The Clerk read as follows: The ComJudiciary to whom were referred the credentials of Hon. avid T. Patter son.Senator – elecf from the State of Tennessee.with instructions to report whether said Patterson is legally qualified to hold the office of U.S. Senate rrfarotimons, and respectfully State have hreapdotrhteassfaomlloew under The only question in relation to the unlifications of Mr. Patterson or his right to hold his seatin the Senate. Arises from the fact of his having held the officeofcircuit judge in theState of Tennesseeafter that state hadg passed an ordinanceof secessionand becomea mom or of the confederacy. Circuit judges in Tennesseeare elected by the people of the several circuits and hold their offices for the termof 8 years. ‘Judge Patterson was electedjudge in oneof the circuits in eastern Tennesseein May. 1854 and his term of office had not expired whent 0 State passed the ordinanceof secession. The constitution of the state of Tennessee remained the same after the secession of theStateasbefore and there was no change madejn the form of theState government.orin their Ludicial system. A large majority of the people of ‘iist Tennessee wereardently devotedto the non-and deemedit very importantfor their interestand that of the Union cause that the civil officesin that section of the Stateshould befilled withUiiion men. Judge Patterson was a firm. avowed and influen tinl Union man and he was urgently pressedby the Union inen of that circuit to run as a.candidatefor reelection as circuit judge and he finally.though reluctantly. consentedto do so. The opposing candidate was an avowed secessionista, nd the issuein the election was betweenUnion and secession.The election was held in May.1862 and Judge Pattersonwas elected over his rebelcompetitorby a lar c majority. At the same electionmostof the local 0 cosin that section were filled by the election of Union men. At that time it was believed by the Union men of East Tennesee that they would soon be relieved from rebel rule by theiir rival of Union forces, and they desired also to retain the civil power in their own hands. In this expectationtheywere disa pointed. andsoon rebel hands were scattered throngi that region and the Union people were subjected to great ardships and cruel oppression. When Judge Pattersonwas thusreelectedjudgmhe did not suppose he would be commissioned by the Governor of the state, who was a secessionist;but aftersomeconsiderabledelay a commission was sent to him withpor emptoryorders to take the oath. On the receipt of his commission and order to take the oath judge lPeaatdteinisgon delayed and hesitated. and consultedother Union men as to the proper course for him to take. They advised and urged him to take the oath: that he could thereby afford protection to some extent to Union mena ainst actsof lawless violence onthe part of the robes and that if he did not accept the office and take the oaththe ethos would be filled by a rebel and they would then be oppressed by the civil as Well as the military power of the rebels. Judge Patterson yielded to their urgency and arguments. And went before a magistrate and took the oath which the Tennessee Legislature had prescribed.which, in substance was that he would support the constitution of Tennessee and the constitution of the confederateStates. Judge Patterson declaredat.the time to the magistrate that he owedno allegianceto the confederate government and that hedid notconsider that part of the oath as binding him at all. At this time there were rebel troops in the neighborhood. And Judge Patterson had good reasonto believethat his refusal to take the out would subjecthim to ar restand imprisonment if not worse treatment; but we do not find that he wasactuatedstall by personal considerationsbut acted solelyu on the motivethat he could thereby nffordsome in and protection to the Union people, and also prevent the office from falling into andsthat would useit to oppress them. East Tennesseeat this timewasin every disturbed and distracted condition. The countrywas full of bands of armed rebels, and lawless Violence held sway. Businesswas nearly suspended and no civil businesswas done in the courts. Judge Patterson held it few terms ofcourt in'counties wherehe could organue grandjuries of Union men and in this way di somethingtoward preservingpeaceand order in the community. No otherbusinesswasdonoby him. as judge.after his election in 1862. during all this timeJudge Pattersonwas an open, avowed and devoted ndherenttothe Union. he was in constant communication with the officersof the Federal troops nearest that vicinity andobtainedand furnishedto theminformation asto the movements of the rebels. lle aided in concealingUnion men and in facilitatin their escapeto the Union lines. whentheygeneraly entered the Upion 'service. Hc aided the Union peopleand the Union cause in every way opento him and too numerousfor detail. By ‘thesemeanshe became amenable to the hostility of the secessionists and was subjected to greatdifficulty and danger. He was several times arrested and held for seinetime in custody. At times he was obliged to conceal hiinst lt t'orsafety.andsgendnights in out buildings and in the woodsto avoi their vengeance. In September 1863.the Federal troops reached Knoxville and udgePatterson succeeded in escaping with his family to that place and did not return to his homeuntil after the closeof the rebellion. As beforestated.the constitution and election laws andjudicial systemof Tennessee remained the same after the secession of the Stateas before and Jud 0 Pattersonwas elected judge the last time underthe same State constitution and laws as existed at his 1st election and no law was enforced by him as judge except suchas were in forcebeforethe secession of the State. The committee are all satisfied that during the entire rebellion. Judge Patterson was an earnest. firm. anddevotedUnion man and suffered severely in supportof his principles. Tn acceptin the office of judge and taking the otheiul oath. he did not in tend any hostility to the authority or Government eodf gtheeI U.S., nor did he intend to acknowl any allegianceto or any friendship for. the confederate government but actedthrong out with asinccred cSireto benefit and preserve the Union and the Governmentof the U.S. Ile always denied the authority of the confederategovernment over him and feelsan entire willingness and ability to take the oath required upon his admissionto a seat in the Senate. he committeerecommend the following resolution: Resolved, That llon. David T. Patterson is duly qualified and entitled to hold a seat in the Senate of the U.S.as a Senfrom the state of Tennessee.