In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of February 3, 1870, copies of papers relating to the claim of Foster Blodgett as late postmaster at Augusta, Georgia.

FEBRUARY 10, 1870.-Ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 10, 1870.

SIR: In obedience to the requirements of a resolution of the Senate, under date of the 3d February, 1870, I herewith transmit copies of papers relating to the claim of Foster Blodgett as late postmaster at Augusta, Georgia.

No. 1 is a copy of a letter from said Blodgett, filed in 1865, prior to his appointment to said office.

No. 2 is a copy of his (Blodgett's) application for pay (salary $4,000 a year) during the time he was suspended.

No. 3 is a copy of a statement of the case submitted to the Attorney General for his opinion.

No. 4, copy of the opinion of the Attorney General.

No. 5, copy of the official oath of Mr. Blodgett.

No payment has as yet been made to Mr. Blodgett for compensation as postmaster during his suspension from office. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &c.,

Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX,

JNO. A. J. CRESWELL,

Vice-President, &c., &c., U. S. Senate.

Postmaster General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 20, 1865. DEAR SIR: The undersigned represents that a large number of the citizens of Augusta, Georgia, have petitioned for his appointment as postmaster at the city of Augusta; that he has also the recommendation of the Hon. John P. King, indorsed by the Hon. James Johnson, provisional governor of the State of Georgia; also from the Hon. Benjaman F. Perry, provisional governor of South Carolina, and from quite a number of distinguished citizens of other States. He further represents that he was at the commencement of the late rebellion, and has been since, a Union man; that he was the president of a large Union meeting held in Augusta in December, 1860; that at that time he was mayor of said city of Augusta, and that both privately and officially used his in

fluence, and every effort in his power, for the preservation of the Union; that in consequence of the open and outspoken course pursued by him, and the assistance rendered by himself personally in extricating citizens of the Northern States from mobs and vigilant committees, he rendered himself extremely obnoxious to a large number of the people then in Augusta; that he was threatened time and again by anonymous letters and otherwise with a coat of tar and feathers, the destruction of his residence by fire, and even with death itself; that his family, consisting of a wife, four children, an aged mother, and sister, were constantly in imminent peril, as well as himself, from the violent mob spirit which at that time prevailed; that having a large family dependent upon him for sup port, and not being wealthy, it was impossible to leave the country; that he consulted with a number of his friends who agreed with him in sentiment, and they advised him to enter the army of the so-called Confederate States for a short time; that the lives of himself and family might be spared, and his property saved; that upon that advice he did enter the army for a time, but as soon as he possibly could, he withdrew, and since that time, by good management, succeeded in keeping out of confederate service. He withdrew from the so-called confederate army in April, 1862. He would further represent that he never was in any battle or skirmish whatever; never fired a gun or drew a sword against any soldier or citizen of the United States; that he was enlisted for twelve months, but only did actual service for about half of that time.

He feels confident that but for his having been in the rebel army, that. strongly recommended as he is, and indorsed by the governor of his State, he would certainly receive the office he seeks; but, wishing to conceal nothing, he makes this statement, which can be substantiated by a number of as good Union men in Augusta as ever lived. He hopes that his reasons for having been found in the rebel army for a short time may not appear voluntary, but for the purpose of protecting himself and family. He can conscientiously take the oath of office prescribed by Congress, and will do it if necessary; but still, for the purpose of preventing any insinuations from parties not conversant with the cir cumstances, would prefer a slight modification. He represents that he was always very popular in Augusta, never having failed to be elected till he took the course he did in defense of the Union. He therefore respectfully prays that he may be appointed postmaster of Augusta, in consonance with the wishes of a large majority of the citizens of that city.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Your obedient servant,

The POSTMASTER GENERAL.

FOSTER BLODGETT.

P. S.-I would respectfully refer to the Honorable Benj. F. Perry, provisional governor of South Carolina, and to the whole delegation, who are how in this city; also, to all the original Union men of Augusta, Ga., where I have lived during my whole life, except for a short time during the rebellion.

F. B.

WASHINGTON, June 10, 1869.

SIR: Your petitioner, Foster Blodgett, of Augusta, Georgia, begs leave respectfully to represent:

That he was appointed postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, on the 25th

day of July, 1865; that he was confirmed by the Senate of the United States on the 27th day of July, 1866, for the full term of four years from said date.

That he performed the duties of postmaster at Augusta to the satisfaction of the Post Office Department, as also of the citizens having business at the said post office, never having heard of complaints from the latter; nor did he ever receive notice from the department that charges of any kind had been preferred against him.

That on the 3d day of January, 1868, he was suspended from said office of postmaster at Augusta, by order of Hon. Alexander W. Randall, then Postmaster General.

That he supposed he was suspended by authority of the law known as the tenure-of-office act.

