Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-03-02
ve,noyaI OF Disabilities.


az In Committee OF the w hole, proceeded to
consider the bill
Mr.. Conness. | move to amepd by striking
cut the name of ASA Rogers, In line seventy
on page 4.
Me-. Trumbull. hope that will not he done.
MIR. Stewart. There has been great con
test over that name on both sides, and | have
received great many protests on the subject.
| shall not object to striking it out. leave 1t
entirely tothe Senate He is one OF the judges(?)
of Virginia Ga the one hand he is represent
ed as being very estimable and necessary man
in his office; and on the other hand he is rep
resented as being entirely opposed to recon
construction. These different assertions are
made by very credible persons on both sides.
The committee put the name III; and am
| here neither to advocate its staying IN or It's
striking out or taking any decided ground about
| it. 1t is 4 matter of very great doubt In my
mind.
MIR. CONFESS. l have information upon
which implicitly rely as to the unhtness OF
this man for this favor, and there can be no
doubt in regard to the source OF my Information.
hope he will be lett out.
Mr.. TrumbuIl hope that name will not
be stricken out have seen several gentle
men in regard to this person. The papers are
| in the hands Of the Senator from Nevada, who
| had charge of the subject.
| Mr. Stewart. | have not the papers here IN
regard to this case They are very vouminous,
Mr.. Trumbull. Some persons came to see
me in reference to this case, but there are so
many of these cases that am unable to state
| all the facts Ia any particular case without re
| ferring to the papers. | know have seen
some papers from Virk "a 10 reference to this
particular case, and if the Senator from Nevada
will refer to the papers | think 1t Will appear
that the Senators from West Virginia endorse
him. did not hear what the Senator from
| California said what the point was that was
made upon this person.
| Mr.. CONFESS The point is that he Is an
arfant rebel, that he is uOtit again TO be trusted
certainly at this time, with the privileges OF
citizenship, that he should remain under his
disabilities. lie holds an Office In the State OF
| Virginia His case, as stated by the member
! Of the Judiciary Committee the Senator from
! Nevada, who has this subject in charge; rs one
| Of doubt as presented to the committee, state
ments being made on both sides OF cOufsc
this is class of cases which will always have
two sides.
Mr. Howard. If the Senator from Cailior-
MA will allow me to say "a word IN regard to
Mr.. Rogers, understand he Is the second all
ditor Of the State OF Virginia.
Mr.. Conness. He is
Mr.. Howard And am informed by very
credible source that he says ali he wishes his
disabilities 10 be relieved for is to enable him
to hold the office which he has now got that
he is not Union MAJ, and does not profess to
| be a Union man, and never did. think II
| that is the motive which induces hun to apply
Tor relief from disabilities he ought to b: ac-
commodatod, over the lett.
| Mr.. CONFESS Of course | can have no
| motive as against this man at all amy more
| than any other person named III the bill but
| there is no doubt In my mind, from my source
| of international know the source well-"lth
| regard to the unhtness OF this man Tor the
| privilege proposed to be extended to him. |
| have no doubt that the statement made BY
the honorable Senator from Michigan with re
| gard TO hun is entirely correct.
Mr. TrumbulI. There must be "A mistake
about that, because we require statement lii
writing from these parties themselves. The
| Senator from Nevada, aud there are so macy
of them that | am unable TO distinguish
between them. | recoect something about
this case. But | will say to the Senator from
| Michigan that there is written application by
! this party himself We have not put the name
OF ANYBODY into The bill VINO does not state
that he asks to be relieved from his political
disabilities and promises to sustain the Govern
ment and to recognize the condition OF things
a. thev exist as binding upon him and that
is wholly inconsistent with the statement that
| he merely asked to be relieved in order to be
able to hold the office We have not put any
man 10 the bill who simply asked to be relieved
! for the purpose OF holding Office This matter
was investigated 10 the committee and |
think it would be we'll to have the application
read. | think this is one OF the cases about
which the Senators from West Virginia made
statement | am not sure about that. | am
told it is not ask the Senators from West
Virginia if they DO no; know about this case
Mr.. Wiley. knew the eeneral reputation
of Mr.. Rogers very we'll before the war az a
man of high character aud standing and infu-
entail position in Virginia. About his connec-
ton with the war or his status during the war |
have 10 knowledge whatever and know nothing
about the facts The papers In regard to his
case have never been III my hands, nor have
had occasion 10 make pers NAL examlnauon
OF them; but as To his general character and
reputation and Standiug anl proptety OF con
duct before the war 90 not know OF any IN an
who stood higher or maintained Il higher SO
cial position | have heard Of runners IN re
gard to his status during the war, OF which |
know nothing personally. Nor have L had 1t
| within my power 10 make an examination into
the facts alluded to. That is all can state in
| regard 70 the case.
Mr. Ferry hope that the name Of this
| gentleman wall not toe stricken out Of this bill
1t is Of course evident that he must have been
Implicated in the rebellion from the very tact
that he asks to be relieved OF the disabilities
which were produced by such implication. We
have the testimony Of :he Senator from West
| VIRGINIA that he II 4 gent leman Of high char
aeter and standing, and of the chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee that he has filed with
the committee his petition acquieScing in the
existing state of things as binding and as final:
| Now, the fact is just this, as | have observed
with regard to great many OF these appca
tons for the removal of disabilities, il the APP
plicant is person holding civil office there
are in the community in which he resides other
persons who want the Office that he holds, and
i ust so soon as it is ascertained that a person
holding civil office has made an application