The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-19
ONGRESSION4L NOTES.
Compensation for Southern Office III old -
crs who Declined taking the Iron Clad
Oath.

In the United States Senate on Monday, on
motion Of MIR. Sawyer, the Senate took up the
bill to authorize the payment OF officers ap-
pointed in the Southern States by the Secretary
Of the Treasury, and who could not take the
test oath.
MIR. Sawyer advocated the bill. Those men
had been employed and had in good faith per-
formed the services imposed upon them by the
government, and therefore ought to be paid.
Mr.. CONFESS said IT it could De shown there
were good and loyal men among them he would
vote to pay those individuals, but he would op-
pose any proposition to pay those Off GERS in
discriminatory because they had been appoint
ed by the Secretary of the Treasury not only
without tho authority of law but IN defiance Of
the law 3nd OF Congress.
MIR. Sawyer stated that the officers had been
appointed b fore 1t was known In his part OF
the country that there was any breach between
tho administration and Congress-alI OF them
before the assembling of Congress in Decem-
ber, 1885.
Mr.. Conness said that during those months
1t was already well known here that tho plan
was laid for the creation or new political par
| y, to be composed in the m lin Of tho rebel
element III the South. and that Parsons, Of Ala
bama, and Humphreys, of Mississippi, were
lhen supermSendinS the organization.
MI. sawyer WAS aware thai certain mon in
inc South, who ought not to have had infu-
eice with the administration, did, about that
| time, obtain such Influence. but he did not re-
gard mat as reason why discrimination
should be made against the particular class OF
ON 'ers, While there were others no moro wor-
thy or loyal, who were drawing pay from the
government. because the nature OF their offices
happens to require that they should t,ke
Mr. Nye said that if the off, GERS in questi IN
were as capable us represented by the Senator
from South Carolina, (AIr. Sawyer) the knew
violation or the law
MIR. Sawyer replied that the test oath was
non ar4ne date y Qf generally publish IN, the
~sopelSSn l Sta essfl eyGeaEcc Of which he said,
\ him Tor his siSnature.
Mr. Fessendsn sad that on former occa-
sson' M; whll9 q member OF the Committee on
nlnanca ne nad reported q bill for the relief Of
these officers, aud he was in iaYor Of the pas
| sage OF such bill The appointments had
| Deen made before there was ANYTHING more
| than vague fear Of difference between the
| President and Congress IN regard to recon-
| struction, aud had been made with the general
assent OF the Cabinet. The officers had per
formed their duties and they ought to be paid.
| alr d lrlan confirm cd the statement that the
| CABINET mad concurred with the President in
| the Wow that it was the duty of the Secretary
! OF the Treasury to enforce the Revenue laws in
the Southern States, because it was for the in
f eeftse e % sne country at large that the people
| pubic burdens, and that if the ficers to be
appointed could not be paid under existing
laws, Congress would not hesitate to authorize
Cucli ptyuouC.
MIR. Sawyer further remarked that the gov
ernment could hardly say that 1t was wrong
| 10 pay thoso officers because they rad acted
| without authority OF law after having con-
| hrmed their official acts and taken The benefit
| Of them.
Mr. Howe thought pretty good case had
Deen made out III favor of the governme 1T pay
! ing rebels when 1t had empoyau them, but did
| not think the claim Of such officers to be paid
Tor their labor any more equitable than the
claim or loyal citizens like Sue Murohy to
DO rald for her property taken by the gov
| crnment.
Mr. Henlvicks said that US no senator who
mad individually employed a man to do q Ger
talh work aad received the benefit OF his la
Dor, could, without dishonor, upon anv tech
ncal ground refuse to pay him, so the United
Sta6es government could not honornbly or
honestly refuse to paw officers who had been
employed by 1t, aud had performed their
duties. ~
MIR. Edwards thought the most im ortant fea
tifo Iii tle case vas the acknowle lged fact that
the Secretary Of the Treasury, with tue assent
| or the otler members OF the Cabinet and tho
President, had deliberately violated a law OF
Congress.
MIR. Sumner said that tho act So violal cd by
the Pres1Je and his Cabinet was the first
great act the cornerstone o. reconstruction.
ana that, In his Judgment, the Presld snt and
the Secretary or the Treasury ought to have
Deen promptly inlpeacned for such violation.
On motion OF Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine the fnr.
ther consideration of the bill was postponed.