New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-25
THE PaSl-0FfIoB DEPARTMENT.
Looking with Lanterns for Loyal
Postmasters at the South. b
A Southern Scheme to Repeal the
Test Oath.
Extracts irsm Reports 81 Special Agents o
she Pess.Omes Departmsns for sh'
Mlsnlh or December.
tkaHes az In Original. !

she Poss.Oncs Department for she
Month or December.
lralie' az IN 0rgtsalI
From W. L. KELLY Special Lssat for MissssfppL
"As instructed, called on Gov. Humphreys
and stated my business and received from him the dis.
couraging prediction that citizen Of the State ITO
Asads nail could be found in Mississippi who could or
would take the oath OF Office. he was pleased. how.
eyer TO give notice to the General Assembly then 10
session. Of the Departments desire to extend mail
facilities to the State. This opinion Of the Governor
an satisfied is or was part Of the programme Of the
makers Of political opinions South to keep every IN
Ras and to attach to the acceptance Of office under
the United States riA M prsssxs OATH something Of dis
honor. Some seemed to act a. though this course
would compel the Congress to modify the oath. lam
satisfied that but for this pestilent spirit than
twothirds ofthe offices would have long since been
filed A II was. soon became satisfied that no one
could b safely recommended for offices (Which had
saau salaries attached for though to-day willingness
to take the oath might DO evinced. tomorrow. fnsimi
dated BY public opinion II would be declined Az twas.
forwarded to the Appointment Office petitions and
recommendations for Postmasters at hundred
Offices, embracing nearly every county seat in ths
State"
Fyo~ p. Il. WOODWARD Special agent for Georgia.
ATLANTA, Ga. Jan. i. 1866.
sin forwarding nominations for Postmasters
to the Appointment Office have used increased care
to nsme only such candidates was assured could
take the oath. Some. having received appointments
decline to take the prescribed oath on grounds sppar'
entity fvolous-as The feeding and shelerinR Of Con.
federats soldiers without pay. Others-Union men
decline because unwilling to acknowledge to their
neghbors the unpopular fact that they gave voun
tary aid to fhe Rebellion. While We have secured
many excellent men for postmastcrs in this State the
stngency Of the oath Is deprving the Department Of
others whose services would be invaluable"
From D. B. PARKER, Special agent for prsinis.
Posr.Orr1cE DEPARTMENT.
RICHMOND JAN ], 1866
Hon. @. W. MCCLELLAN. Second Asrstans Postmaster.
General d.
SIR: have the honor to make the following
report Of operations during the month Of December,
1866:
considerable portion Of my time has been spent in
travelling the different mail routes In the State. and
In doing what could to systematic mail matters upon
those routes well to induce the people living upon
the line OF routes under contract TO apply tor the
reopening Of their posOces and the recommendation
Of suitable persons for postmasters. But In this the
people Sec In many cases. the to them insurmountabe
obstacle Of tho test oath. "ironcad" a. many are
pleased 10 term 1t.
In this connection. It may be proper for to state
the result Of my observation that there persons
in nearly every neishsSIo9 who could take the oath
prescrH: put such persons are frequently so scorned
and despsed for their sentiments that they would hardly
be nKey 70 w rvcummsugea LOT gns i.:sn " resf'
master. do rot wish to be understood as applying
tits state Of feeling to all and to every neghbor
hood. for think 1t rather the exception to the rule.
In the sparsely settled portions Of the State. find
that many Of the smaller offices established Tor the
convenience Of one or more families only. Seemingly
there was rule corresponding with that observed In
other sections Of the country which governed the es'
Establishment Of postoflccs.
The railroad line Of communication In the State
still laboring under many disadvantages. but have all
shown laudsbe desire to render every possible facility
for the transportation Of the mails.
D. B. Parker Special Agent.