435

Lot 435: Oath of Allegiance, WV 1869

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:120.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Lot  435: Oath of Allegiance, WV 1869
<b>Civil War Union Documents</b><hr><b>June 26, 1869, Oath of Allegiance by a West Virginia man, Very Fine or better.</b>
10” x 8,” a partly printed Oath of Office including wording that would have excluded any ex-Confederates. Reads in part: “I, Jas. F. Harvey, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of West Virginia; that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States; that I have, voluntarily, given no aid or comfort to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto, by countenancing, counseling or encouraging them in the same...; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power or Constitution within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto...” Such oaths were required to vote, hold office, or in some cases to do business with the local government. The wording alone made it hard for any Rebels to sign this in good conscience, thus excluding them from prominent positions. Scarce.