Mr. VANWINKLE. If I understand the language and effect of this amendment, it is intended to debar those who were under that oath ofoffice at the time they went into rebellion from hereafter holding office either under the State or national Government. I certainly concur with the Senfrom Indiana, that the binding force of an official oath only continues as long as the term of the office. If it is the intention to exclude from these privileges anyone who has ever held an office under the national Government or the State governments, then the language of the section is correct as it is; but if it is intended to confine it to those who were at the moment of separating themselves from the Government and going over to the rebellion under the obligation of an oath to support the Constitution, then I think the amendment offered by the Senfrom Indiana should be adopted. We all admit that the obligation to support the Constitution is as binding on every citizen of the U.S. as an oath can make it, and that in fact oaths in most cases are of no effect except to have a most solemn acknowledgment of the duty that the oath seems to many to impose; but it does add something to the guilt of the party that at the time be engage in rebellion he was actually under the obligation of an oath to support the Constitution. I shall favor the amendment if the object is to exclude those who were in the actual exercise of these offices and therefore under the binding force of their official oaths, at the moment that they embarked in the rebellion. Whatever view the majority have of it of course should govern the language employed; but understanding that the wor “oath’ is here I shall vote with the Senfrom In iana for his amendment. It would have been sufficient, if the other view was to prevail, to have said that no one who had ever held office under the General or State government should have these privileges, and then there would be no necessity of course for introducing this amendment. I hope that it will prevail, because while it will exclude a very great many it will still leave some to hold oliice in the southern States, cspecially in those States where they will have very few qualified persons, and where many, we may inter, have a less degree of guilt at least than those whom this amendment will exclude.