The Chattanooga Daily Rebel

The Federal Oath in Memphis.

From a late copy of the Memphis Bulletin we clip the following General Orders from the Federal authorities at Memphis, in relation to the administering of the yankee oath:

Headquarters 16th Army Corps,
Memphis, Tenn., 26th May, 1863.

General Orders, No. 65.

I. All persons residing within the city of Memphis, not in the service of the United States, are hereby required to enroll and register their names with the Provost Marshal, Lieut. Col. M. Smith, within twenty days from the date of this order.

II. Such registry must show the character of the allegiance of each person registered under one of these heads:

1. Loyal citizens of the United States.
2. Subjects of foreign friendly Powers.
3. Enemies of the United States.

III. Each person who shall enroll him or herself as a loyal citizen, shall take and subscribe to the following oath:

United States of America,
State of Tennessee.
Provost Marshal's Office for the __ day of __ 1863.

I do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and will obey and maintain the Constitution and laws of the same, and will defend and support the said United States of America against the enemies foreign and domestic, and especially against the rebellious league known as the Confederate States of America. So help me God.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this __ day of __ 1863.

Provost Marshal

Residence __ Age __ Height __ Hair __ Eyes.

Said oath will be in duplicate; one copy being delivered to the party taking the same, the other filed in the office of the Provost Marshal.

IV. Subjects of foreign friendly Powers will be required to take the oath of neutrality, and will file evidence with the Provost Marshal that they are not and have not been citizens of the United States or the so-called Confederate States.

V. In cases where the Provost Marshal shall have reasonable doubts of the good faith of any person who shall offer to take the oath of allegiance, such person may be required to give bonds for the faithful keeping of the terms of said oath.

VI. Every person not in the service of the United States, or the citizen of some foreign friendly Power, and over the age of eighteen years, who shall neglect or refuse to take the oath of allegiance herein prescribed, shall be deemed to have elected to register themselves as enemies to the United States, and be subject to such disabilities and penalties as belong to such condition.

VII. Registered enemies, as described in Section III of this Order, shall not be permitted to vote at any election or exercise any other franchise or privilege, or to appear as plaintiffs or as attorneys before any Court or to hold any office of trust, profit or emolument, or to conduct any business or profession within said city.

VIII. An entire year of occupation of this city by the United States, has given abundant opportunity for all persons to make their deliberate election of the sovereignty to which they owe their allegiance. The so-called Confederate Congress, by acts passed at an early period of the rebellion ordered peremptorily from the limits of the revolted States those true citizens who adhere to the country of their fathers. The same sentence will be pronounced after one year's patient waiting upon all who, while denying their allegiance to the United States, yet have found protection beneath the flag. These persons will be sent where their affections are.

IX. Giving aid and comfort to the public enemy is punishable with death, and the leniency with which such persons have been treated must cease. Any person who shall hereafter offer insult by word or act to the United States, or who shall express sympathy with the enemy; or satisfaction at any imagined or real success of the Confederate arms, will be arrested at once and severely punished.

X. All real estate of registered enemies will be liable to seizure by the United States and all conveyances of the same after the day of the date of this order are hereby declared fraudulent as against the United States, and void. The question as to their personal property will be determined in each case according to the necessities of each.

XI. The Union citizens of Memphis are invited to set a prompt example in registering themselves at once, and giving aid and information to the officers charged with the execution of this order.

XII. The Commanding General reserves to himself the right of determining those few and rare cases in which, from motives of humanity, or from some kindly or charitable act to our wounded, sick or prisoners, exceptions will be made to the above penalties.

XIII. Commanders of Divisions will at once define the lines of their several Military Posts in Tennessee and Mississippi, within which, when defined, after twenty day's notice, the same rules herein laid down shall be enforced.

XIV. After the expiration of the time limited in this order, no person will be permitted to come within the lines of the Military Posts of this corps (except as a prisoner) unless provided with the oath of allegiance.

XV. All officers and soldiers of the United States forces, and all loyal citizens are charged with the active enforcement of this order.

By order of Maj. Gen. S. A. Hurlbut
HENRY BINMORE
Ass't Adi't Gen.