The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-24
Correspondence. OF the Phoenix.
WASHINGTON, March 16, 1866.

correspondence OF the Phoenix.
WASHINGTON, March 16, 1866.
The civil rights bill having passed both
Houses, it is now before the President for
his signature. This is a very important
bill. 1t provides, in substance, that the
freed people shall have the same rights
before the law that any person else has,
except that it excludes the right of suf-
frage, which is left with each State. Any
person infringing any of their legal rights,
is liable to five and two years imprison-
ment. A final appeal in ell cases arising
under this bill lies to the Supreme Court
at Washington.
Opinions differ as to what the President
will do with this bill. Some say he will
veto it on the ground that he will sign no
bill affecting the South until the Southern
members are admitted to their seats.
Others say he will sign the bill, because he
has all along wished their rights to be Sc
cured to the freed people-the only point
he has made being in the right of suffrage.
The most injurious tales are constantly
written from the South and published in
the Northern papers, in order to convince
the North that the Southern people cannot
be trusted with political powers. To give
you sample Of the letters written from
the South, take the following, in one of the
morning papers of this city, of to-day:
'RECoNsTRUcTIoN.-O Official advices were
yesterday received from South Carolina, to
the effect that band of outlaws, led by
an eN-rebel major, has been committing g
deprcdations and numbering Union men
and negroes, on account of their devoted
lnvo 1fv N1,n 11o 4
trophies OF his prowess eight cars, cut
from colored persons
The scene of the above is laid in Edge
field District 1t is surely impossible that
this can be true. Yet it is by these horrid
tales the public opinion of the North is
being formed.
The question is frequently asked, whe-
ther the people of the States now having
representation in Congress will support
the President. On this point, heard
public man of great experience say he could
always tell, in advance, what the people
were going to do, by simply asking him
self what it was wise and proper that they
ed that they would do the opposite, and
juding from this rule, he said he felt salts
tied the Northern people would Ego it
blind for the radicals against the Presi-
dent"
1t was determined, at the opening of the
session, Dy the house or representatives,
that they would support the Secretary OF
the Treasury in the policy he had an
nounced of a gradual reduction of the
amount of the paper currency, with the
view of reducing slowly to the specie basis.
But recently, this policy has been changed
by the radical leaders. They are now un-
willing to any essential reduction of the
volume Of paper money. 1t is thought the
main reason is this: They fear the chief
argument against them will come from
their policy being unfriendly to the mate
rial interests of the country, by keeping up
the agitation; hence, to weaken this argu-
ment as much as possible, they desire to
have as much paper money in circulation
as possible, so as to keep business matters
moving along easily.
Several of the Southern Senator's are
here now. They had q sort of indefinite
notion that something good was going to
turn up for them by the month of March
But March has come, and their prospects
are no better than in December. Indeed,
there is not the slightest possibility of any
one being allowed to take seat in either
House, without taking the test oath, while
this Congress lasts.
It is understood that the Committee Of
Ways and Means will report bill making
many alterations in the internal revenue
system. One thing is lucky for the South,
in the political condition Of the day; they
are escaping the payment oflarge sums Of
internal taxes. Certainly this is not to be
regretted, if the Government consent to it.
OBSERVER.