The Secretary read the report, as follows: The ComJudiciary. to whom were referred the credentialsof Hon. David T. Patterson, Senator electfrom the State of Tennessee, with instructionsto report whether said Patterson is legally unlilied to hold the officeof U.S. Senfrom said State, have had the same under consideration and respectfully report asfollows: The only questionin relation to the qualifieptionl of Mr. Patterson, or his right to hold I sentin the Senate.arises from the fact of his having held the office of circuit judire in the state of Tennessee after that state had iassedan ordinanceof secessionand becomea mom or of the cont'edorucY Circuit judgesin Teiinesseonreelectedbythe pep ple of the several circuits, and hold their offices tor the termof (ii 1h!yours. Judge Patterson was (‘lCClEd JU(l};i.0n one of he circuits in Eastern Tennesseein Ma.1854 and his termof olhcohurlnot expired when t ic State passed the ordinance of secession. The constitution of the State of Tennesseeremained the same afler the sece ssion of theStateasbefore and therewasno'ehango made in the form of the State government or in their judicial system. A large majority of the {scale of astTennesseewereor ently devoted to the men and deemedit very important for their interest and that of the Union causethat the civil offices in that seJction of the State should be filled with Union men. ndgoPatterson was a firm, avowed and influential Union man and he was urgently pressedby the Union ine n of that circuitto run as a candidate for reeleclction as circuit judge and he finally. though consente todoso. The opposing candidate wasan avowed secessionist, and theissuein the election was between Union and secession. the election was held in May. 1862 and Judge Pattersonwas elected over his rebel competitor by a lnrge majority. At the same election most of the local officesin that section were filled bytho elect on of Union men. At that time it was believed by the Union men of East Tennessee that they would soon be relieved from rebel military rule by the arrival of Union forces; and they desired also to retain the civil power in their own hands. In this expectationthey were disappomted and soon rebel hands wero scattered throngh that region. apd the Union people were SllhJCCtf‘tlto great ardships and cruel oppression. When Judce Patterson was thus reelected judge he disl not suppose he would be commission by the Governor of the State.whowasa secessionist;but after isomeconsiderablodelay a oommission wus sontto him. With peremptoryordersto take the oath. 0n the receiptof his commissionand order to take the oath Judge Patterson delayedand hesitated and consultedother leading Union men as to the preperconrsefor him to take. They advisedandurgedliim totake the oath: that hecould therebyaffordprotectiontosomoextent to Union menagainstacts oi lawlessviolenceon the part of the rebels and that if he did not acceptthe oliice and take the oath the officowould befilled bya rebel and they would then be oppremedbythe civil aswell as the military power of the rebels. Judge Patterson yielded to their urgency and arguments and wentbeforea magistrate and tooktho oath which the TennesseeLegislature had prescribed.which. in spbstance.was that he would support the constitution of Tennesseeand the constitution of the confederate States. Jud 0 Patterson declared at the time to the magistrate that he owed no allegiance to the l confederate government and tbat he did notconsider that part of the oath as binding him at all. At this time there were rebel troops in the neighborhood and ] judgePatterson had goodreasonto believethat his refusal to take the oath would subjecthim to or rest and imprisonment.if not worse treatment; but wedo not find that hewas actuated at all by personal considerations.but actedsolely u ion the motive that he could therebyaffordsomean and protection to the Union people and also‘prcvont the office from falling into handsthat wonl use it to oppress them. East Tennesseeat this time was in a very disturbed and distracted condition. The country was full of bands of armed rebels and lawless violence held sway. Business was nearly suspended and no civil businesswas done in the conrts. JndgoPatterson held a few terms of court in counticswherehe could organize grand juries of Union men, and in this way did somethingtoward preserving peace and orderin the community}, No otherbusiness wasdoneby him as udge after 15electionin 1862. during all this time Judge Patterson was an open. avawed and devoted adherent to the Union. 110was in constant communication witlh the officers of the Federal troops nearest that vicinity and obtained and furnishedto theminformation as to tho movements of the rehcls. He aided in concealingUnion men and in facilitating their csca e to the Union lines, when they generally entered the Union service. He aided the union peopleand the Union cause in every way opento him and too numerousfor detail, these means he becameamenableto the hostility of the soccssiouists and was subjected to greatdifficulty and danger. I Iowasseveral times arrested and held for sometime in custody. At timeshe wasobliged to conceal himself for so cty and spendpightsin out biiildings and in the woods to av0id their vengeance. In Setomber 1863.the Federal troops reached Knoxyi lo and Judge Pattersonsucceededin escap IDRwith his family to that place and did not return to his homeuntil after the closeof the rebellion. As before stated. The constitution and election laws and Judicial systemof Tennesseeremained the same after the secession of the State as before and Judge Patterson was elected Judge the last time under the same Stat e constitution and laws as eXisted at his 1st election and no law was enforced by him as i judge except such as were in force beforethe secession of the State. The committee are all satisfied that during the entire rebelhon. Judge Patterson was an earnest. firm and devoted Unipn man and suffered severely 1" supportof his principles. In acceptin12 the office of Judge and taking the official oath, he did not in tend an hostility to the authority or Government of the U.S.nor did he intend to acknowledge any allegianeeto or anyfriendship for the oonfpdorate government but acted throughout with a sinceredesireto benefit and reserve the Union and the government of the U.S. He always denied the authority of the confederate government over him and feelsan entire willingness and ability to till“! the oath required upon his admission to a seat in the Senate. eoommittee recommend the following resolution 2‘ " Resolved.That Hon. David T. Patterson is duly qualified and entitled to hold a scat in the Senate of the U.S.as a Senfrom the 3mm of Tennessee.