SPEECH OF THE HON. JAMES A. BAYARD, OF DELAWARE, DELIVERED IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, JANUARY 19TH, 1864, AGAINST THE VALIDITY OF THE TEST-OATH, PRESCRIBED BY THE "ACT" OF JULY 2, 1862, WITH THE SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE, AND HIS FINAL REMARKS BEFORE THE RESIGNATION OF HIS SEAT. ALSO, A LETTER ADDRESSED BY MR. BAYARD TO A CONSTITUENT, DECEMBER 22, 1860.
Philadelphia: 1864. 38pp. Disbound. Text lightly toned but quite clean. Very Good.
The 1862 Test Oath required elected or appointed federal officials to swear or affirm that they had not engaged in disloyal conduct. Bayard, "the only member of the Senate present at this session who has not taken the oath," explains his position: the oath is unconstitutional, requiring an affirmation different from the one prescribed by the Constitution. He opposes it as "an expurgatory test-oath, retrospective in its character, and covering the events of the affiant's past life. The Constitution prescribes an oath appealing to the conscience alone for the future performance of duty." Bayard would, in protest, take the oath and resign his seat.
Bartlett 356. Sabin 4030n. Not in LCP. Item #31967
Price: $150.00