Mr. TRUMBULL. Befiore that motion is put, I should like to say a word in reply to a statement made by the Senfrom Dela ware, which I think is unjust to the parties who sent this petimn here. The petition referred to was presented by me. I have had 2 or 3 letters from the gentleman who inclosed me the petition, and I have seen one person who knew him and spoke of him as a respectable gentleman. I have no doubt whatever of the authenticity of the etition. Imme diately after the Senfrom elawaac applied to me for a copy of the petition, [was apprized by a letter from Staunton that parties had made threats against those who signed this petition. There is nothing in the petition improper for any person to have asked of Congress. The parties simply claimed protection as loyal men. That was all there was in their etition, with the addition of a statement that they could not obtain their rights through the local tribunals, which I am satisfied from man letters I have received is true, not only in ugusta county, Virginia, but elsewhere. I have no doubt that the motive which inspired this attempt to get the names of the parties signed to this petition was for the purpose of persecuting them there. I have seen, since this petition came here, a Staunton paper, and there are a number of articles in it on the subject; among others there are statements by parties whose names were signed to this petition, some of them stating that they did not understand it when they signed it, did not know the character of it. I was informed that an attempt had been made to intimidate the parties who had signed the paperand get them to disavow it, that t cre had can such a public pressure brought to bear upon them that they were making various excuses to avoid the ersecutions that it was likely to visit upon them, and that in some instances, as the Senfrom Delaware has intimated new, it was charged that the names were forged. The parties wrote me for the original petition to show that the mens names were there. They were not willing to rest under such imputation as that of having sent a petition here with names that were never signed by the parties. The original petition has been sent out there to confront those who make such a statemeng Now, sir, I have no doubt in the world of the authenticity of the petition from all that I have heard in regard to it. As I stated, I have had more than one letter from the gentleman who inelosed it to me, who is represented to me I do not know him personally to be a citizen resident there in Augusta county, and there were affidavits accompanying the petition stating that the parties whose names were signed were residents there. I know none of them; but I state these facts, and I think it very unjust to the petitioners to have the imputation cast upon them here that the names signed were forgeries. It looks to me very much more like an attempt on the part of that wicked spirit which prevails, I am sorry to say, in some portions of the South to perse cute any man who is loyal and true to the Union and has been so during the rebellion.