The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-04 00:00:00

Miscellaneous American News.

The Tariff Bill has been postponed till next
winter by a vote of 17 to 23, the Senate dividing
as follows :--

FOR POSTPONEMENT.
Brown Harris Morgan Sumner
Davis Henderson Nesmith Trumbull
Doolittle Hendricks Norton Willey
Foster Johnson Pomeroy Williams
Grimes Kirkwood Riddle Wilson
Guthrie Lane Saulsbury

AGAINST POSTPONEMENT.
Anthony Sherman Howard Sprague
Chandler Cragin Rowe Stewart
Clark Edmund's Poland Van Winkle
Connese Fessenden Ramsey Wade
Cowan

ABSENT.
Buckslew Dixon Nye Yates
Creswell M'Dougall IV right

Messrs. Sumner, Wilson,"-Foster, Harris, and
Morgan voted for thepostponemen t. Thus the bill has
been beaten not so much by the votes of the purely
Agricultural States as by those of Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and New York. The Weekly Tribune
says :--" We can appreciate the considerations
which govern the votes of Messrs. Wilson, Sumner,
and Foster. They are tired of listening to dema-
gogue denunciations of IN ew England, as selfishly
demanding protection for her own special benefit,
when, in fact, New England could better endure
Free Trade than could any other section, and her
manufacturers have far more reason to apprehend
from rivals in the South and West than in Europe.
When the representatives of a State teeming in coal
iron, lead, &c., like Missouri, yet which has few fur-
naces in operation, and scarcely a wheel running on
her abundant water power, vote against Protection,
they may well be tempted to say, let the blind have
their head, they will sooner come right thus than
otherwise ; but this is the cleverness of smart poli-
ticians, not the dictate of true statesmanship."
On the 16th July the President returned the
Freedmen's Bureau Bill unsigned. The President
showed in his Message that such legislation was
justified by war, but was unsuited to peace. He
could see no reason for the establishment of the
military jurisdiction conferred by the Act on the
officials of the Bureau. By the laws of the United
States and of the different States competent courts,
Federal and State, have been established, and are
now in full practical operation. The courts are
open to all, without regard to colour or race, pre-
sided over by competent and impartial judges, bound
by fixed rules of law and evidence, while the trial
by jury is guaranteed and secured. He prefers this
to the caprice or judgment of an officer of the
bureau, who may be ignorant of the principles that
underlie the just administration of the law. Con-
flicts too will arise between the civil and military
tribunals which there are no means of settling. He
points out the dangers of military power, and shows
that it is for the civil tribunals that private wrongs
must appeal for redress. In conclusion, he adds,
"I again urge upon Congress the danger of class
legislation so well calculated to keep the public
mind in a state of uncertain expectation, disquiet,
and restlessness, and to encourage interested hopes
and fears that the national Government will continue
to furnish to classez of citizens in the several States
means for support and maintenance, regardless of
whether they pursue a life of indolence or labour,
and regardless also of the constitutional limitations
of the national authority in times of peace and
tranquillity." Mr. Eliott moved that this message
be laid on the table, printed, and called up for
action next day, The motion was agreed to. Mr.
Niblack moved that 2,000 extra copies be printed.
Mr. Leblond moved that 20,000 be printed, and
that action upon it be taken immediately. The
Speaker announced the question to be " Shall this
bill pass, notwithstanding the objections of the Pre-
sident ?" The vote was taken, and resulted in
yeas 104, nays 33, the Speaker directing his name
to be called, and voting yea. The Speaker an-
nounced that two-thirds having voted in the affir-
mative, notwithstanding the objections of the Pre-
sident, the bill had again passed. In the Senate
other business was set aside, and the President's
Veto Message considered. The Chair having put
the question, " Shall the bill pass, the Presi-
dent's objection notwithstanding ?" the yeas were
found to be 33, the nays 12, when the Chair an-
nounced that the bill having received the two-thirds
vote in both houses, he proclaimed it a law not-
withstanding the objection of the President. Thus
in about three hours the matter was disposed of, and
the President's objection set aside without discus-
sion. We regret to see such action on the part of
Congress. Even if the President be wrong it would
be more dignified in this great Parliament to dis-
cuss all that had been urged by the chief magistrate,
though the discussion had been a mere formality.
Such a passage of the bill through both Chambers-
savours of a contemptuous rejection of the opinion
of the Executive Power.
A negro woman was recently permitted to kneel
between two whites at the Altar of Grace Episcopal
Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and partake the sacra-
ment of the Lord's Supper. The occurrence is unprece-
dented in the history of the Southern States.
to
On the 4th, at Mobile, many.freedmen refused
take passage on a steamer sailing down the bay to witness
a regatta, lest they might be carried to Cuba and sold into
slavery.