constitutional amendment, and hence an ample field will be left for the selection of persons to fill all the vacant offices, except, perhaps, the higher judgeships. But in the States not readmitted to representation the oath prescribed by the act of Congress of July 2, 1862, will still be required of all persons elected or appointed to any office. I have called for reports which will give the number of officers of the various grades in Virginia who will be displaced by operation of the constitutional amendment, and will forward the specific information when obtained. For the present I can only state that the number will probably be several thousand, and that only a small proportion of the vacancies thus created can possibly be filled by persons possessing the necessary qualification, including ability to take the present test oath. In the judiciary department, to dispense with the test oath even would probably be insufficient, for nearly all lawyers of sufficient experience to fit them for the bench, held some office before the war, and hence are disqualified by the constitutional amendment. I have already appointed in Virginia nearly 500 officers, and would have appointed more if qualified persons could be found. It is important to observe that the large majority of city, town, and county officers receive little or no compensation for their services. Hence, men who possess the necessary quali fications cannot be induced to accept such offices, except in the places where they reside and own property, or have substantial interests. Reports have been received from several portions of the State that no person can be found even to fill vacancies that now exist. When the constitutional amendment takes effect a large number of important offices must become vacant and remain so until restoration is completed, unless some relief is afforded by Congress. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, General U. S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Brevet Major General. Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War, with recommendation that this letter be laid before Congress. U. S. GRANT, General. HEADQUARTERS A. U. S., May 18, 1868. A communication from the General of the army, with a report by Major General Meade, commanding 3d military district, relative to the recent election in Alabama, supplemental to his report sent to the House on the twenty-seventh of March last. JUNE 3, 1868.-Referred to the Committee on Reconstruction and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARtment, Washington City, June 3, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to send herewith a communication of the 1st instant, from the General of the army, with a report from Major General Meade, commanding 3d military district, relative to the election in Alabama, dated May 27, which it is desired may be made a part of his report on the same subject sent to the House of Representatives on the 27th of March last. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D. C., June 1, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith copy of report from General Meade, commanding 3d military district, relative to the election in Alabama, which the General requests may be made a part of his report on the same subject transmitted to the honorable Secretary of War from these headquarters March 27, 1868. If said report has been furnished the House of Representatives, it is recommended that this also be sent, to be made a part of it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. J. M. Schofield, U. S. GRANT, General. Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT, Atlanta, Georgia, May 27, 1868. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit, herewith enclosed, a copy of the report of the superintendent of registration for Alabama, relative to the election held in that State, and which I desire should be considered as part of my report of March 23, 1868. The superintendent's report was not received at these headquarters until quite recently; hence the delay in forwarding it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, General U. S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. GEORGE G. MEADE, Major General U. S. A. HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, Montgomery, Alabama, May 9, 1868. GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to hand you, in condensed form, the report of the officers detailed to act as inspectors of election in the several counties of the State, made in conformity to the letter of Major W. T. Hartz, A. A. A. G., dated February 21, 1868. This report has been delayed in consequence of no reports having been received from a number of counties until within a short time, and from several I have only received reports since I commenced my report, while from four, namely, Choctaw, Calhoun, Cleburne, and Hale, no reports at all have been received. In making my report I have endeavored to give everything material reported by the officers, and at the same time so condense as not to make it too volumi nous. In some cases I have not been able to condense without destroying the sense, and in these cases I have copied the whole of that part of the reports of the officers. These you will find attached and marked, respectively, A, B, C, D, E. