Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-28

The following correspondence Is given to
the public:
CHARLoTTEsvILLB, Va, Sept. -, 1866.
To his EEceiis,icy Andreto Johnson, President
Qfhe UHifed States:
DEAR Sir. We, the undersigned citizens Of
the county of Aibemarle and State of Vir-
gina, and friends Of your Administration,
prompted by the difficulties which surround
us in relation to the approaching Congress
sional election, do appeal to you for counsel
and advice as to our proper course of action.
In this Congressional district for example,
three gentlemen are soliciting the suffrages
of tho people. They were all conservative
men before the war, and opposed secession.
Two of them admit that they countenanced
the Southern cause during the war to an ex-
tent which prohibits them from taking the
oath which was prescribed by the Congress
of the United States in 1862. The third says
that he can conscientiOusly take it, and the
question presents itself, How shall we vote
Some of us prefer one candidate, and some
another; but, being wholly uninformed as to
whether the test-oath will probably be re-
pealed or modified so as to admit Southern
members, we have thought 1t possible that
you might enlighten US on the subject. Our
first wish is to send men to Congress who will
give the most efficient support to your ad-
ministration, whether they be of the one
class or the other. Should it be your opin-
ion that the oath will most probably be in.
sisted on, and that our object will most likely
be obtained by voting only for those who can
sand the test, then we are disposed to relin-
quish our individual preferences, and cast our
suifrages for those who are qualified to take
the oath. If, on the other hand, you should
entertain the opinion that men whose antece-
, Ill la Ill
ted, notwithstanding their inability to take
the oath, then we may vote otherwise than
we would do under different state Of things.
We truly and sincerely desire information
on this subject, and should you be able to
spare the time from your other duties, and
see no impropriety in complying with our re.
quest we would be greatly obliged to you to
furnish the information asked for. Our main
purpose is to pursue that course which will
be most likely to sustain you and your policy
in the administration of the Government
Very respectfully, your obcdient servants,
THOMAS WooD, IRA GARNET,
" SOUTHALL, RT W. DUKE,
ions L. COCHRAN, GEoRoB CARR,
PgYToN s. COLES, WIN. I. EARLY,
JAS. c. soUTHALL, WM T. GORDON, JR.
J. j. BocoCK,
The following is the reply made to the
above letter by Attorney General Speed, by
request of President johnson:
ATTORNEY GENERALS oPFICR,
WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1865.
MeSsrS Wood, John Cochran and others, Char
iOttesvftte, Va.
GEsTLENEN: The President has referred to
me your letter dated Charlottesville, Va,
September 1865, and am instructed by him
to say that he has no more means Of know
ing what Congress may do in regard to the
oath about which you inquire than any other
citizen. 1t is his earnest wish that loyal and
true men, to whom no objection can be made,
should be elected to Congress. This is not
IN official letter, but a simple expression of
individual opinion and wish.
l am gents, very respectfully, your obe-
dent servant,
JAS. Sized, Attorney General.