The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-03
MISSISSIPPI.
Legislature and the Freedmen.
The Constitutional Amendment.

The Vicksburg Herald, Of December 4th,
says: es
It will be remembered that the heedmens
bill recently passed by the Legislature con-
tains clause prohibiting freedmen from rent
ing or leasing lands. As soon as information
was received in Washington of the passage
of the bill, the President ordered it to be
disregarded. Cen Howard issued an order
to the Superintendent of the Freedmens
Bureau in this State, and the Secretary OF
War has ordered measures to be taken for
the redress of such freedmen as may be ar
rested for violating the law.
The insertion of such proviso in the bill
by the Legislature was uncalled for and I'M
necessary. The negroes of this State own
no lands, and if they rent, lease or buy, they
have to obtain the land from the white citi-
zens. The result of this useless piece Of leg
islation is seen in the State being put in an
tagonism to the policy of the Government
just at the time when we need friends at
Washington, and would like to make new
ones, instead of alternating the only friends
we have heretofore met there.
The following is copy of the despatch
furnished us from the Office of Colonel
Thomas:
WARRINGTON, Nov. 80, 1865.
To Col. Samuel Thomas:
While the bureau remains in Mississippi,
you will continue to protect the freedmen in
the right to lease lands. The action of the
Legislature referred to in your telegram of
the 9th is not recognized here.
By order of Major General Howard.
MAX Woodruff, A. A. g.
Another despatch was also received, COW
ering an order from the Secretary of War,
directing investigation to be made in all cases
where freedmen are arrested for violating the
law above referred to, and to report the facts
to Washington, in order that prompt redress
may be afforded.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
1t appears that the Legislature reconsider
ed the vote rejecting the Constitutional
Amendment, and ratified it in the following
form:
Resotced, By the Legislature of the State of
Mississippi, That the proposed amendment
of the Constitution of the United States be
and the same is hereby ratified.
Resolred further, That this ratification is
expressly made and adopted upon the condi-
lions and with the reservations following:
1st 1t shall not be construed into an ap-
proval or endorsement of the political prin-
ciple or doctrine that the reserved rights of a
State can, without the consent of such State,
be usurped or abridged by the Federal Gov
eminent, through the instrumentality of a
constitutional amendment
3D. It shall not be construed into expressed
or complied consent on the part of the Leg
eli hot choI oh
where it lawfully exists in any State that
may refuse to ratify said amendment
Sd. The emancipation of slavery in this
State being a fixed fact-distinctly recog-
nized by her condition and by recent legis-
tative enactments designed in good faith to
maintain and protect the civil rights of the
freedmen appertaining to their new condi-
tion of freedom.
The I'd section of said amendment shall
not be construed as grant ofpower to Con-
gress to legislate in regard to the freedmen
of this State; but so far as relates to this
State, it shall be construed simply as grant
of power to Congress by appropriate legisla-
ton to prohibit and prevent the re-establish-
ment of slavery therein.
ORDER BY GENERAL osTERHAUs
We find the following in the Vicksburg
Herald of the 5th:
General Osterhaus, commanding the Wes-
tern District of Mississippi, has designated
the city and Notifications of the city as post
Of Vicksburg, and Colonel H. Leib, 9Th Uni
ted States colored heavy artillery, is assigned
IN duty as post commandant,
General Osterhaus has issued stringent
order against discharging firearms inside the
Notifications He says it must be stopped at
once, and to that end has ordered all side
arms and revolvers found in possession of
soldiers to be seized, and any soldier found
discharging his gun outside of the camps to
he arrested and confined in the military
prison to be tried by court martial Every
soldier appearing in public with arms when
off duty is to be tried for disobedience of or
ders.
"Some little excitement was occasioned on
Washington street, on Sunday afternoon, in
consequence of the negro guard demanding
the pistol of a citizen, (Which he had in his
belt) as they said, under orders. The de-
mand was refused, and the guard sent for
reinforcements, who seized the citizen in an
unnecessarily rough manner, jerking him
about on the pavement, and punching with
bayonets, and marched him off to the provost
marshal. The provost decided that the ar
rest was entirely unauthorized; that no such
instructions were issued, and promised to
have the offenders punished. We learn that
General Osterhaus ordered an investigation
to be made in the affair, yesterday morning,
and we are assured that the guilty parties
will not escape"
RESOLUTIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRESIDENT.
The following are the resolutions in rela-
ton to the President of the United States,
which were adopted by the Legislature be.
fore adjourning sine die:
Be 1t resolced By the Senate, 1.-THE House Of
Representatives. concurring,) That the Legis-
lature of the State of Mississippi expresses its
confidence in the administration of Andrew
johnson, President of the United States, so
far as his public course has been developed
in endeavoring to restore the people of the
Southern States to their constitutional rela-
tions to, and equal rights in, the Union to
the benefit which may flow from their parti-
cipation in the councils of reunion Of
| States.
1t acknowledges his honesty of purpose
his firmness and determination, which thus
far has marked his official career; and it ex
| tends to him the assurance that his patriotic
| and noble efforts to heal the wounds of thu
country, and to restore the Southern States
to equality, representation, and prosperity
meets its sanction and approval.
Resotced, further, That the Legislature O
| this State thank President johnson for tn,
various acts of official clemency and kindness
he has shown the people; and that they lool
forward with an abiding hope, but an equal,
anxious solicitude, for that happy day whei
general amnesty to one and ali shall crow
| his name with 11nfaf3sper honor and onabl