New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-25


said States. He stated that he had ADVISED the
officers who could not take the oath. The Pro
Eislonal Governors Governor o were paid the salaries at
indication on the part Of Mr. johnson TO prevent the
trial OF Jeh Davis on the contrary every time the ques
ton had been raised the President always appeared 10
be anxious that Davis should be tried by civil tribunal
faTv fribunaI The M so ~, t pe liie1 ~ mn
Presdent establish State Governments had never been
that there should be any discussion about IT,
TESTIMONY OF COMMISSIONER ROLLINS.
Mi n E. Rollins, Commissioner Of the internal Reye
nue. testified that the removals in the Internal Revenue
Department not beneficial to the .seryice that
OF the ncumbents removed for incapacty OF dis
honesty that he had no doubt these removals caused
loss 10 the revenue OF many millions Of dollars; these
changes continually encouraged disers and rectiers
to combine for purposes of fraud there were men st i'm
Office whom he would remove, but could not; he had
expressed desire to the Secretary TO have the removals
made; the President was in the habit of making the
appointments without consulting him. and without look
ing at the records of the office There in the
service whom he had requested TO be removed many
six times The Secretary always made removals when
he had evidence OF their ineiicency In districts
where the officers had been changed loss had occurred
In collection districts $50 Assessors had been removed
In states where removals made the best
removed
TESTIMONY OF l. G. BAKER.
Lafayette C. Baker was examined on Feb c. on the
tents OF letter written by Andrew johnson time
in the early part of 1864 TO Southern man. giving IN
formation 10 the troops about the Capital and
whore, and advice jefferson Davis Baker tesnes that
he thought he received the letter about the LIST of
November 1865 Baker said that he doubted the genuine
ness Of the letter at first not being familiar with the sig
nature of Andrew Johnson he carried it Col Brown
ing of the White House; turning over the writ
could only the signature, be remarked
that he believed there persons engaged IN forging
the Presidents signature 10 letters of recommendation
and other papers and that he had there what ppored
to he the Presidents signature; this in Col Brown
asked hum If that was the Presidents signature; he said
went away, and returned the letter to the party
who had gwen IL TO him; the letter dated
at Nashville, and was addressed TO jefferson Davis,
and was apparently in reply 10 received from Davis
OF from some one in authority from the fact that il
goes on 10 make suggestions 10 delayed policy
which had been adopted 10y the Conederacy In another
terms. The party who handed the letter l
have not seen but once since, and that
given him the letter he told me he applicant for
position and wanted to know what the letter would
mentioned 10 some parties in Washington that there
was such letter. was waited upon by number OF
Members OF Congress- two three times, think 10 get
the letter. TOO late; had returned it, among those
Who called, can remember Hotchkiss. sch0hcld and
question to how he got the letter, he would
tell me. except that NJ had been taken of Andrew
Johnson table Nashville; the body and the signature
Of the letter were all in the same hand writings the mans
name who gave il TO John W. AdaInsOn, No. %
Myrtlest, Nashville. Tenn; he said that he did not take
the letter himself that Gov. Brownlows son had en-
ployed coored TO take IL; never discosed%ho fact
0fny having the letter except ncmbers Of Congress and
To Gen Eckcrt OF the War Department; there were
me- one Of whom C. G. Watkins met with Adamson
reply question Of Mr. Ashley 10 the existence
after he had become President Baker sad Mrs Lucy l.
Cobb Of Washington city showed me two letters one
evening when she was brought 10 my headquarters
April 6, 1896; having criticised her severely,
saying ina, woman a9oUd f tr % WS;@ Hon mao
she eamed that she had right TO be there and that II
anu 20 SATISFY me- showed me Two letters one Wtte Dy
Mr. johnson 70 the PostmasterG General asking him "
give her husband Mr.. Cobb situation u the PostOhce
department. and another, written TO McCuoch' asking
him to give her situation IN the Treasury DEPARTMENT
or, IN other words, woman OF lhe town
In trepy 10 a question as 10 ,Wheihgr
about IT. Baker says she stated that or two pardons She
procured for two men Richmond she got $1,000 that
$500 bills put IN each glove, and presented
the gloves 10 KObt Johnson She went 10 state that
advances asking her to his private room at the
kiIkwOod House, while he was President She stayed
in ms one night all night, and Ou UuOher occasion
rr.ato1 She had with MI Johnson In which ne said he
going muster out Radical officers, and among hcn
Mr.. stanton.
JUDGE cHAsEs TESTIMONY.
The Hon. Salmon T. Chase, who examined May Is,
stated reply question OF the chairman that a. knew
Of no reason why the government dd not bring on the trial
Of JEFF Davis when the practically closed by the
capture Of Davis and before that time, the District aud
the absence Of Justice OF the Supreme Court tie in
dctment against Davis found in q Circuit Court,
S " hsa bsen D resa T@d ed BY the s D
trct Judge ever since, and ne knew oil no reason
was Intended that he should De tried by The Cy Court
he
Chief Justice stated that he rccoeeted no
on that subject since the time of the indictment The
Circuit OF which the District ofNrgina - part was AZ
lOtted % him shorty aier nc Wet on uic 'Ici! IN ho
cember 1864. Since then he had Onay one or Two con
tbe beldug OF that Court. and although
The conversations not fresh IN his receuccuOn he
could very easily rccOllect the substance OF tem By
the Presidents proclamation OF AWiI = 700 ueclaIt
inc iusurrecOn end IN all the Rebel states except
crcnit Courts believing that my duty 20 do
oou M the military authority hao been Withdrawn but
10 time or trials held under military commission at
different points within my circuit WINCH included NiI
NATIONS relieved the United States Circuit Courts from
ali Inability TO interfere the part OF the messing
intended TO ion holding the courts If such relief could
tnI Him n issnc short proclamation 10 that effect
/ submitted 10 him formal one drawn by myself
Ltlas [ tar5d IN All cases within tie Jurisdiction
of hc United States He expressed great readiness To
10 do everything that necessary to facll
rate NV desire to hold the courts; but he
sSjd that his proclamation OF April was
sufficient for that purpose; replied that also lhough
first, and should probably have remained OF tha
opinion if these Military Commissions had not been gong
on and that what desired was simple declaration over
these two points that the military rule was arogated
civil and jurisdiction restored 10 the courts OF
the United States so that the Circuit couia proceed VIII
ont risk interruption from the military
authority. He expressed his readiness 70 DO every
thing i wished to be done; / left him and
nothing done presume the PRESIDENT REQUIRED to
his opinion that his proclamation declaring the nsurTec-
while to do any That however Is mere inference
presented form Of proclamation ana rogue sted nm 10
issue similar one, but ~ net done. mat is all.
These conversations occurred in the Spring or sum
mer of 1866 shortly after an act OF Congress
was passed reducing the number and changing
all the Circuit Courts except the hrst and sec
oud but making provision for the allOttmements,
and was opinion Of seven OF the Judges that with
ont authority 10 make allOmens had jurisdiction
10 hold courts ourselves said 70 The United states DIS
ttorney for the District OF virginia that should
have Joined the District Judge in holding the Circuit
Court the order first mentioned had been issued did
moi ee fine law changing the Circuits fOr some time after
il was passed and when did see 1t conferred with
~ he ]
thcn' in California and all agreed that
@ lr,o1t rendered i'm any court by Judge OF the