The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-03-25
Under the headinn ..Neu. Recen.

the proceedings of Congress, on the
9th instant, gives in full Il series of
resolutions offered by Senator Stew
art, of Nevada. Why these resolu-
tions are supposed to embody any
new plan of reconstruction, is as in
soluble q mystery as why Mr.. Cop
pertield called his country place 'sThe
Rookery'
MI. Stewart sets forth that ''wherc-
as one of the most prolific scources of
unfrlendly sentiment is the conflict
OF opinion on the subject of negro
suffrage" and whereas It is now
most evident that there is no proba-
bility whatever that Senators and
Representatives for the Southern
States will be allowed to occupy the
seats to which they have been elected,
until such States shall have complied
with certain fundamental conditions,
therefore, resolved, that universal
negro suffrage, reputation of the
Confederate debt, and relinuuish-
ment OF ali claims for compensation
for the emancipation of slaves, shall
constitute the leading features of
these fundamental conditions.
Mr.. Stewart has heretofore been q
moderate man. and friend and sup
porter of the President. His atti-
tude is now truly pitiablc. Having en-
dorsed the President in his defiant
declaration to play hardest fend off,
with the radicals, he now acknow-
lodges himself hacked and cowed.
He even shows enthusiasm in his 10y
atty to his conquerers. He takes
their must ultra designs and parades
them before his late associates and
friends us compromise, to which
they all may consistently subscribe.
In advocating his resolutions, he
said: "This proposition avoids all
od1ous provisions attached to others
which appear like coercion" This
idea is expressed ia the last resolu-
ton:
'Resolaed, That in the adoption of
the aforesaid resolution, it is not in
tended to assert Il coercive power on
the part OF Congress i'll regard to the
regulation OF the right OF suffrage in
the different States of the Union, but
only to make Il respectful and earnest
appeal to their own good sense and
love of country, with view to the
prevention of serious evils now threa-
tened and to the peaceful perpetual
ton of the repose, the happiness and
true glory of the whole American
people"
Certain propositions are presented
to the Southern people-among
others, negro sutfrage-and they are
told that when they conform to these
requirements, they will be admitted
to the enjoyment of their Constitu-
tional rights. On the other hand,
they are notified that SO long as they
refuse compliance, they entail upon
themselves perpetual disfranchise-
ment. Ii this is not coercion. it is
the very strongest sort OF an zap
peal.
If these conditions ;are ever sub
to the vote of the Southern
people, they will, we hope and be-
lleve, be calmly, but firmly and une-
qulvocally, rejected. If we display
patience, fortitllde and resolution,
and will only wait, we will regain our
rights and our liberties, without first
depriving ourselves of the means of
enjoying those blessings, thus render
ing ourselves unfit to possess them.
Richnond Times.
FREEDMEN BCHEAU.-TheW Wash
lngton correspondent of the New
Orleans Picayune gives the following
opinion as to the duration OF the
Freedmen's Bureau, under the Act of
Congress creating it. According to
the writer, it expires by law in May,
1866, one year after the ending of the
war of the rebellion:
l have read Gen. Howard S letter of |
February %, but do not know of |
any power which can continue the
Bureau in force for
year longer. The Act of Congress
creating it says it shall CONTINUE
during the present war of rebellion,
and for one year thereafter Many
persons seem to think that the war is
not over yet, that it is still raging,
and that it will continue to rage until |
the President issues proclamation
declaring that the war is over. What |
an absurd idea. 1t is as easy to tell |
when the war was over, as it is to tell
when the winter is over, or when the
night is over. The war of the rebel
lion came to an end in the month of
MAY, 1860 when the Confederate