The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-12-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
TAsutSaroN, December 8.


The question was on Mr.. Dixon's amend
meut, to attach qualification of read
Ing and Writing to the uame of the vo
ter.
Mr.. Cowan opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Feser spoke in favor Of it.
The debate was continued on the a.
mendment Of Mr.. Dixon, which was for
maIly voted down, by large majority.
Mr.. Lane declared that the Southern
States never should be re,admitted until
they conferred negro suffrage; that the
whole matter was under the control Of
Congress, representing the loyal States,
and that neither President or Cabinet had
anything TO DO with it, Mr. Wilson said,
If negro suffrage was established the
Democratic party, with that keen seen,
peculiar to it, would court the negro in,
!luence. while others OF the South would
be after them, claiming relationship; and
as the same blood did really flow 10 their
veins, they would bring afidavi, to prove
it, il necessary.
Mr.. Stevens introduced a bill! 10 re
establish civil government in North Caro-
lima, and to enable the State TO resume its
former relations as one Of the constituent
| States OF the American Union. lie did
so at the request Of several gentlemen
from North Carolina.
After long preamble, the first section
provides for holding "A Convention at
Raleigh, on the goth of May, 1867, Of
100 loyal citizens as delegates to frame a
Constitution to be submitted TO Congress
for approval, modification or reje ,ton.
The secohd section provides that all
male resident citizens 81 years Of age,
without distinction of color, who can read
or write, or who own one hundred dollars,
or more, shall vote provided that no one
heretofore entitled TO vote shall he dis,
qualified from voting in said election.
The third section prescribes qnsliNca.
tions for delegates to the Convention 70
be the same as for members Of .he House
Of Commons. And the oath to be ad
ministercd is: "That on the 4,h of
March, 1864, and at all times thereafter,
| would willingly have complied with the
requirements of the Proclamation Of the
the eth December, 1868, had safe op
por,uni,y for so doing been offered me
| that | WAS opposed to the continuance
and the establishment OF the so called
Confederate Government, and voluntarily
gave no aid or encouragement thereto,
but earnestly desired the success Of the
Unior, and that | will hence'orth faith
fully support, DC.
Section 4th-the Judge administering
the oath, il he suspects falsohood, NAV
require other evidence-false swearing
declared to be perjury.
Section 9th provides for opening OF
polls by the United States Marshal, who
shall appoint Judges Of election.
Section 9th provides compensation for
Marshal.
Section 7th declares the present gov
ernment void, and the functions Of all
| State officers ut an end.
Section 9th gives the President the
Military and Naval power to execute this
law.
The bill was referred to the Committee
on Territories.
Mr. Miller introduced bill to provide
for the appointment Of assessors and col
Iectors Of Internal Re venue throughout
the United States. Referred TO the Com
mittee on Ways and Means.
The discussion on the President annual
message was commenced, and Ward, OF
New York, made speech, in which he
bitterly denounced the President.
The bill which Senator Yates intro,
duced to-day, relates to the publication of
the constitutional amcndment, which pro-
vides that upon information being received
10y the Secretary Of the Senate and the
| Clerk OF the House, Of the ratification Of
any Of the amendments to the Cons,i,u.
tion 10y the requisite number Of States
duly qualified to pass upon the same, it
shall Je the duty Of the President Of the
Senate and the Clerk of the House to
publish the same in the newspapers now
authorized to publish the laws. specifying
under their signatures that the amend
ment has been adopted, and is now valid
and binding rs part Of the Constitution,
10 the same manner as formerly certified
to by the Secretary Of State. The OF jsct
Of this bill is TO deprive the President and
Secretary of State of any action in the
premises.