The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-31
House Of Representatives.

Mr.. Potter reported the following, which was
atopicd:--
Rc,oired, That the Secretary Of tho Treasury
I've requested 10 furnish, without unnecessary
tclay to the s. lect Committee instructed to
inquire into the alleged di,oy1ty Of Govern
ment employees, tho information asked for by
the letter Of the Sd irst addressed by the Oh ,ir-
man Of this Committee to tn Secretary Of the
Treasury.
Mr.. Potter also reported a resolution calling
on the Secretary OF the Interior TO similarly re-
spord. lie said Il was necessary that the So
ltct Committee should have this information
in order 20 make their report.
Mr. wicklifc, not caring to vote blihdly, in-
quired what was the character Of tho intorma =
tion called for.
Mr.. Potter explained that in July last, the
heads Of apartments were requested 10 furnish
lists Of their respective clerks, which they did,
| and Il o last request which the Secretaries Of
the TreaAury and In oriYr have not complied
with was 30 furnish the committee with the
names OF such clerks mentioned in their first
commuI icatiOu, wh) have since been removed,
| designating such by name. |, was necessary
| for the committee to have the information in
| order to ascertain whether tho Departments
have removed those who have been reported to
| them rs disloyal 20 faf as the committee could
| learn this fact from tho evidence before them.
| If such pctsons have not boon removed, tho
| Department hy this call would have an oppor-
| tuiity 10 furnish the reasons.
| Mr. WickliiIe did not feel himst II called upon
10 dcicrd tho Departments Named, but he dill
not uniertand how far this House has the right
To assure the oNccu'iyc powers Of this govern
mint Il he understood the merits Of the pend.
| ing question, il was, why the heads of depart
| mtnis did not remove certain cleIksI
Mr. Oln flid the persons charged ought to
have an opportunity ~ renting the all 'gat,ons,
which he learned incidentally, had not been
afforded.
Mr.. Wicklife, re.uming, said If we have
hosds Of departments, who are not competent
tp Judge Of the qualification or loyalty Of their
subordnatcs, we should strike at and remove
them, aiming A. higher game than moro clerks.
Mr. Mallory objected to tho introduction OF
the above rnmed resolution, calling on the Soc
rotary Of the Interior, &c.
Mr.. Potter said Mr.. Wicklfss remarks
, would be proper, If the question were on the
appoi' tmcnt of the Committee. Bat tbs Com
mittCe has already b,cn appointed. The very
objoc, OF sending to the Departments the ties j :
mony affecting the disloyal Of clerks, was to
, afford an opportunity for viniic alton.
The Committee have not decided any matter,
they have merely taken and submitted the tes-
timonv to the heads Of departments. lie would
inform the gentleman from Kentucky, that
| there were today in the empl2Ymcnt ~ the
partments who have never uttered one word of
sympathy for the Government notwithstand-
'''N 'h9 I'AAin NhlAh oNliuulNl II. ne DepaFt-
ments have not in this respect performed their
duty. In a great many clscS where clerks
have been charged with disloyalty, parties
have come before the Committee. and called on
God to witness that they were LOYAL men,
while Others brought letters from senators and
members of the House, declaring them to bo
loyal men. In many instances, persons certi.
fled rs loyal men have left the district, aud are
now found in the ranks of the enemy Every
man employed should have an opportunity 10
give evidence of his loyalty, and this was the
object OF tho Committee.
The resolution being objected to, II was not
received for consideration.
Dir. Stevens, from the Committee on WAYS
and Means, reported hill repeating certain
laws creating ports Of entry, tho consideration
Of which was postponed until the second Tues
day IN February. After that gentleman Ste
vens) had briefly EXPIRE sod his views, saving
among other things that ''the blockade was a
YHlsi admission OF the nationality of those whose
ports are blockaded, and that it was not a cor
rect principle for a nation TO blockade its own
ports;' Incidentally abiding TO the adjust
ment Of the Trent ifiir, he said that the 'con.
duct OF France was impairment, "a she was
uninyitcd TO intervene in the affair. But whom
we shall have settled our domestic troubles we
must lock into the holy alliance OF these Powers
Glance and Englaud) aud see how far they shall
lie permitted to control our conduct
Mr.. Spauldirg introduced a bill authorizin,
tue Issue OF treasury notes, PAYABLE on demand.
Referred 10 the Committee on Ways and Means.
Adjourned to Thursday.