The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 23, 1869

THE PR&IDEIVT S LETTER TO CONGRESS

To the Senate and House of Representatives :

While I am aware that the time in which Con-
gress proposes now to remain in session is very
brief, and that it is its desire as far as consistent with
the public interest to avoid entering,upon the gene-
ral business of legislation, there is one subject
which concerns so deeply the welfare of the coun-
try that I deem it my duty to bring it before you.
I have no doubt that you will concur with me in
the opinion that it is desirable to restore the Stases
which were engaged in the Rebellion to their pro-
per relations to the Government and the country
at al early a period as the people of those States
shall be found willing to become peaceful and or-
derly communities, and to adopt and maintain such
constitutions and laws as will effectually secure the
civil and political rights of all persons within their
borders. The authority of the United States,
which has been vindicated and established by its
military power, must undoubtedly be asserted for
the absolute protection of all its citizens in the full
enjoyment of the freedom and security which is the
object of the Republican Government. But when-
ever the people of a rebellious State arc ready to
enter in good faith upon the accomplishment of this
object, in entire conformity with the constitutional
authority of Congress, it is certainly desirable that
all causes of irritation should be removed as promptly
as possible, that a more perfect union may be esta-
blished, and the country restored to peace and pro-
sperity. The Convention of the people of Virginia,
which met in Richmond on Tuesday, December 3,
1867, framed a Constitution for that State, which
was adopted by the Convention on the 17th of
April, 1868, and I desire respectfully to call the
attention of Congress to the propriety of providing
by the law for the holding of an election in that
State at some tithe during the mouths of May and
June next, under the direction of the Military Com-
mander of the District, at which the question of the
adoption of that Constitution shall be submitted to
the citizens of the State; and if this should seem de-
sirable I would recommend that a separate vote be
taken upon such parts as may be thought expedient,
and that at the same time, and under the same
authority, there shall be an election for the officers
provided under such Constitution, and that the
Constitution, or such parts thereof as shall have
been adopted by the people, be submitted to Con
gress on the first Monday of December next, for
its consideration, so that, if the same be then ap-
proved, the necessary steps will have been taken
for the restoration of the State of Virginia
to its proper relations to the Union. I am
led to make this recommendation from the confi-
dent hope and belief that the people of that State
are now ready to co-operate with the National Go-
vernment in bringing it again into such relations to
the Union as it ought, as soon as possible, to estab-
lish and maintain, and to give to all, its people
these equal rights under the law which are asserted
in the Declaration of Independence, in the words of
one of the most illustrious of its sins. I desire also
to ask the consideration of Congress to the ques-
tion whether there is not just ground for believing
that the Constitution framed by a Convention of
the people of Mississippi for that State, and once
rejected, might not be again submitted-to the people
of that State in like manner, and with the pro-
bability of the same result.
U. S. GRANT.
IVa3hington, D.C., April 7, 1869.

CONGRESS.

THE SENATE.

On the 2d April Mr. Sherman introduced a bill
establishing a new standard for American coinage,
so as to promote a uniformity of currency among
the nations. The Indian Appropriation. Bill,4as
passed, with an amendment, providing for ten com-
missioners, to be selected for their intelligence and
philanthropy, who shall, in conjunction with the
Indian Bureau, under the direction of the Presi-
dent, supervise the disbursement of the Indian Ap-
propriations.—On the 3d Mr. Sumner introduced a
bill repealing the act prohibiting importation of
slaves, it being designed to take from the statutes
the only remaining law relating to slavery. Mr.
Davis objecting to its consideration, it was tabled.
The House resolution of adjournment was con-
curred in, after being amended so as to adjourn on
the 10th inst. The resolution to protect the inte-
rests of the United States in the Union Pacific
Railroad was considered.—On the sth the bill
providing an oath of office for persons who par-
ticipated in the rebellion was reported. Mr. SuM-
ner introduced a bill to prevent the United
States Courts from enforcing contracts concern-
ing slaves. The joint resolution "to protect the
interests of the United States in the Union Pacific
Railroad" was discussed.—On the 6th the Defi-
ciency Appropriation Bill was reported ; also a bill
reorganizing the clerical force of the Departments.
Mr. Morton introduced a resolution directing that
the Senators from the reconstructed States be paid
from the beginning of the Second session of the last
Congress. The reiolution was tabled. The Union
Pacific Railroad resolution was considered, but not
acted upon.—On the 7th the Chaplain opened with
a prayer for Cuban independence. Mr. Sumner,
from the. Foreign Committee, reported a bill to
prevent counterfeiting of foreign trade marks. Mr.
Wilson, from the Military, Committee, reported a
bill to protect soldiers and their heirs in the matter
of bounties. The bill amendatory of tfie judicial
system was passed with amendments, and sent to
the House for concurrence. The Pacific Railroad
resolution was postponed, and the Deficiency Bill
was considered and passed with amendments. A
message was received from the President, recom-
mending that Congress make provision for the hold-
ing of elections in Virginia and Mississippi some
time during May or June. After an executive ses-
sion, the Senate adjourned.—On the Bch the Judi-
ciary Committee made a report, recommending
that the consideration of the President's message be
postponed until December. The Whisky and To-
Lacco Bill was considered, and several amendments
were agreed to. The House bill for elections in
Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas was tabled. The
conference report on the Indian appropriations and
House amendment to the bill reorganising the judi-
cial system were agreed to. The House amendment
to the Judicial Bill provides for retiring justices at
the age of seventy, after ten years' service. The
House bill making an appropriation for harbour
improvement was passed.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

THE ACT OF UNIFORMITY.

It seems as if all parties in the Church were
beginning to, admit that the Act of Uniformity is an
intolerable burden. The Broad Church party were
the first to protest against it, and the one achieve-
ment of the Canterbury Convocation has been to
relax the.terms of clerical subscription. The recent
Ritual judgment has made the High Church party
cry out against the measure of two hundred years
ago. But the strongest condemnation of all comes
from a leading Low Churchman. Mr. Ryle, writing
to the Record, says :
"The Acit of Uniformity was a wretched Act—wretched
because it was a flat contradiction to the King's own pro-
mise at Breda before be returned to England—wretched
because it turned out of the Church hundreds of excellent
ministers 'Who might have been retained by a few mode-
rate concessions—wretched because it laid the foundation
of an imMose mass of mineonformity, and inflicted
wounds oil'. our Church which will never be healed.
Against this miserable Act—miserable as a gross breach
of faith—miserable for its vindictive spitefulness—•
miserable-for its encrmons impolicy-miserable in its con-
ception, and miserable in it; consequences (he continued),
lal xvays have protested and shall protest. An Act which
needlessly drove out of our pale hundreds of the best
Pr,,testant and Evangelical divines of the seventeenth
century is an Act which deserves the reprobation of all
.faithful Churchmen. We are reaping the fruits of it in
the sad heresies and divisions of the present day. The
Church of England lost some of her best blood two
hundred years ago, and that blood has never been
replaced." , _

•
Of course each party has its own object in view
when raising its voice against the Caroline Statute.
We need hardly say that it is not with any View of
admitting the Nonconformists into communion that
the Ritualists desire the repeal of the law.