Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-08
NOTIFICATION NECESSARY.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Interesting Statement from the Treas
uPy and Postal Department.

WASHINGTON, March 6.-Jhe President
Transmitted communications from the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and the Postmaster
General, addressed to him by those officers,
suggesting a modification Of the oath of
Office prescribed by the act approved July,
1862. He fully concurs in their recommends
tions, and as the subject pertains to the eff
Gent administration Of the revenue and
postal laws in The Southern States, he COM
mends it TO the early consideration of Con-
gress.
The letter of the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury confirms the names of Collectors Of In
ternal Revenue, Assessors, Assistant Asses
sors, Collectors, and Surveyors Of Customs,
&C., appointed since the overthrow Of the
rebellion in the Southern States, who have
not been able to take literally the oath of
Office prescribed by the act approved July
q 1862. Besides these officers a considerable
number, perhaps the largest proportion of
those holding subordinate positions in the
Revenue Departments, have been also una
bic TO comply with the requirements of the
statute. As consequence, they have served
without compensation, as their accounts
could not be audited. Many of these off
GERS have performed very important duties
with fidelity, and not few must be in great
distress by reason of their inability. When
appointments were made it was found it
would be difficult to find competent officers
in many of the Southern States who could
take the oath required, but so important did
it seem to the President and Cabinet for the
purpose Of equalizing the public burdens,
thatthe revenue system should be established
throughout the recently rcbellious States,
with as little delay as practicable, and
that the unpleasant duty of collecting
tax from an exhausted and lately re-
bellious people should be performed by her
own citizens; that the Secretary of the Treas
ury did not hesitate to recommend for APP
pointment those men of whose present 10y
atty there was no question, and who might,
either willingly or unwillingly, during the
progress Of the rebellion, be connected with
the insurgent States and Confederate Gov
eminent as to be unable to take the oath of
Office This was not done from any dispo-
sition to disregard the law, but an honest
and sincere purpose Of collecting the revenue
with as little trouble to tax payers as posi-
bic. The country was in peculiar condi-
ton. The rebellion had come to a sudden
close. All resistance to the authority of the
United States had ceased, and some seven
millions of people, in a state of utter disor-
ganization, were left without any civil gov
eminent whatever, and without even an adj
equate military protection against anarchy
and violence. Under these circumstances,
as it is shown clearly to be the duty of the
Executive to at once establish the Federal
authority and civil government in these
. aH To ha To aar
into effect the revenue laws Of the General
Government.
As the country was passing from a state of
war TO one Of peace, and the emergency
seemed to be too proposing to admit of de-
lay until the meeting of Congress, it was
thought the test oath might, in view of the
great objects TO be attained, be dispensed
with, and person might be permitted to
hold revenue offices who could take it only
in a qualified form. No one could have
regretted more than the President and men,
bers Of the Cabinet the necessity which ex-
listed for this course, but there seemed to be
no alternative, and it was confidently hoped
under the circumstances Of the case it would
be approved by Congress. Among those
whose names were presented to the Presi-
dent, the Secretary has no reason to sup
pose lncTc Is one WHO can justly ne CldTScu
with being instrumental in justifying the
rebellion, although 4 few may have contrib
uted to its support and continuance, some,
with strong attachment for the
Union, had followed the States in
which they lived into the war against the |
United States, under the baleful influence of
the doctrine Of State sovereignty Others held
off under the insurgents authorities, as the
only means Of supporting their families /;
others, to escape conscription or be in bet
ter condition TO resist at the proper time the
Confederate rule. Not one is known to have
been disunionist or unfriendly to the Gov
eminent ut the commencement of the war.
A slight change in the oath would not abate
a particle of the present disloyalty but
would enable the most of them to hold the
offices they are now so acceptably filling,
Great loss to the Government and great in
convenience to the Department must result
from discontinuance of their services. AZ
ter stating the reason at large why the oath
should be modified, the Secretary says the
rebellion grew out of the antagonism of
opinion between the people Of the free and
the slave States. The legitimate result Of a
difference Of institutions with the abolition
of slavery ought rapidly to disappear. 1t
will be a calamity, the extent Of which can
not be now be estimated, both to this nation
and the cause Of civil liberty throughout the
world Instead of looking TO the recon-
struction and harmonyO of action Of the Gov
eminent, it will tend to harden and intensi-
fv a sectionalism between the Northern and
Southern, G4ofag