Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-06-06
letter from General schoGeId.

General Schofeld, as Commander of the First
Military District, recently wrote a letter to
General Grant, upon the subject of the admis-
sion of Virginia, and has now, in his new posi-
ton as Secretary OF War, sent copy of this
letter to the House of Representatives, for
consideration by the proper committee. The
communication is as follows: III.
lid oRs FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT,
VIRGINIA, RICHMOND, May Is, 1868.
General U. s.. Grant:
'sGenerag-I have the honor to invite your
attention to matter which understand to be
of great Importance, aud which, if [ am correct,
will demand the early attention OF Congress. |
suppose the amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress, and Known as article fourteen,
will soon be declared to have been ratified and
become part of the Constitution, and | uu-
derstand the effect will be to at once remove
from office all persons who are disqualified by
that amendment III am right in the above
supposition, and in my understanding OF the
effect of the proposed amendment, 1t becomes
matter of great Importance to determine what
is to be done in those States whose governments
are still provisional only. In the States which
shall have been readmitted to representation in
Congress, no serious difficulty will exist, for
the reason that in those States the only dis
qualification for Office will be that contained in
the Constitutional Amendment, and hence an
ample field will be left for the selection OF per-
sons to fill all the vacant Offices, except, per
haps, the higher judgeships; but in the States
not readmitted to representation the oath pre-
scribed by the act of Congress Of July 2, 1862,
will still be required of all persons elected or
appointed to any office. [ have called for re-
ports which will give the number Of officers of
the various grades in Virginia who will be dis
placed by operation Of the Constitutional
Amendment, and will forward the specific in
formation when obtained. For the present l
can only state that the number Will probably
be several thousand, and that only small pro-
portion of the vacancies thus created can pos
sibIy be filled by persons possessing the neces-
sary qualifications, including ability to take
the present test oath In the Judiciary Depart
ment. to dispense with the test oath even,
would probably be insufficient, for nearly all
lawyers of sufficient experience to fit them for
the bench held some office before the war, and
hence are disqualified by the Constitutional
Amendment. [ have already appointed in Vir-
ginia nearly five hundred officers, and would
have appointed more if qualified persons could
be found. 1t is important to observe that the
large majority OF city, town and county officers
receive little or no compensation for their SER
vices Hence, men who possess the necessary
qualifications cannot be induced to accept such
Offices, except in the places where they reside
and own property or have substantial interests.
Reports have been received from several por-
lions of the State that no persons can be found
even to fill vacancies that now exist. When
the Constitutional Amendment takes effect a
large number of important Offices must become
vacant, and remain 50 until restoration is com
peted unless some relief is afforded by Con-
gress.
Every respectfully, your obedient servant.
~. NJ. SCHoFIELD. -