Mr. TRUMBULL. it is preper, being upon this committee, that I should state that I have been unable to agree with the resolution which has been reported by the committee. The reading of the report was commenced before I came in; but I presume the facts are correctly stated. I am satisfied of the loyalty of Mr. Patterson, and of his having been a Union man during the troubles when he was within the rebel lines; but, sir, laws operate generally, and it Will sometimes happen that in the operation of a law an individual case cannot be provided for. We have a statute which requires a certain oath to be taken. I will read what that oath is: “ I. A B. do solemnlyswearthat I havenever voluntaril home armsagainst the U.S.since I have cona citizen thereof; that I have volunta rily givennoaid.countenance, conuselo. r encouragement to personsengagedin armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought. noraccepted nor attemptedto exercisethe functionsof any office whatever under any authority or pretendedauthorit in hostility to the U.S.: thatI havenotyie dad a voluntary support to any pretendedgovernmen authority. power or constitution within the U.S. hostile or inimical thereto. And I do further sWcar that to the best of my knowledge an ability. I will support and defend the Constitution of the U.S. ainst all enemies.foreign and domestic; that I Wlll ear true faith and allegiance to the some: that I take this obligationfreely. without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithful y dlSOhilI‘ZOthe daties of the officeon which I am about to enter. So help meGod.” That is the oath prescribed by law that every person appointed to any office of.honor, trust, or profit must take before entering a on the discharge of the duties of the office. ccording to the testimony before the ComJudiciary, I see nothing in that oath that Mr. Patterson cannot subscribe to except those 2 lines, “that I have neither sought nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions ofany office whatever under an authorittf' or pretended authority in hostility to the U.S.” Now, 811‘, what are the ad. mitted facts?