Ironclad Oath
"I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that
I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought nor
accepted nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States;
that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power or constitution within the United States, hostile or
inimical thereto. And I do further swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of the
United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely,
without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to
enter, so help me God."
George Nielsen: “Once the war ended, the loyalty oath became a political party issue. They were not required if you did not care to engage in
politics, and amnesty ended the matter. I have not seen a document signed by a Wend and don't even know if it was a certificate or just a list.”
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