An oath popularly styled the "Ironclad oath" was prescribed by
the Congress of the United States, during the War of the
Rebellion, in July, 1862, to be taken by every person elected
or appointed to any office under the Government of the United
States, the President only excepted. He was required to swear
that he had "never voluntarily borne arms against the United
States"; that he had "voluntarily given no aid, countenance,
counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed
hostility to the National Government"; that he had "neither
sought nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions
of any office whatever under authority or pretended authority
in hostility to the United States"; that he had "never yielded
a voluntary support to any pretended Government within the
United States, hostile or inimical thereto."
_J. G. Blaine,
Twenty Years of Congress,
volume 2, page 88._
IRONSIDES, Cromwell's.
See ENGLAND: A. D. 1643 (MAY).
"IRONSIDES, Old."