The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-28
Correspondence OF tho Phoenix.
WASHINGTON, January 20, 1866.

Correspondence OF tho Phoenix.
WASHINGTON, January 20, 1866.
The great question which absorbs
public attention here now is the bill
to confer free suffrage on the negroes
in this District. The bill having
passed the House, giving the negroes
suffrage without any limitations O,
qualifications, the public expectation
is on tip-toe to see what the Senate
will do. Great political results de.
pend on this action of the Senate.
It is ascertained, beyond doubt, that
the President will veto the bill in its
present form. If, therefore, the
Senate sustain the action of the
House, the President and Congress
are at once placed in direct antago-
nism. The President and the Repub-
lican party, in Congress, will be at
dagger's-points with each other, and
the President will have to throw
himself in the arms of the conserva-
tives of the country. This breach
will undoubtedly involve a re-
construction of the Cabinet, in
the interests of conservatism. The
conservatives are watching the crisis
with deep interest. The only appre-
hension they have is, that the Senate
may modify the bill in such a way as
to avoid the Presidential veto. A
few days will develop the action of
the Senate, and it is to be hoped that
they will have backbone enough to
follow their doctrines of negro
equality, to the logical conclusion the
House has.
think it likely that the Govern
ment will not attempt to try Captain
Semmes. The case against him is a
very feeble one.
am sorry to say, that an amend
ment to Trumbull's bill has passed
the Senate, confirming to the negroes
the title, for three years, to the lands
they are in possession of on the Sea
Islands of South sCarolina. AS the
House IS much more radical than the
Senate, it is almost certain this pro-
vision will become the law, unless the
President vetoes the bill. The Presi-
dent, l have reason to know, does not
favor this monstrous injustice to the
Sea Island planters. But it is not
known whether he will veto the bill
or not
There seems to be no doubt but
that Congress will repeal the test oath
required of lawyers practicing in the
United States Courts. This libe-
rality of Congress arises from the fact
that the majority of the Supreme
Court hold the law to be unconstitu-
tional. Such is the opinion of tie
Court, though their decision has
not been announced. Such decision
will, of course, very much shake the
legality of the test oath now required
of public officers, and smooth, to
some extent, the obstacles to the
admission of the members of Con-
gress from the South. AS the mat
ter now stands, I think the Congress
are determined not to admit any
members from the South, except
those who can take the test oath.
AS regards Mexico, from what I
learn, it is the policy of our Execu-
tive to preserve the peace with Maxi
milan until harm ony is restored at
the South. When restoration is COM
plete-say two or three years from
now in time to operate en- the next
Presidential election, very emphatic
notice to leave the premises will be
served on Macmillan.
In talking with leading Democrats
one meets here from the North. sur
prise is constantly expressed by them
that the Confederate States did not
hold out to the North the possibility
Of q pacific re-adjustment in the
event of McClellan's election to the
Presidency. With that to go on,
they say, they would have beat the
Republicans to death.
The passage of your negro code is
considered great misfortune here.
1t is made a great handle of by the
| radicals
INTERESTING LETTER FROM Brazil.
In the Herald, of the 23d, is letter