaining fortitude and un-
shrinking manhood that have char
acterized them in every emergency.
But is it not, indeed, asking too
much of such people to do it them
selves ?


1t is alleged to the prejudice of
Texas that she has elected Senators
and Representatives who cannot
take the test oath. 1t is taken as
an evidence that her people are
seeking to reward those who were
formerly prominent in opposing the
Government. That, it is believed,
is a misconception of the subject |;
for with the very slight prospect Of
getting seats, it could not have been
regarded as n very valuable reward.
In times of great trial, dread, and
gloom in the political horizon, the
people are hot likely to select men
as mere objects of reward, but far
more likely because they are for the
time representatives in fact. The
test. oath, at most, was regarded as
a war measure, and was supposed
to be founded on the feeling (rather
than the principle) that "the preser-
vation of the life Of the nation is a
public duty, rising above the Con.
sutton and laws of the United
States" Such a proposition is not
to be reasoned upon, not being sus-
ceptible of augmentation. The
feeling which prompted it has been
kept alive far beyond any conceiva-
BILE occasion for its exercise. If,
however, it is assumed to be founded
on any part of the written Consti-
tuition, it is presumed to be on that
clause which makes each House the
Judge of the qualifications" of it's
own members. If the term here
quoted can be construed to mean
anything other than those prescribed
for members in the Constitution,
then the judgment, as to general
fines, Of the majority Of each House
Of Congress becomes the standard
of qualification, which could be used
to perpetuate their principles after
a majority of their electors should
become opposed to them, and there
by make the agent superior to the
principal, which is destructive of
representative republican govern
ment. 1t is thought, however, that
it was commonly believed that if
the State was allowed to be repre-
sented at all, the two Houses would
not retain this rule of exclusion.


1t is said that the people of Texas
are disloyal and rebellious in dispo-
sltion still If that were all it
would hardly in other times be held
a good ground for excluding its rep
resentatives; for that would estab-
lish the precedent that a majority
in Congress could exclude the dele
cation from a State whose people,
in their judgment, were manifesting
rebellious and disloyal spirit
which might often be the case in
times ofhigh party rancor and strife.
But, admitting that under the pres
ent pressure Of disfavor we have to
be judged by that rule, we beg it to
be considered, that Texas has no
voice of her own in Congress to ex-
plain or contradict statements made
about the conduct and temper of
her people. Further, it must occur
to any reflective mind how readily
the general tone of sentiment in the
State of Massachusetts and Illinois,
as well as in Texas, might be wholly
misunderstood, by considering only
the representations of bad actions
and idle expressions here and there,
scattered over a large country, and
perhaps reported er pdrte, with the
exaggerations and coloring ofprcju-
diced informers. Where do mem
bers of Congress get their informa-
tion? Not from the messages of the
President; not from the reports of
the General of the army; not from
any published reports of the officers
of the judiciary or revenue in Texas;
not from our patriotic and vi rilant
Governor, or other State officers 1t
is but fair dealing to recollect that
there may be disappointed men and
violent partisans, and even good
men, as well as those not falling un- !
der that class, who are continually
seeing things around them in dis
torted light. Besides, it is not to be
disguised that there is a class of
men in and out of Texas, small
though they may be, who seem to
be endeavoring to bring her people
in as bad odor as possible before the
public mind. In grave questions,
Involving the future welfare and
destiny Of great State, ordinary
prudence would dictate q careful
examination into the facts upon
which national action is to be based.
We respectfully solicit the most
searching and extensive inquiry as
to the real facts on this subject.
o. As part of the representatives
chosen by the State, we assert il as
our sincere beliefthat the great body
of the people of Texas are loyal TO
the Government of the United
States, and have now the most in
tense desire 10 obliterate alrcause of