The national Republican., 1862-02-28
LETTER From m. ROETEA TO N.
ULAIAs al

uLAIR. III
HousE oP RBrnnsAsrAfivns,
~ > "a February =, lssa.
! DuAn sra On ny return 10 Washinu pn,
'ofSsr On absence Of two weeks, l hnd CO. Of
. leta,r IRON you, dated the ~ instant vAich
v,s publhAsd in ~ washlastou Aar b The
early part Of the present month. A press Of
business hes prevented an earlier reply.
regret to and 10 your letter the intimation
that there 10 anything like Misunderstanding
between us Nothing was further from my
thoughts. We may differ - to the relative
weight Of testimony, while conceding 70 saeh
other the noss perfect good faith in the Joint
effort TO eradicate treason from the public ser-
vice. This has been the feeling Of the com.
mittee In the premises, and had not imagined
that different construction could have been
placed upon The course pursued. The com
mittee, In reporting the testimony taken before
II, has endeavored TO act In stsiot conformity
with is functions. II Il has In any respect
exceeded it, authority, II he's been In receiving
elaborate explanations, or rebutting tsstimony
from the heads Of Departments, In order that
no injustice may be done 10 parties accused, or
TO those who are responsible for thesr reten-
ton in Office or employment.
In many cases this counter testimony has
been deemed so satisfactory as TO cause the
| committee TO erase the names Of the parties
charged from in journals Of proceeding, and 70
exclude them from the report. You have only
to compare the original of your Flint Assist.
ants letter, Of December 10, with the copy
which you will find embodied In the report, In
order to see 10 how many cases the names Of
persons have been erased, with the comment
upon them, 70 avoid an injustice. These era.
sures, nine In number, have been made In CON
sequence Of the satisfactory rebutting testimony
furnished by you or your Assistant 10 the com
mittee, and In four cases only has Il been deemed
proper TO draw the attention of the House 10
charges Of disloyalty against persons In your
department These are
in. Gordon, Samuel B. Beach, J. II. Nat.
tingly, and D. d. T. Leach.
Tho specific charge made Oh oath against Mr.
Gordon is, that he cberishes sentiment utterly
inconsistent with the idea of loyalty 10 the
United States Constitution, viz that he claims
that slavery Is God-given institution, and
that It ought 70 be extended and recognized,
not only In the Territories, but in all the Ststes
10 the Union" The witness further ssys that,
from the general tenor of bis conversation, he
is satis6ed that Mr.. Gordon is q secessiouist
Another witness, whose evidence was less spe
cific, and has for that reason been omitted from
the report, tesiifes to the same effect.
To rebut this testimony of sworn witnesses,
the committee have been furnished with letter |
from Mr.. John Wilson, for some years resident |
Of Illinois, written in March, 1861, long beEre |
the committee was organized, and asking the |
retention Of Mr.. Gordon 10 office, on the ground
of his general good character and qualifications
al an officer.
The testimony taken before the committee in
regard to Mr.. Beach, proves that bis Wife,
daughter, and son are In warm sympathy
with the rebels at the present time. The re.
buttlug testimony furnished BY you 10 . letter
from the Representative from the Con ngressionsl
district in which Mr.. Beach formerly resided,
asking bis retention in ofice on general groun Is
of good character. 1t bears date April I'd,
1861. Also, q paper to the same purpDrt,
signed by Mr.. Franchot and others, citizens of
New York.
You are mistaken in supposing that The name
of W. L. Davis has been reported to the House
BY the committee.
Against Mr.. Aattingly, there are two wit
nesses, the first of whom Is o. G. Abel, clerk
In the Land ONCE, appointed by the present
Administration. He swears that "when the
oath was first rendered to him, [Mattingly,1 j he
hesltated long time about taking 1t, and only
took 1t at the earnest solicitation of his riends;
that be heard Asttingly "spsak in the most
terms Of the Federal troops, call.
Ing them chicken thievss," &c, saying that . all
The stealing done. 10 Baltimore was don't by
Federal troops" He also heard him, 10 drink.
Ing, use such expressions as, " 10 the health Of
JEFF Davis !" "to the success OF Bcauregarti !"
and to The success Of the Confederscy!"
Another witness, Mr.. John A. Miller, swears
that Mr.. hstting)y' g associations have been, and
are yet, with those who are known 10 syinpa-
hze with the rebels. Witness is satisfied lie ia
secessionist.
To rebut this testimony, solsmnly sworn to,
Tou produce On behalf OF Nj. Aattingly, two
etters from his father, George Asttingly, ono
rom the Reverend F. NJ. McGrath, chaplain To
he army hospitals, who has been cha rgsd |
before the committee, on the oath Of a respect
'ble citizen, with being disloysl; letters from
Aesrs. John S. and R. II. Gallaher, Robert
3eale, S. W. Marsh, Nicholas Callan, John A.
Peak and J. Van Reswick These letters,
written by friends and. family connect, ,,ns,
xpress great confidence in Mr.. Aattingly, .s
oyal citizen, but none of them oontrovcrt the
.irsct testimony Of the first witness, and none
+ them are sworn to.
The rebutting testimony In behalf of Mr..
each has not yet been received, but will re-
eive due weight at the hands oil the com.
littse.