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. T. HATCHETT, Superintendent Registration. Brevet Brig. Gen. O. L. SHEPHerd, Commanding Sub-District of Alabama, Montgomery. Official: R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant General. HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, CAPTAIN By direction of the brevet brigadier general commanding, you will direct the officer sent to you for inspection duty, to make his report at the earliest practicable moment (by telegraph whenever possible) direct to these headquarters, giving personal knowledge as to the number of polling places, number of boxes opened, number of days during which the election was held, as well as the number of hours the polls were opened per diem in each county that he may be ordered to visit; and after having made this tour of inspection, he will then make such investigations throughout your whole post as will enable the general to judge of the accuracy and fidelity of the reports which may be received from the chairman of the boards of registration of the several counties. Copy of questions addressed to chairman of boards enclosed for your infor mation. These county reports will be sent by mail as fast as made whenever an opportunity offers to get them on a sure line of communication. You will use the officers of your post to find out the said information in counties right around your station. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Major U. S. Army, A. A. A. General. Captain ROBERT HARRISON, 33d Inf., Comd'g Post of Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama. Official : R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant General. HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, COLONEL: To the end that the commanding officer of this sub-district may be able to judge of the accuracy and fidelity of the reports received from the chairman of boards of registration, in reply to circular letter from these headquarters of the 10th instant, copy herewith enclosed, the officers now on duty within your post, engaged in furnishing reports as to polling places, ballot-boxes, &c., immediately upon having completed said duty, will act as inspectors general of election, and obtain all the information practicable called for by the above circular letter. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. T. HARTZ, Brevet Major U. S. Army, A. A. A. General. Brevet Lieut. Col. E. McK. HUDSON, Official: Commanding Post of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama. R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant General. Similar orders were sent to the commanders of the posts of Selma and Montgomery. HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, SIR: You will assemble the board of registrars for your county and send to these headquarters, without delay, answers to the following questions, viz: By order of Brevet Brigadier General J. Hayden. Official: R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant General. Chairman BOARD OF REGISTRARS, County ELMORE COUNTY. 1. How many election precincts were opened in your county during the recent vote on the constitution submitted to the people for ratification ?-One. 2. How many boxes were opened at each precinct for reception of votes ?— One. 3. How were the number of precincts and the number of boxes to be used at each determined upon ?-Registrars. 4. In what manner and by whom were the judges or managers of the election selected?-No definite answer could be had. 5. Were they duly sworn and required to take the "test oath ;" and if not why not?-Could not learn. 6. Did your board, during its deliberations, make such arrangements as would insure to the people all necessary facilities for casting their votes ?—No. 7. For how many days were the polls kept open in your county, and why were they not kept open for five days?-Five days. 8. During the progress of the voting did the members of your board visit the several polling places in each precinct; and if not, why not?—Yes. 9. Did they carefully note whether or not the managers or judges were faithfully and properly discharging the duties of their office; and if not, why not?— In some instances he did not do his duty. 10. Did any of the members of your board, or any of the managers of election canvass for votes for or against the constitution, or in any otherwise take a prominent part in the election during its progress, outside of their bounden duty as registrars or managers; and if they did, who are they, and what did they do? -Yes. Mr. Williams, registrar, refused vote of colored man evidently legal. Mr. Lawson, judge, ridiculed negroes who came to vote, and threatened to have them discharged for voting. Others were allowed to ridicule and embarrass them when they came to vote. The managers told a Mr. Deloney that 1,000 or 1,200 votes were polled, and only about 800 counted. 11. Was the attention of the members of your board given to the manner in which the reception of votes was being conducted, and was everything noticed and corrected which, in your opinion, was calculated to obstruct the voting?Yes. 12. Was any obstruction offered at the polls calculated to prevent a free and full vote; and if there was, state its kind and character, and also what measures were taken to suppress it; and if no effort was made to protect the voter in his rights, who is to be held responsible for the same ?—Yes, but no means taken to prevent it. 13. Have you knowledge of any means being resorted to, away from the polls, intended to prevent a full and free expression of opinion by the ballot; and if so, state its kind and character, and the names of those whom you know to have been engaged in the same?—Mr. A. G. Gue threatened to discharge Hark Hamilton, and be his enemy for life, if he voted. 14. Was the notice that the lists of registered voters would be opened for revision given to the people; and were the lists kept open for revision for five days; and if not, why not?-Not answered. 15. The number of registered voters being known, what should be considered a fair average vote for your county at this season of the year?—Twenty-two hundred or twenty-three hundred. 16. How does the number of white votes cast compare with the number of white registered voters, and what is the cause of the difference ?-Twelve or 15 whites voted, while 1,000 or 1,200 registered; cause, deterred by threats, intense excitement against them, and fear of private injury. 17. How does the present vote of your county compare with its average fair |