Year: 1866

just toward people who are expected to
be true to the South and bear their full
share of its burthens. We think not. and
no people able to resist such oppression
would submit to it an honr. IfConpress
has determined to root out the last yestire
of loyalty and brotheriy feeling from he
southern heart. and plant eternal hitter
ness and hate in its stead, they could not
tall upon q surer plan for securing that
lend. ia. 1
But suppose our members elect should be
rejected by reason of their inability to take
This vilainous oath, what then? What
will be the duty Of the South to herself and
in the long run TO the cause Of civil liber-
ty and toe country? Shall she recall the
representatives Of her choice and send 9TH
ers that shall be the choice Of factioas ma
jority at the Nerth! There are ssme men
whose hearts must be insensibe to the de-
mands OF honor, and whose short foresight
never reaches beyond present expediency
and convenience to the ultimate grand re-
suits 10 be obtained by unhinching adhe-
sion to truth and principle, despite ali lem-
porary hardships, who would counsel to-
such course. Afrighted at their own
shadows, and without the manliness 10 ad-
here 10 what is right in the face Of oppo.
sition, like Peter. they would deny their
Lord and Master upon the 6rst frown Of
fortune or TO subserve the interest Of an
hour. We cannot think that any man born
and reared at the South, identified with her
people and with heart that beats respon-
sive to all that concerns her honor and per-
manent welfare, would thus deliberately
compromise and degrade his countrymen.
The demand is one that strikes at the very
root Of the tree Of liberty, and involves all
that 10 dear TO US in the future as free
people. Concede it, and there is no depth
Of political and moral degradation which
We may not be called upon successfully by
wicked and remorseless faction TO sound.
II will be precedent that would destroy
the last vestlge Of free government in this
boasted land of liberty, and brand US infa-
nous forever. A denial of all representa-
tion we may submit to with honor when
We have no power TO resist the wrong but
to deliberately consent to ignore our own
volition and 60 to the polls the mere pup
pets and tools Of would-be Northern mas
tiers. there deposit our votes fer men not
Of our choice, and unfit 10 represent any
body anywhere, would be degradation to
which death were infinitely preferable. No
free.born people would submit to il, and
We warn our fellow countrymen of The South
against the teachings Of those who would
seduce them into SO fatal step. II We
have lost all self-respeci, LET Us at least
take counsel of our interest, and repudiate
with scern an act that would bind Us for
ever in chains and slavery. That noble
old patriot, the champion Of conservatism
who led the legions Of the Union in the
last presidential struggle in which the
South took part, has not failed, in the
maturity Of his wisdom, to descry the dan
gers that his countrymen are approaching,
and TO caution them against the insidious
attempt TO keep them in bondage forever.
In contemplating this very proposition in
recent letter 10 q friend IN Kentucky.
and which We hope 10 lay entire before our
readers in the course of few days, he
sounds the note Of alarm as fellows;


81 see iha, very little care was taken ia
the elections which have occurred, TO Sc
lect such men as could be expected to take
that oath, and | rejoice that il so happen
ed. and ! hope that no man from the South
will. on any account, take the oath, OF do
any thing by which such a test of qualif-
cation can be drawn into precedent, or be
sanctioned, even for day, for il is clearly
one OF those insidious innovations or en-.
croachments upon the wisest institutions
Of Government that occasionally y take place
10 time Of great political excitement aud
disturbance, which. il adopted, becclae
precedents, 10 justify changes that destrny
or revolutionize the Government itself. 1t
the tanatieal party in the North had sue
ceeded 10 forming conspiracy to effect a
total change Of Government, there could