Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-12-21
CoIuMBrA: Dec: nth. is6s

| DEAR WusoN: During tho pact few days
we have had rumors of some secret negotia-
| tiops pending between our State authorities
and the powers at Washington, and that the
continuance Of the Session Of our. Legislature
during The present week u Iay be necessary to
Tatify some 'conten plated political arrange
ment. The character Of the scheme has not
yet been disclosed. and we cannot imsgne
what common basis cf uegotin, ion can exist
between our state and the Federal authorities.
There seems 10 be some difference of opinion
among the Radicals in Congress, as to the terms
which they will exact as the conditions OF
Southern restoruloD, and which the North
West seems to tc cuntent with the Cunsti,u.
uonal Amendment, New-E England insists upon
Universal suffrage rs a sine qua no,. These
are However but minor differences. whilst iu
the cardinal principles OF its policy the party
is q unit. The success of the party is pa,um-
cunt to all other cunside lone, and that suc.
cess Is i'll antagonIsn with the best interests of
the South.
We arc now in the midst Of the last week OF
the Session, with q large mass OF its most i'm
port"nt legislation elil incomplete. The Dis
trlct Court Bill has pafsed the House, and will
likely pass ths Senate without material aI,era
zion. among It's most important provisions, 1t
couters upon the Superior Courts Of Luiv and
Equity. concurrent Jurisdiction with the Dis
trlct Courts, u mos: cases which come within
the cognIzance Of The lutt.r-Iuetpones the
entering up Of the Judgments Of The District
Courts uhtI. Tie neat succeeding Session of the
Courts of C"r1uon rieus- -disp.ises with ,h.
necessity of p,esentrlenL by Il Grand Jury in
the District Cqurts-und provides for the draw
ing Of twenty-!uur Jurors, from whom shall L.
drawn at the Session of the Court, two iuri.s
| ot eight men each, ald four suIernumeraries,
These provisions obviute in great measure
| the objections which have been urged to tn.
existing law.
The Bill for the amendment Of the Criminal
Law, which together with the Distric, Court
Bill, contains the best features OF the Code
submitted by Judge wardIaw, has clso passed
the House.
The bill among other things provides that
| stealing unsevercd crops of cotton or grain,
shall be felony without benefit OF clergy
makes the obslruciing railroad. also felony
without benefit Of clergy. makes the breach Of
| trust with fraudulent intent, lurceuy-and
provides for confinement iu the penit.ntisry
and other punishments.
The Bill providing for annua! Sessiou55 81 the
Courts of Common Pleas after passing The Sen.
ate was defeated ii'the House on last Sattr-
day. motion was made TO reconsider this
morning. but. was Defeated by d vote If 40 to
56. The Homestead bill will come up again
Tomorrow. and will likely puss. us u motion to
postpone the bill was 3.f.sled in the House a
few days. A bill TO prevent tho sacrifice of
property at Sheriff'e sale. which PROVIDES that
the defendant may redeem his Real Estate
sold under execution. at any time before the lst
January 1871, by paying the purchase money
aud ten per cent interest-psssed the House u
few days since. These measures, together with
some notifications of the insulvent laws will
likely pass, and will probably furnish sufficient
relief " debtors, without the annual Court
bill.
Bill for the relief of the destitute, passed
the House few days since. 1t provides for
un appropriation OF $50. 900, to be advanced
by the Governor to certain contractors who
shall furs;sh 100000 bushels monrhly-,he
poor of each District by An assessment made
hy the Commissioners. who may purchase from
the coutractors-,he snid c3;tractors being
also empowered to sell on the credit Of the
State $l0o, worth Of corn for the necsssi-
tous citizens Of the State.
The Tax and Appropriation Bills will come
up for discussion in the House tonight. The
Committee of Ways aud Means find it neces-
sary to raise revenue of $500, ,0OG, mud will
recommend u continuance of the capiialion
and dogtax and also q tax of two cen,s on
cotton.
bill for the relief Of the Banks WAS defea-
ted in the House to day by very large vote
The Senate has concurred in the House
next Friday. Yours truly,
| W. A. L.
ColuIBIA, Dec: 18th, 1866
DkAh Wilson a bill parsed The Hou.e fow
days since, lending the oredit Of the state to
the G. 4 c. II. r, by guarantee of it's bonds
10 an additional amount Of $6OO,0vO. A bill
also passed lhe House, transferring certain State
Stock TO the Columbia 4 Augusta X. r.. aud
guaranteeing lis bonds TO the amount Of S5UU,-
600.
In the House, bill pnssed on yesterday sp-
proprating $4,000 to procure artificial legs
for our disabled soldiers.
On yesterday, bill which had passed the
House incorporating an academy in Darlington
District, and wns vetoed hy 1.-The Governor, on
The ground that it cont asi'e'i clause prohib.
i'ing the ss!e Of apirisous .d nors,. within five
miles Of the Academy, was passed again in the
House over his veto, but was defeated In The
Sennte.
Mr.. Warley's resolutions with regard 10 JEFF.
ferson Davis. were unfavorably reported upon
by the Committee on Federal Relations and a
substitute recommended. In: finally the con-