A letter from Washington to the Chicago Tribune says:
One of the most important measures introduced at this session of Congress is the disfranchising bill proposed by Mr. Wilson of Iowa, which provides that no person shall hereafter be eligible to office who has taken up arms against the United States, after having taken an oath to support the Constitution. The bill is intended to apply to all former Senators, Representatives, Federal and State officers, who have joined in the rebellion. The Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of all the States, prescribe an oath of fidelity to the former instrument, and hence every rebel who has held an office is perjured before God and man. The oath of such a person on assuming another office under the United States Constitution would be a mockery and blasphemy. Yet I venture to say that the Democrats will oppose the bill with as much firmness as though it were a proposition to take a part of the tax burden from the shoulders of loyal citizens and put it on the traitors. Col. Voorhees, Wood, and most of the Democratic leaders here, long for the day when they can grasp the hands of Davis, Slidell and Wigfall in the Senate Chamber, and hold sweet communion with Pryor Keitt, Braksdale and Hindman in the House. Mr. Wilson’s bill cuts off all these luxuries, and hence they will be sure to oppose it.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 14, 1862, p. 2
One of the most important measures introduced at this session of Congress is the disfranchising bill proposed by Mr. Wilson of Iowa, which provides that no person shall hereafter be eligible to office who has taken up arms against the United States, after having taken an oath to support the Constitution. The bill is intended to apply to all former Senators, Representatives, Federal and State officers, who have joined in the rebellion. The Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of all the States, prescribe an oath of fidelity to the former instrument, and hence every rebel who has held an office is perjured before God and man. The oath of such a person on assuming another office under the United States Constitution would be a mockery and blasphemy. Yet I venture to say that the Democrats will oppose the bill with as much firmness as though it were a proposition to take a part of the tax burden from the shoulders of loyal citizens and put it on the traitors. Col. Voorhees, Wood, and most of the Democratic leaders here, long for the day when they can grasp the hands of Davis, Slidell and Wigfall in the Senate Chamber, and hold sweet communion with Pryor Keitt, Braksdale and Hindman in the House. Mr. Wilson’s bill cuts off all these luxuries, and hence they will be sure to oppose it.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 14, 1862, p. 2
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