New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-28
1veSp71ork Daily Gribn,re
STlRTLIyG TREASON DEVELOPAElTS
REPORT OF THE POTTER COMMITTEE
The Disloyal Employees Of Government
How the Rebels Plotted and Executed
their Treason.

TIE Committee appointed by the opehhor, III Po"
suance of "A resolution adopted by the House oil
Representatives, on the elh day of July last, to
o,csrtan and report to the House the number oil
persons, with the names thereof, now employed IN
the several Departments of the Government VINO
are known TO entertain sentiments OF hosuy 10 tne
Goyernme { of the United States, and those VINO
have refused to take the oath to support the Constr
tutien Of the United States with authority to sehd
for persons and papers, beg leave to report IN part
az follows:
The Committee met for the first time on SATURDAY
the lat day of July, Messrs. Potter, the Cbafihh'
rd,er,on Uaicbt and +. sseDden being present.
,,, ~ ST., Potter (, We. voted ,bst the Chairman
Ia n,s 10 eddr.s. a to the heads o. ne .esssl ~
psrtm.ni. requesting the aes o. so have been
sopon.ed .r ce tho 4th Of March oi ana sG ~ ,sLe
10 ,uppoTt the Constitution Of the United States AHoe
the 4th OF March lSoi
TIL, ,esolution was Immediately carried into effect
by the Chairman and in the course OF "eeN ,".,'
flor re,ponses were received from the beads OF De-
nartments. conveying the information desired
From this time forward the Committee met ain oct
daily until the 9th day of Augus'. II then took
recess for few DAYS and resumed ITS abors On Tue
oh Of September, aud continued them from day 10
day, until the 9Th of October.
During this period about five hundred and my
charges Of dsloyaty against persons connected with
the Government were made and inquired into, IN re-
latiou 10 which near four hundred aud fifty wit
nesses were examined.
Since the present session Of Congress commemorative
Committee ms far AS their other duties would blow
resumed their investigations, and several meetings
have been held at which important cses have beeu
incurred into and valuable information elected In
deed il has become quite apparent that the subject
il far from being exhausted, and every day new
cases are being brought to the attention OF the Com
mttee involving serious charges Of dsloyalty against
persons nrusted with Office, or employed IN resPon'
sble situations by the Government. II is for this
reason the Committee propose to report the result OF
their lsbols up 20 The present time, and, If 1t be the
pleasnrs of the House 10 continue their inyeauga-
| tions into the numerous new cases Of which they
receive information almost daily. Ii mus. needs be
that in time Of civil war, disloya men will be con-
sn,ly seeking the confidence OF the. Government, in
order 20 betray i,s secrets and 70 eoyis patronage,
and it would he strange II they not often sue
ce,sln II is therefore ia split Of distrust Of
ihose who have been called by the President 10 aid
him In toe execution Of the laws and The adnlnis-
trion OF nuirs, tnst the Committee ark Tor author
ity continue Their Inquiries lno INC CHARACTER o'
public servants.
The 70 iion Of the presiden, and heads OF Depart
r.eufs il not favorable 10 the receipt OF Information
preudic u 10 the Syalty OF ihose employed under
ihen. Such information almosi inVaIltbly iess
with IA I,X ellen Ks Hra other citizens OF Washing
ton. who find IL difficult 10 gam scce's 20 those in
mower amid the press Of public business. In Tue
mean while dslJyal men who have resolved to ENJOY
the patronage Of 60 eminent WHEN az hehrt thty
desire 10 zee oyeTthruwn, and agninst which they
lu.a mn
tiaie Themselves with the Secretaries under whom
they hold ulce, and other influential persons, by
fithlrs pfofessions Of loyalty aud obsel uious pro-
te,tt ons OF personal regard II Il tie Office OF the
Committee to step in, and supply "A ohannel OF coui-
mnncation between the people, who have Tor wears
known those disloyal men, and the distinguished
gentlemen whose duty II becomes, upon proper eVi-
de lcc 10 remove them from office.
The mode of proceeding adopted By the COMMITTEE
bas been to entertain and examine into oil charges
preferred by respectable and responsible cltlLens
against any pereon employed by the Goyernment
These examinations have been made ty calling such
witnefses as the Committee were led to believe
from the lest information they could obtain, Jos
sessed the most Trustworthy knowledge OF the sent
ments and views OF the parties charged IN relation
10 the present rebellion All the evidence has been
giyen under oath, and in a majority Of the cases
involving he loyalty Of clerks, Witnesses have been
fellow clerks who have associated with tue accueed
for months or years. The Committee have endeay-
ored TO avoid, far ne possible oil testimony found
ed in mere partisan or personnl feeling Iney may
not In Ill cases have escaped this ,oufce Of msin-
formation which must uuavoidably attend AN inyes-
tieaion OF tLs kind, but they have earnestly sIryen
10 guard against IL.
4 large amount Of testimony he's been taken By the
Committee which is not positive in III character
Tbis unless eorfoboraed by other evidence has BOT
been subnit.d with ihe report; tu, the Ienous im-
pica,ed by IT, well "a By the stronger testimony,
have been ported the President, to the heads
OF departments, with abstract Of TIE evidence in
each case. 1bis has been done from time - line IN
order that thOee nron whom the responsibility rests,
and who may be suppoied 10 feel the deepest inter-
et In tho matter should 10 correctly informed 10
the character Of clerks aud others VITO stand IN
fdential relations 10 them and The Government. IL
this secondary evidence shoul1 not De deemed sulh.
GENTLY stFOug in nstlncer or SLIGHT or frivolous
10 OleTr tie COmmttee, never Lheesl believed that
il might lead TO fuIther inquiries on me part OF the
head of department or other appointing power to
whom il was sent. Another reason which led tue
COMMITTEE to ADOPT this plan was the Importance
and rece 81 ~or immediate action ia tho ptcui'
the danger If continuing dsioyal men la public en-
ployment being proposition too pain To be ques-
toned.
AZ general rule, the parties charged We're not
examined by the Committee, Dor were they notified
of the charges preferred against them, with a view
b. the Introduction Of Routing testimony. The
Commi,tee is one OF inquiry, not OF final ndjudca-
rion ana liz functions ore sinilar 10 those of the
| Grand Jury rather than TO tie Court OF Justice.
NoreOvtF II tue course indicated bad been ado pied
~ would have rendered report impossible during
she prrteut Congress, ~ the int,rminnblo contrO-
very 10 would bugs .iyen rise 10, aud ihur the very
object Of the investigation would have been def ated
| OF negative testimony, which would have been as
useless o the iry accused an 10 the Government
Persons IN public employment are not put upOn trial
fr trepon, bat the Houoo desii ed Information 10