The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-28

IN numbers, more th0n sumclent TO Nil ali the
offices in the rebel States, if proper exertions
had been made to that end.
1t must be remembered that the rebel
States furnished many thousands Of white
troops to the Union army, as appears from
the following table
Virginia. 85 Mississippi. 68l
North Carolina. 1875 louisiana. 5,s57
Georgia.. l42 Texas ....... 2.444
Alabama........ 2,471 Arkansas. e,627
Florida a'..''....- 1926 Tennessee. 1887
Here is total of 1905 In addition to
this number, about 1000 white troops from
those States we're enlisted in organizations
not embraced in the foregoing table, making
a total of 52,605 white loyalists, who stood
by the Government. And even this state
ment does not include several thousand
whose actual presence swelled the ranks Of
the army of the Republic, but whose real
numbers cannot be known without a labored
investigation of the records of the War De-
qartment, as the committee was informed by
the officer in charge of these records.
THE CIVIL APPOINTMENT ACT.
1t will be remembered that in 1865 Con-
gress passed the following joint resolutions:
| Resotred, That persons honorably dis
charged from the military or naval service, by
| reason of disability resulting from wounds s>of
| sickness incurred in the line OF duty, should
be preferred for appointment to civil offices,
provided they shall be found to possess the
business capacity necessary for the proper
discharge of the duties of such offices.
| And he it further resolved, That in grateful
recognition of the services, sacrifices and
sufferings OF persons honorably discharged
| from the military and naval service Of the
country, by reason of wounds, disease or ex-
piration of terms Of enlistment, it is respect.
fully recommended to bankers, merchants,
manufacturers, mechanics, farmers, and per-
sons engaged III industrial pursuits, to give
them the preference for appointments to re-
munerative situations and employments.
Approved March 8, 1865.
| 1t seems to the committee that an effort TO
carry ont this congressional policy, would
have discovered among the many thousands
Of men in the Southern States. who enlisted
| in the army to sustain the authority Of the
Government, number sufficient to fiIl all the
| Federal Offices in those States. The Presi.
dent has recently called the attention Of the
heads of the several departments, to the pro-
priety of carrying out this congressional
policy; and the committee believe that an
earnest effort to do so, will reward many Of
the soldiers of the Republic in the Southern
States with official positions under the Gov
ernment in whose cause they fought. The
men are there, and are willing to accept the
Offices without modification OF the oath
prescribed by law.
APPLICANTS UNDER TEE ACT.
Some of these persons are applicants for
the very Offices filed by men who cannot
qualify as required by law.
Mr.. j. j. Giers, citizen Of Alabama, ap-
piled for an appointment as Commissioner for
the collection Of direct taxes for that State.
| His application was supported by the follow
ing testimonials:
Hon. Secretary of War:-Please see MI.
J. j. Giers on the propriety of furnishing
small arm ammunition to the loyal men Of
North Alabama A. LINCOLN.
Nov. Is, 1868.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Sept. 80, 1864.
To President Lincoln:
| Mr.. Giers is gentleman Of integrity and
responsibility he is one of the few in that
country who stood firm to the Union. Any
kindness you may show him will confer q
personal favor upon me.
ANDREW JOHNSON
Mr. Giers is loyal citizen Of Alabama,
and has done many acts to prove his position.
- g. II. THOMAS, Maj. Gen.
May IA, 1865.
know Mr. Giers we'll, and have always
found him ready to aid the Government in
every way possible. He is competent and
reliable. U. s. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
Feb. 18, 1866.
Mr.. Giers' friends were not successful in
their efforts to secure for him the position he
desired; but one T. w. Sykes, who was q
member Of the rebel Legislature of Alabama,
was nominated to the Office. Other cases
might be given, but it is deemed unnecessary.
Applications are still pending for the ap.
pointment Of some of the loyal men of the
South to official positions in those States.
On this point the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry remarks ss follows:
1t is true that there are still more appli.
cants for Office in the Southern States who
present what they call q clean record for loy-
atty. but with rare exceptions, they are per
sons who would have been able to present an
Iequally fair record for place under the Con-
federate Government, if the rebellion had
been success, or persons lacking the quail
ica,ions which one needed in revenue posi-
ltions.
The persons here referred to are doubtless
those who refused to aid in the rebellion, and
could not aid the Government OF the United
States during the war, because Of the merci.
less rebel despotism which restrained them.
And all the credit which they receive for
their faithfalmess to the Republic is what
seems not unlike . sneer on the part Of the
l.A clean record for loyalty deserves :
higher reward than this, and those Who can
present it are entitled to quite ~ much con-
sideration at the hands of the Government a.
the men of character and intelligsncss Who
are holding Office in violation Of law. Num-
J oers Of the latter class were not unkindly re.
lcersed but. on the contrary, were tseated
with great kindness and forbearsnce. When
'nev could not take the oati, or Office il VA
. varied ~ more " lsss beiae ltsickaA sSutsor
omitted, sccording % tAs feelings 81 ciredi,.
stances OF the appolutSe. = 4 T6sk ioyal 49,,
have not been appointed ID Office q. "a rsh ~
States does not asise from tae,(set, 49, A.
lsueh men are thsre. bds from ioshef ahd 81,
different causes. Ons Of tkeea 49, ~ p - !
seated ID theseon nahicAtion Of de Poetmss.
ter Qenfral accompauying the. meapaee 81
fsrred 70 the committee. In spsakina a iSl
Adi0esly - has sxpstisncsd n 1eee5inx4h(
services Of persons vko can 1IkE Nv ~
leetA a At - Poetnastes, ~ ayp l.v.1s
9 Z! !! 81 y !