The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-20

MESDED, ETC, ETC.
The following important document
has been in our office for two days
awaiting insertion:
On Friday last, to the House Of Rep
resentatives, at Washington, the Presi-
dent transmitted communications from
the Secretary of the Treasury and the
stmaster-General, addressed to him
by those officers, suggesting modifca-
ton of the oath of office presented by
the act of Congress approved July 2,
1862. He fully concurs in their re-
concentrations, and as the subject per-
tains to the efficient administration of
the revenue and postal laws in the
Southern States, he earnestly COM
mends it to the early consideration of
Congress.
The letter Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury contains the names Of coucc-
tors ef internal revenue, assessors, as
sistant assessors, collectors, and sur
vcyors Of customs; &c., appointed since
the overthrow Of the rebellion, in the
Southern States, who hive not been
able to take literally the oath Of office
prescribed by the act approved July z,
1862. Besides these officers consid-
cradle number, perhaps the larger pro-
portion Of those holding subordinate
positions in the revenue department
have been also unable to comply with
the requirements Of the statute. As a
consequence they have served without
compensation, as their accounts could
not be audited by the accounting Off
GERS of the Government. Many Of these
officers have performed very important
duties with fidelity, and not a few must
be in great distress by reason of their
liabilities. When the appointments
were made it was found that it would
be difficult 70 find competent officers in
many Of the Southern districts who
could take the oath referred to; so i'm
portant did it seem TO the President
and the Cabinet, for the purpose Of
equalizing the public burdens, that the
revenue system should he established
throughout the recently rebellious
States with as little delay as practicable,
and that the unpleasant duty Of collect
ing taxes from an exhausted and lately
rebelious people should be reformed
by her own citizens, that the Secretary
of the Treasury did not hesitate to re-
commend for appointment and to ap-
point men of whose present loyalty
there was no question, but who might
either willingly Or unwillingly, during
the progress of the rebellion, have been
so connected with the insurgent States
or Confederate Government as to be
unable to take the oath Of Office. This
was not done from any disposition to
disregard the law, but with an honest
and sincere purpose of collecting the
revenues with as little trouble to the
taxpayers as possible. The country
was in peculiar condition; the rebel
lion had come to a sudden close; all
resistance to the authority Of the Uni
ted States had ceased, and some seven
millions Of people in state of disor-
ganization were left without any civil
government whatever, and without
even an adequate military protection
against anarchy and violence under
these circumstances. As it seemed
clearly to be the duty Of the Executive
to proceed at once to establish the Fed
eral authority and civil government in
these States, so it seemed to be neces-
sary to carry into effect the revenue
laws of the General Government. AS
the country was passing from state of
war to state Of peace, and the emer-
gency seemed to be too pressing to ad-
NIT Of delay until the meeting Of Con-
gress, it was thought that the test oath
might, in view of the great objects to
be obtained, in some cases be dispensed
with, or rather that persons might be
permitted to hold revenue offices who
could take it only in qualified form.
No one could have regretted more than
the President and the members Of the
Cabinet the necessity which existed for
this course but there seemed to be
no alternative, and it was confidently
hoped that under the circumstances of
the case it would be approved by Con-
gress. Among those whose names are
presented to the President, the Secreta-
ry has no reason to suppose that there
is one who can Justly be charged with
being instrumental in instigating the
rebellion, although few may have
contributed to its support andSontinu-
ance. Some with strong attachments
for the Union had followed the States
in which they lived into the war against
the United States, under the baleful in
huence of the doctrine Of State sover.
eighty. Some had held Office unde,
the insurgent authorities as the only
means of supporting their families
Others, to escape conscription, or to be
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