Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-06-18
Important Communication from Gen.
Schofield Relative to the Pending
Constitutional Amendment.

The Secretary of War sent to the House on
Wednesday week the communication which he
addressed, as commander of the First Military
District, to Gen. Grant, saying he transmitted
it at the suggestion of the General ofthe army,
for the consideration of the proper committee.
The following is the document:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT.
RIcHMoYD, Va, May 10, 1868.
General T. s. Grant
GENERAL: have the honor TO invite your
attention to a matter which understand TO be
of great Importance, and which, if am correct,
will demand the early attention of Congress-
I suppose the amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, passed by the Thirty
ninth Congress, and known rs article fourteen,
will soon be declared to have been ratified, and
become a part of the Constitution, and under
stand the effect will be TO at once remove from
office all persons who are disqualified by that
amendment. If am right in the above sup
position. and in ny understanding OF the effect
Of the proposed amendment, It becomes mat
fer of great importance 10 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 disqualiti-
cation for Office will be that contained in the
constitutional amendment. and hence an ample
field will be left for the selection Of persons TO
fll all the vacant Offices, except, perhaps, the
higher iudgeships; but in the States not read
nitted to representation, the oath prescribed
bv the act of Congress Of July 2, 1862, will
still be required Of all persons elected or ap-
pointed to an Office. have called for reports
which will give the number Of officers OF the
various grades in Virginia who will be DIS
placed bv operation Of the constitutional a.
mendment and will forward the specific infor-
nation when obtained. For the present can
only state that the number will probably be
several thousand, and that only small pro-
norton Of the vacancies thus created can pos
sibly 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 i4lS Aalll4I - tliI NpiiHhltHNi'ie'i
mendment | have already appointed IN Viz
ginia nearly five hundred officers, and would
have appointed more, if qualified persons could
be found. It is important to observe that the
large majority Of city, town, and county oiiicers
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--
tons 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 so until restoration IS com
pleted. unless some relief is afforded by Con-
gress.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
]. NJ. SCBoFIELD.