The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-11
From Washington.


In conversation yesterday, with a
leading member of the PENNSYLVANIA
Congressional delegation, Secretary
Seward brought up the question of
reconstruction, and was very severe
upon Congress for their refusal to
admit the Southern delegations. The
member thought that after four years
of q rebellion that had taken millions
of armed men to suppress, and en-
tailed upon us a debt of $3,O0O, 600,
600, it was the duty of Congress to
patiently examine into the question
of whether the same men were in a
fit condition to be again entrusted
with the political power of this Co.
vernment; that no rebel should ever
have a seat in Congress with his con-
sent; that the policy of the President
was lamentable. as it would prove a
positive injury to the South.
Mr.. Seward replied, with a great
deal of warmth, that the policy was
that which Mr.. Lincoln had adopted,
and was carrying it out when he died,
and that Mr.. Johnson was merely
continuing it; that the people of all
parties would sustain it, and there
was not a rebel to-day in the whole
country, and he should not use the
word. Mr.. Seward is in favor of the
admission of the entire body Of
Southern members, just as they are,
and of the repeal of the test oath.
Cor. Philadelphia Inquirer.
It is now known that Mr.. Stanton's
continuance in the Cabinet is exceed
lngly distasteful to the President,
but radical suggestion and his own
inclination forbid the idea Of his re-
signing.
1t was announced to-day at the
navy yard that employment would be
given hereafter without respect to
party considerations.
1t IS commonly stated among Re-
publicans that General Grant is to be
their candidate for the Presidency.
but it is understood that he resists
the importantly to oppose the Presi-
dents policy.
A highly important rumor has Just
reached me from source entitled to
consideration, to the effect that the
President has summoned to this city
the senators elect from all the re-
organized Southern States, lately in
revolt The report may be prema-
ture, but several of these senators
are now here, and have been request
ed by the President to remain. That
he may have occasion to confer with
all of them, after the events of yes
terday, is not improbable
Special TO Baltimore Sun.
The Supreme Court to-day decided
that the ship Cheshire and cargo
were rightly condemned by the court
below, and that although the vessel
was loaded at Liverpool, and the des-
tlnatlon professed to be Nassau, the
intention to break the blockade was
to be presumed from the place and
circumstances of the capture. It had
been uniformly held that vessel. as
IN this case, is not permitted to go to
the mouth of river under plea of
making inquiry as to the continue
tlon of the blockade, as the fact was
known previous to the sailing. The
court sait this was prinaa facie evil
dence OF IN intention to run the
blockade.
The Supreme Court decided to-day
that a county or municipal corpora
ton has no inherent power to sub
scribe for railroad stock. They can
exercise no such power, unless ex-
press authority be given by the Legis-
lature for that purpose.
'Tha Praci1ort hos ,,,,k
that he is opposed to office-holders
leaving their positions for the pur-
pose OF taking part in the State cleo
tlons; but the presumption is that
they will go nevertheless.
Thad. Stevens was approached last
night by an acquaintance, who asked
him if he intended to vote for the
admission of the Tennessee members:
without hesitation he responded in
the affirmative. " Will you not"
says his questioner, "by SO doing
stultify yourself % To which he re-
piled: Yes, but l shall vote thus,
lest the country might think the hap
py relations heretofore existing be-
tween me and the President had been
disturbed by reconstructionists."
The iron men are not far wrong
when they assert that the present tax
hurts them, and that to compete with
Old England, either lower rates to
them or higher ones to Britain are
necessary. English iron has been
imported on number of occasions
since the war at rates lower than it
could have been purchased for in this
country, and some of the railways at
the South are now being equipped
with material imported direct from
the Old World.