The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-07
THE CAPITAL.
coYrrNuED FROM FIRST PAGE.

The first business after the morning hour Monday
is to be tho motion TO reconsider the vote respecting tho
Bankrupt bill.
aEssAoEs PREsfDEyr-cIlrds OF THE OWNERS OF
BER.TIsH VESSEL CAPTURED As A mocs ABE RrNNER.
The SPEAKER presented message from the President
transmitting 10 Congess papers relative To the claims on
this government o. the owners Of the British ship Magi-
cienne captured In 1868 by the United States ship
Onward and sent into Key West FOR adjudication, upon
the suppositon that she had in violation Of the block
ade, sailed from port in possession OF the insurgents
States at Key West the owners claimed damages for
capture and detention. This claim, though the Secre-
tary OF State says unquestIonably just in principle,
seemed TO him as first presented by the British Minister
TO be exaggerated in amount and proposition
sequently made TO Lord Lyons refer the question
ton accepted, and the award Of the arbitrator is
$4,000 An appropriation Of this amount is recon-
mended TO Congress. The matter referred 10 the
Committee on Appropriations.
THE TEST oArH-MoDITicATroNs SUGGESTED.
The President also transmitted communications from
the Secretary Of the Treasury and tho Postmaster Gen.
era addressed to him by those officers suggesting
modification of the oath Of Office presented by the act OF
Congress approved July 2, 1862 Ho fully concurs In
their and the subject pertains to the
efficient administration Of the revenue and postal laws
early consideration OF CONGRESS.
Tho letter OF tho Secretary Of tho Treasury contains
the of collectors of internal revenue assessors
assistant assessors collectors and surveyors OF
customs, &c, appointed since the overthrow OF
the rebellion in the Southern States, who
Of Office prescribed by the act approved July q 1862
Besides these officers considerable number perhaps the
larger proportion OF those holding subordinate positions
In the Revenue Department, have ben also unable to
comply with the requirements OF the As
quence they have served without compensation their
accounts could not be audited by the accounting officers
OF the government. Many Of these officers have per-
formed very important duties with fidelity, and few
must be In great distress by of their liabilities
When the appointments made il found that IL
would be difficult 10 find competent officers in many Of
the Southern districts who could take the oath
referred to; but important did seem the presi-
dent and the Cabinet, for the purpose Of equaz ng
the public burdens, that the revenue system should
Sfa
with little delay practicable and that the unpleasant
DUTY or collecting taxes from an exhausted aud lately
reoeous people should be performed by her Own cit-
Gems that the Secretary of the Treasury did hesitate
to recommend for appointment and to appoint OF
whose present loyalty there was question, but who
might, either willingly Or unwingly during the pro-
gress Of tho rebellion have been connected with the
insurgen State Confederate government to be
able to take the oath OF Office THIS was not done from
any disposition TO disregard the law bat with honest
and sincere purpose of collecting the revenues with
as little trouble to the taxpayers possible.
The country was in peculiar condition; the
REBELLION had come TO sudden close; all
sistance TO the authority Of the United States had
ceased and some millions OF people in of
utter dsorganzaon left without any civil govern
ment whatever, and wiihoat eten an adequate military
protection against anarchy and violence under these
circumstances As IL showed charity 10 be the duty OF the
Executive to proceed at once TO estab the federal au
thorty and civil government IN these States seemed
TO be necessary TO carry into effect the laws OF
the general government As the country passing
from state of 30 state Of peace, aud the
gency seemed to be too pressing 10 admit Ct delay until
the meeting Of Congress, thought that the test
in be dispensed with rather that persons
might be permitted to hold Offices who could
take 1t only In qualified form No one could have re-
grettod than the President and the members
OF the Cabinet the cesslty which existed for this
course; but there seemed to BE- alternative and 1t
confd nifty hoped that under the circumstances Of the
case IL would be approved by Congress. Among those
whose presented 10 the President the Secrc
tary has no suppose that there who
Justly be charged with being instrumental In nsgatng
the rebellion, although few may have contributed to
its support and continuance Some with strong attach
In lffla
they lived into the against the United States under
the baefu influence Of the doctrine OF State sovereignty
Some had held Office under the insurgent authorities as
the only Of supporting their families. Others. to
escape conscrpt!on or to be IN better conducn 10
resist at proper time confederate rule Not one is
knowl have bccl disunonlst " unfricndly 70 The
government at the commencement Of the war very
slight change In the oath--a change that would
not particle OF present disoyaltywould enable
the most OF them TO hold the Offices they are
acceptabiy Giing. Great loss 10 the government
and Inconvenience to the Department must result from
the discontinuano, OF their services Afier stating
reas ut large why Tho oath should be modified, the
Secretary says the rebellion grew out Of anagonsn OF
The legitimate result OF difference OF institutions win
the abolition OF sla,e all real difference Of opinion and
M serious Of estrangement Ought rapidly 10 DIS
appear II will be calamity the extent OF which can
not now be estimated both 70 this nation aud TO The
cause Of civil liberty throughout the world IT, instead Of
looking TO reconciliation and harmony the acton OF
the government shall tend 10 harden and intensity
sectionalism between the Northern and southern
States II is difieult TO conceive OF a more unfor-
tunate course for the United states TO pursue that TO
make ta,gaheres at the South OF men who are srang
gers the people needs no reference 10 history,
although full Of lessons upon this subject TO Nus
tratc the fatal consequences OF such policy.
