Mr. MAYNARD. The language is “ under any authority or pretended authority;” and the words "' in hostility to the U.S.” are to be taken to qualify the action of the party and not the “authority.” But in this instance the oath is entirel out of the question. In the case of Judge atterson, though it might be said in one sense that a man seeks office when he consents to be a candidate, yet he did not in any just and proper and true sense seek it. It was thrust upon him by, I had almost said, the moral duress of the loyal Union men of that part of the country, of his district. They had by this time learned the importance of having the office in the hands of a friend. They had the numerical power at the ballot box, and they determined to use it for their own protection by electing a friend. Judge Patterson had already stood their friend, and they insisted upon his retaining the position. If nothing else, he could negative y protect them by keeping the office out ofrebel hands, that could use it for the oppression of the Unionists. And in fact this was about all he was able to do, as I understand very little business was transacted in his court during the rebel sway; and after the occupation of East Tennessee by GenlBurnside, he remained within our lines, and, I think, never held his courts again. His is not the case, only too common in parts of the south, of a professed Union man succumbing to the power of treason, under the miserable plea that he must go with his section. Nor is it the case, also quite too common, of one who, despairing of the Union cause, made haste to give in Ill$ adhesion to what he considered successful treason. Nor yet of one, too greedy of the honors and emoluments of office, was willing to accept it from any quarter. He made no concessions to the cause of treason. He never lowered his flag. Always was be known and recognized ashostile to the enemies of his country. More than once was he in arrest by them. A suit is now ending to recover damages of leading rebe s for procuring his arrest. A letter from the rebel secretary Benjamin, (which I re at is not at hand,) after a cruel order respecting some men executed for bridge burning, devotes a post script especially to him. And in no way could he have demonstrated more practical hostility to the rebel cause than by withholding from the rebels this office. It was this, and a hepe that he would refuse to receive and qualify under the commission from the rebel governor Harris, and thus vacate the office, that made them urge the commission upon him, as is stated in the report of the committee. Not even in up earance, or by iretense, did he favor the rebellion; nor was is attitude even equivocal. His loyalty was outspoken and be 0nd disute in the darkest hour; so I learn.