The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-19
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.
Compensation for Southern Omce-Hold :
ers who Declined taking the Iron Clad
nufT,

In the United States Senate on Monday, on
motion Of Mr.. Sawyer, the Senate took up the
bill to authorize tho payment OF officers ap-
pointed in the Southern States by the Secretary
OF the Treasury, and who could not take the
test oath.
Mr. Sawyer advocated. the bill. These men
had been employed and had iu COOL faith per.
formed the services imposed upon them Ivy the
government, and therefore ought to be paid.
Mr.. Conuoss said If it could De shown tnero
were good and loyal men among them, lie would
vote to pay those individuals, but lie wolld op'
pose anv proposition to ply those Off ;ors in
discriminatory, because they had beon appoint
cd by the Secretary of the Treasury, not only
without tho authority Of lazy, but IN defiance oil
tho law and OF Congress.
Mr.. sawyer stated that the officers had been
appointed before 1T was known IN his plrt OF
the country that there was any breach between
Shc administration and Congrcs5-all Of them
before the assembling OF Congress in Decem-
Der, 1866.
aIr. Conness said that during those months
it was already well known here that the pan
was laid for the creation OF new political par
y, to be composed in the Min Of tho rebel
clement in the South, and that Parsons, Of Ala
bama. and Humphreys, OF Mississippi, we're
then experimenting the organic ltion.
MIR. Sawyer WAS aware thai certain men in
tho South, who ought not to have had ipfu-
C ice with the administration, did, about that
time obtain such Influence but he did not re-
gard that as reason why DISCRIMINATE on
should be made against tho particular class or
Off "crs, while there were others no more wor-
thy or loyal, who were drawing Eay from the
government. because tho nature Of their Offices
happens not to require that they should Like
tho test OATH.
MIR. Nyo said that if the OF GERS in qussti IN
were as capable as represented by tue Senator
from South Carolina, (lIr. Slwyer) the; knew
at the time they took Office tnat they did 80 IN
violation OF tho law.
Mr.. Slwver replied that the test oath was
not mm, daley or generally published in the
Southern Sta cs, in evidence Of which. he Said,
ho had never seen it before it was presented to
hIm Tor his signature.
MIR. Fessendep sad that on q foYmor occa-
sion, whlls Il member OF the Committee on
financs, lie had reported bill for tue lelef OF
these officers, GId he Was in favJr OF the pas
sage OF such a bill Tne appointments had
been made before there was an. thing more
than vIgue fear OF difference between the
President and Congress IN regard to recon-
s,ruction, and had been male with the general
assent Of the Cabinet. The officers had per-
formed their duties aud they ougut to be paid.
Air. Hlrlan confirmed the statement that the
Cabinet had concurred with the President in
tho view that it was tho duty OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury 10 enforce the Revenue laws in
the Southern States, because it was for the in
terest Of the country at largo that the people
of these States should bear their share Of the
public burdens, and that if the fhcer5 to be
appointed could not bs paid under existing
laws, 20. ,gress would not hesitate to authorize
their piyment.
MIR. Sawyer further remarked that the gov
ernment could hardly say that 1t was wrong
to pay those officers because they rad ucted
without authority Of lGw after hlviDg con-
irnled their official acts and taken she benefit
Of them.
Mr. Howe thought pretty good case had
been made out Ill favor of tho govcrlme 1t pay
ing rebels when 1t had clnployn,l them, bat did
not think the claim of such officers to be paid
for thelr labor any more equItlble than the
claim OF loyal citiz.ns like Sue Murphy to
be LaId for her property taken by the gov
crnment.
Mr.. Hendricks said that Us no senator who
had individually employed . man to do q csr-
tain work aud roc,iyed the bancit Of his 10
Dor, could, without dshonor, upJn INV tech
meal grOund refuse to pay him, 80 the United
States Government could not houorably OF
honestly refuse to paw officers who had been
emnlo.Od by 1t, aud had performed their
duties.
MI. GlWlIuS iuUlSuI buc LlOSI iii lO.lduI Ia :
tur4 III tie case was the acknowledged fact that
tho Secretary Of The rreISurY, with tao assent
of tho other III NIB rs of the Cabinet and the
President, had deliberately ylclAted law OF
Congress.
Mr.. Sumner said That the act s. violalod by
the President aud his Cabinet was the first
treat uct, the cornerstone o. reconstruction,
and that, In his judgment, the Presid ;nt and
the Secretary oi Tile Treasury ought to have
aDccu promptly lnpcachcd tor sucd vIoiauol.
On motion ut Mr.. Morrill,, OF AIainc. the fur
lllcr consideration of tn bill was postponed.