Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-12-20
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate, on the 10th, Mr.. Ward.
of New York, had the boldness to offer a
bill, which was referred, to guarantee to Ger.
tain States that have been engaged in re.
bellon, q republican form of Government.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Spald
ing, directing the Reconstruction Commit
tee to inquire into the expediency of propo
sing joint resolution, declaratory of the
purposes Of Congress 10 admit the rebel
lious States, on the ratification BY them of
the Constitutional Amendment, and the es
tablishment of republican form of govern
meat.
Messrs. Pike, Farnsworth and Cooper,
have been appointed Committee to proceed
to Anderson District, in this State, and in.
vestigate the circumstances attending the
murder of United States Soldiers in that
District. 1t will be remembered by our
readers that Messrs. Byrem, Keyes and
Showers, of Anderson, were convicted by a
Military Court in Charleston last year, of
the murders referred to-. Also, that these
persons have been recently released from
prison on a writ of habeas corpus.
The House, by vote of l24 to 29, pass
ed Bill fixing the fourth of March next,
as the regular time for the meeting of Con-
gress The object of this is to invest Con.
gress with the power to make the Sessions
perpetual, and thereby prevent the President
from making removals from Office and filling
vacancies without the consent of the Senate.
The Committee on Reconstruction have
before them Bill, providing that Chief
Justice Chase shall appoint for each of the
Southern States Provisional Governor and
all other territorial machinery, and prescIi.
bing regulations for holding conventions for
the adoption of constitutions securing to all
men their rights, irrespective of color.
On the llth, Bill was passed in the
House regulating the duties of the Clerk,
requiring him to insert on the roll of men,
bers only the names of those from States
represented in the next preceding Congress
as preliminary to organization.
In the Senate, Oh the 18th, Wilson, of
Massachusetts, gave notice of Bill to con-
tinue in force the Freedmen's Bureau and
the act establishing it.
In the Senate, on the 18th, Mr.. Lane
declared that the Southern States never
should be readmitted until they conferred
negro suffrage; that the whole matter was
in the control Of Congress, representing the
loyal states, aud that neither President or
Cabinet had anything to do with it. Mr..
Wilson said, as negro suffrage was estab.
lished, the Democratic party, with that
keen scent peculiar to it, would court the
negro influence, while others of the South
would be after them, claiming relationship
and as the same blood did really roll in
their veins, they would bring affidavit to
prove it, if necessary. The Senate, thirty
two against thirteen, passed bill confer
ring suffrage in the District of Columbia on
colored persons, but excluding persons who,
in the language of the bill, may have Volun-
tarily given aid and comfort to the rebels
in the late rebellion.
Abill for similar purpose, with unre-
stricted suffrage, passed the House last ses-
sion, and there is no doubt the measure will
become law, as two. thirds or more in each
branch are in favor of it,
Mr.. Stevens introduced bill to re.estab-
lish civil Government in North Carolina,
and to enable it to resume it's former rela-
tions as one of the constituent States of the
American Union. He did so at the request
of several gentlemen from North Carolina.
Referred to the Committee on Territories.
In the Senate on the 18th instant, an
animated debate took place on the Billf
or the admission of Nebraska-Mr. Sum.
ner strenuously opposing it, on the ground