Appended 10 this letter Of the Secretary OF the Treas
are the names of forty nine persons acting
sors and collectors the Southern States who have not
taken the oath Of oihce w,,hog. qssllhca,lon, ~ -
have been received. appears from letter OF inc
Commissioner OF Customs that the following named pcr-
sons are the only officers who have taken the
oath IN a modified form James VI. Mathews collector,
Rarpahannock, Val william : craft c1llector'
va VIM Lett h, Surveyor, Charleston, : ,. " "
Robinson, special examiner OF drugs and Edgar NJ
Lazarus and ,. +. Walker, appraiser, Charleston y
The Postmaster General IN his communication, say
az means OF restoring the business interests 10 the
Southern States aud aiding In the re establishment o.
their constitutional rcla MS with the sovcrnment
deemed by the President and Cabinet that
tho malls should be introduced and Post ohces DC re-
and the energies OF the Department promptly and
have been continuously directed. various causes nave
ao,h,c contribued 10 the failure In accomplishing al
tha, Was hoped for but that resulting from the oath pre-
scrlrd by nets July ls62 and March 1863 has no
been the least while u has been the one 10 which ~
attention has been mos, frequently called ms ~ ~
"a inclined 20 believe has not been owing exclusively
there not being loyal persons who could take she Oath
bat 10 the limited compensation most OF the ONCE
offering insufficient Inducements 70 persons 70 sct a
pos tnasters, and 10 the uuwiilngness OF many VIZ
might otherwise cct 70 90 80 ch acooun. % M 49,,
fear would result frCm taxing tho oath when inc ma
jonsy 81 their neshbors consist u those who had !
snme form aidoa The rebellion To obviate thes
s,Incultics ia ra't recourse has been Lad
the appointment q woman posirlistresscs, whic
hes proved o. be OF do bfn utility 70 the service AM
necessity has also compelled the srpon'meh, OF Ns,
many ignorant persons Incompetent 70 discharge ~
dnte- OF their ON e. As remedy Tor the future w
Postmaster General aueg~gisa mobilization OF the oau
bv inserting the word voluntarily lminediatey precel
Inr the word "gourht 40 thai the clause would rcd
ifhat have neither voluntarily sought, nor accepted
nor attempted 20 exercise the functions OF any ono
whatever under any authority or pretended authority
hostility to the United 5atcsn This would enlarge "a
eisss OF persons Who could qualify postmaster
and mall contractors and be IN harmony, \ seems
bin, with the general provisions and purposes
The oath and thu Zee tae the speedy 70 cs abisnner
al the postal service the benefit Of all VI
sections % the country for u must be borne IN min
that While the people Of The southern states are moi
rcc,Iy interested The restoration, other states a
ai.o largely Interested II may DO, he s-ys incresiit
to know that OF tie 2hs mail r0u-s W operation In Y
dslova stats q, the breaking ont 0f the rebellion y
o,ye ~ r5 only has been restored and that OF q
NJ. a.. tfoga Gtafaa oniv 2 ~, aruolnt ncute