That the statute provided that a suspension from office, as also the charges upon which such suspension was made, should be reported to the Senate of the United States within twenty days after the commencement of the next session of the Senate after such suspension.

That this suspension, nor the reasons required by law to be given, were never reported to the Senate.

That during the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, late President of the United States, said late Postmaster General Randall testified before that court that he, Randall, suspended the said Blodgett, and that the President knew nothing about it; and that he, Randall, did not do it under or by authority of any statute law, but that he did it under the law of necessity, thus admitting that the act of suspending said Blodgett was unauthorized and illegal.

That the tenure-of-office act did authorize the President of the United States to supend officers of the government under certain circumstances to be stated, but it did not authorize the Postmaster General to suspend any officers in his department.

That no postmaster was ever appointed in his place and stead, but that the post office at Augusta was placed in charge of a special agent of the Post Office Department.

That he, the said Blodgett, constantly expecting to be ordered to resume the charge of the post office at short notice, did not engage in any other business.

That he was thus suspended, without just cause, from the 3d day of January, 1868, until the 3d day of April, 1869, when he resumed the duties of postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, by order of the Hon. J. A. J. Creswell, Postmaster General, dated March 30, 1869.

That he has not received compensation as postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, from the 31st day of December, 1867, until the 3d day of April, 1869, being one year, three months, and three days.

That the salary as postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, from the 31st of December, 1867, to the 3d day of April, 1869, is now justly due him. That he is much in need of the money, with which to discharge debts incurred while thus wrongfully suspended by the admitted usurpation and illegal action of the late Postmaster General, Alexander W. Randall.

That he begs that the Hon. Postmaster General will take this matter under consideration as early as possible, to the end that he may be paid, without further delay, the amount for salary which, in justice, should have been paid him long since.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, FOSTER BLODGETT.

Hon. J. A. J. CRESWELL,

Postmaster General.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
December 20, 1869.

Foster Blodgett, late postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, vs. United States
Post Office Department.

It appears] by the records of the Post Office Department that Foster Blodgett was appointed as postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, on the 25th July, 1865, and that his appointment was confirmed by the Senate of the United States on the 27th July, 1866.

And it further appears that by an order of the then Postmaster General, Hon. Alexander W. Randall, dated January 3, 1868, George W. Summers was designated as a special agent of the Post Office Department, to take charge of said post office at Augusta, Georgia, of which Mr. Blodgett was notified under date of January 3, 1868.

And it further appears that the name of George W. Summers, as postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, in place of Foster Blodgett, suspended, was sent to the Senate of the United States on the 14th July, 1868, by Andrew Johnson, then President.

And it further appears that the name of George W. Summers, as postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, in place of Foster Blodgett, removed, was sent to the Senate of the United States on the 19th February, 1869, by Andrew Johnson, then President of the United States.

It also appears by the records of the Sixth Auditor's office that said Blodgett was paid up to the 31st December, 1867, for his services as postmaster, at the rate of four thousand dollars a year.

It also appears that Blodgett was restored to his position of postmaster by order of the Postmaster General, under date of March 30, 1869, in the words following, to wit:

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D. C., March 30, 1869.

Post office, Augusta, Georgia, salary, $4,000. In the case of Foster Blodgett, suspended by an order of the Postmaster General. It appearing from the records of the Post Office Department, that on the 3d day of January, A. D. 1868, Foster Blodgett, then postmaster at Augusta, in the county of Richmond, and State of Georgia, was by an order of the then Postmaster General suspended from the aforesaid office of postmaster, and that George W. Summers was then and there designated as special agent of the aforesaid department, to take charge of the post office thereat, and discharge all its duties until further action should be had by the President and the Senate of the United States.

It also appearing by a further order of the same date that George W. Summers was appointed as a special agent of the Post Office Department, by order of the then Postmaster General, to take charge of the post office at Augusta, aforesaid, with pay at the rate of $1,600 per annum, and $3 per diem for subsistence.

It further appearing from the files of the department that on the 14th day of July, A. D. 1868, the name of George W. Summers was sent to the Senate of the United States for postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, aforesaid, by the then President of the United States, but there is nothing on record to show that any action was ever taken by that body; and that on the 19th day of February, A. D. 1869, the name of George W. Summers was, for the second time, sent to the Senate. No action, however, appears to have been had thereon.

Under this showing, it is ordered that the services and pay of George W. Summers, as special agent of the Post Office Department, be, and the same are hereby, discontinued.

It is further ordered that Foster Blodgett be restored to his office and pay of $4,000 per annum, and that he immediately resume his duties as postmaster.

JNO. A. J. CRESWELL,
Postmaster General.

It also appears, by the records of the Sixth Auditor's office, that George W. Summers was paid as special agent of the Post Office Department at the rate of $1,600 per annum, and $3 per diem for subsistence, from the 11th January, 1868, to 3d April, 1869.

H