Year: 1866

18th, by Henry NJ. Matthews, of Green


brier County, Senator Elect from the


Ninth District.


Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Senate
At the election held last October, in the Ninth
Senatorial District Of this State, { was elected
by large majority to represent the people OF
that District in this body. was not an aspi
rant for Office, but the unanimity of the peoples
choice assured me that my sentiments and opin-
ions were in harmony with theirs, and | accept
ed the trust devolved upon me by the election.
In the discharge of the duty owe to those who
have elected me, to this important position, [
have come here for the purpose Of taking seat
among you upon this foor and laboring for the
interests of those whom [ Immediately repre-
sent, and of the State at large. | have taken
an oath to support the constitution Of the Uni
ted States and of this State, and that obligation
intend to keep. The additional oath required
by law | cannot conscientiously take. | am
entities each branch Of the Legislature to be the
judge Of the qualifications of its members, and
that the whole question Of my admission or re-
lection rests with YOU Into your hands is COM
mitted the power Of deciding, and from your
decision there is no appeal But before render
ing that decision [ trust that you will consider
the time at which the law prescribing this oath
Of Office was passed, and tie purpose fer which
it was enacted The war was then at It's height,
and the clash of hostile arms was borne upon
every gale. The passions and pre;1dices Incl
dent to civil war had full sway, and the minds
Of men on either side were wrought to the high
est pitch of martial fervor. At that time this
law may have been expedient and necessary as
a war measure. It may have been at that time
the dictate Of prudence and wisdom, and was
probably intended to exclude from the councils
OF the State Northern men whose sympathies
were with the Southern cause, and who gave it
aid and comfort during the great struggle It
is not my purpose to cali in question at this
time either the good design or the expediency
Of this act at the time OF its passage, but the
circumstances which then surrounded us, and
which alone could render necessary such law
as that of which [ speak, have passed away


In addition to this, those of us who are en-
braced within it's provisions have availed our
selves Of the benefit of the pardon offered by
the President Of the United States in his pro
clamation Of amnesty. 1t is the effect of par
don to place the party receiving it in the same
position he would have occupied had he never
transgressed. 1t constitutes barrier to all IN
quiry as to his past character or actions and re-
stores to hnn all the rights, privileges and quail
ifcations he possessed before the commission of
the act for which the pardon was obtained





contemplated in the enforcement of the test cath
law is in contravention Of the policy Of the Fed
eral administration and tends to nullify the
measures which the President has seen ft to
adopt for the pacification Of the country and the
restoration Of true peace and fellowship between
the people Of both sections Of our common coun-
try.s's p I. - st1 ts5sH 3hstf


But in addition to the other facts which I
have stated as objections against the enforce
ment Of this law there is another one of great
Importance to the people of the counties which
l represent. It tends to retard and obstruct
and in many communities constitutes an lnsu-
perable barrier to the reorganization of civil gov
ernment in these counties-a want Of which IS
sadly felt There are not one hundred men COM
petent to discharge the duties Of any office in
the counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahon-
tas and ebsterperhaps a larger number In
the counties Of Fayette and Raleigh-who were
there during the war who can consclentloHsy
take this oath.


If the law be enforced there, the government
will possess none of the characteristics of re-
publican government. It's offices will be filed
by men not chosen by the people, but appointed
by another power.


Previous to the war a large majority OF the
people of that section of the State were, in po-
litical association, what are called cold Line
Wings" They were opposed to secession and
desired peaceful solution of the difficulties be-
tween the North and the South, and earnestly
strove to prevent the disruption Of the Union;
But when the Federal government determined
upon aeoerciye policy, they became united in
sentiment and east in their fortunes with the
South to resist by force of arms what they hon
estly believed to be an encroachment upon their
rights Now that the war is ended, all other
feelings have given place to desire for a per-
manent peace. They have sincerely and hon
orably renewed their oaths of allegiance to the
Federal government, and feel bound by their