Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-05
Reply of Postmaster General Blair 10 the
Potter Committee.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

washington, req. ., 1867.
Dear Su No one, believe, has more cordial
II 'ympathised in your efforts to eradicate dis
loyalty from public Office than have At the
outset Of your labcrs, expressed this to you in
person, and since, In writing In the midst of the
panic, created by the eUrsNte in Baltimore, put
stringent oath TO the employees Of the Depart
ment, which was a test both Of loyalty and cour-
age, and all who failed to stand it, were dismissed;
and have since removed Of those who remained
lot only all whose loyalty had any reason to
doubt, but many others who believed were for
the Government, but not with s4ficIent earnest
ness to entitle them to public employment.
Having manifested, In this manner, nv dispo-
sition to cooperate with you, had supposed there
could be no ground for Misunderstanding between
US, and yet / find you take a controversial tone
with me in the report just made to the House,
when there has been no controversy, and not the
slightest int!mation from you, in the many inter-
views we have had, that there was the least diff
ference between US
note especially in this connection, the manner
In which you speak Of the retention Of few in
dividuals In tie Department in consequence OF
satisfactory explanations having been made Of
the charges made against them before your com.
mittee.
1t was not intsndad L supposed. in rai.Inu your
committee, that paTts testimony taken before II
should be decisive. For this reason with respect
to those Of the list you sent me who were still In
ONCE, | allowed exculpatory testimony to be Of
fered, and In three II Of such character
"a to satisfy me that there was no ground for a
suspicion Of their fidelity to the Government |
stated this to you IN my letter. but not supposing
that you wanted to revise my dgment, did not
send you the evidence submitted to me by the
parties, as would have done on the slig htest in.
timation that you desired II, or intended to make
an issue upon my action before the public As
you have made such an issue with reference to the
cases Of J. N. Gordon, Samuel B. Beach, w. L
Davis, }. Fl. Mattingly, and d. D. T. Leach,
think It proper to make the following brief state
ments as to each Of them:
(lsL) J. ". GoTd0n.-Against him You had only
the opinion Of one person, who stated no fact TO
justify his opinion. For him | had the testimony
OF Hon: John Wilson, herewith enclosed to you,
which was supported by the decisive declarations
Of loyal men in the Department. TSee exhibit A. 4
I'D Mr.. S. B. Beach The evidence does not
show that Mr.. Beach himself is disloyal, but that
his children are so. The member from his dis
trct, and many other republican members from
the State Of New York, and Of the State commit
tee, pressed me to retain him. was not insen-
sible, either, to considerations Of his great age
and scant means Of support, and consented not TO
turn him out Of Office during the winter.
send herewith the applications Of Mr. Fran
chot and others above referred to. [See exhibit 1
I'D Mr.. w. L. DdrtS.-The same considera-
lions apply to the case Of Davis to that Of Cor
don, the evidence being only matter Of opinion
OF one witness. Hisimmediate superior, occupy
ing the same room, (Mr 6uest,) whose LOYALTY
and patriotism Is positive and warm, and who Is
also man Of good judgment, was examined on
the subject by Inc. He vindicates Davis on his
personal knowledge from the opinion expressed
before your committee by Mr.. Burns
Cith) J. II MattingIy.-The voluminous ex
hbit co herewith sent presents some of the testi
monY which satisfied me that the charges against
him were unjust, and originated in personal diff
ferences between him ind the witnesses before
the committee.
(3th.) ID. ID. T. Lsach-The only evidence
reported to me, by your committee, against him.
was that Of J. NJ. Psrke, who ,ubseouentIv
Informed your committee that he did not mean
Leach, but Shields, who was removed. On this
state Of the case, did not, Of course, think MI.
Leach questioned at all; and Il was not TIL saw
the testimony Of Messrs. Boyd and Sidney pub.
Nshed In the newspapers, that 1 knew of any
reason Tor removing him. Ii these statements are
not satisfactorily met, he will be removed.
In conclusion, think 1t proper to say that, In
the view take Of the subject, have not thought
1t necessary to decide that officers were disloval.
In order to remove them, and In fact but few Of
those who have been removed were so regarded.
Except those who have some peculiar fitness for
or manifest devotion to duty, do not regard
those found in Office as having any claims to be
continued there; and certainly none Others will
be retained in this Department; nor will mere
clerical excellence snfdce without the exhibition
of active, patriotic spirit.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(signed) M. BLAIR, Postum Gen
Hon. JOHN F. Potter, Chairman Investigating
COMMITTEES, House Of Representatives.