New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-27
VOLUME XIV.
Special to the New Orleans Crescent. !
FROM WASHINGTON,
WASHINGTON, March 18, 1866.


The appendage of the freedmen's bureau bill
has been passed by both Houses, and is now await
ing the signature of the President. This enact
ment purports to secure " civil rights to the COL
ored people, to carry out the provisions Of the
constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, and
to define citizenship of the United States, denied
to the negroes by the Supreme Court in the bred
Scott decision. But like many Congressional acts
this bill is very far from being the harmless meas
ure which its supporters would induce us to
believe. The speech Of Garrett Davis in oppos
ton to its passage, was decidedly the best dgested
effort which he has made this session. and stated
in explicit terms its most Objectionable features
The determination of civil rights is question
which belongs exclusively to the States, and the
constitutional amendment meant nothing more
than it stated-the abolition of slavery and inyo-
untary serytude. Too much latitude in the con-
struction of that great instrument has been per-
mitted during the war, and believe the President
favors speedy return to- the strict Interpretation
of the Constitution.
The civil rights bill is an instance Of the class
legislation which Congress is endeavoring to force
on the country. 1t contains revolutionary pro-
vision authorizing the employment of arms to en-
force law of the United States. 1t presupposes
that the ordinary civil process is not capable of
being put in execution; in fact, it predetermines
the disloyalty of the South. 1t is q substitute for
the freedmens bureau bill, and provides for a
horde of commissioners 10 nfest the land. The
President will certainly be reluctant to exercise
the veto power second time within one month.
and the radicals are doubtless anxious that Mr.
johnson should incur some odium as an Executive
tyrant, while they would rejoice in political
martyrdOm.
The discussion on the part which our country
should take at the coming exhibition of 1861 has
elected speech from the chairman of the Com
mttee on Foreign Affairs, Major General Banks.
The Generals remarks were attenvely listened to,
and his account of the triumphs of American in
dustry were certainly interesting. The address
was, however, curious compound, and at best
left-handed plea for our participation in the ex-
position at Paris General Banks believes that
Louis Napoleon is anxious for war with this
country, and the knowledge which the English
people possess of our institutions is the only cause
which maintains Queen Victoria on her throne Ii
is pity that such sentiments of provinciality and
narrow -mindedness should go abroad as the de-
| lberate opinion of our statesmen. Fortunately
we have politician at the head of our State De
partment who can maintain the dignity of thi:
| country without insulting foreign nations in the
| Bancroft style. The commanding presence o
General Banks, and his parliamentary voice, con
feIred increased effect on his spreadeagle senti
ments, SO well suited to an assembly thorough.
hostile to foreign powers. Washburne, OF Iii
nois, who aims to occupy the position of econo
mist, which Joseph Hume formerly held in tn
British Parliament, naturally opposed the appro
priation for the expenses of our commissioners t.
Paris, and induged his spleen against the Frencl
government for not feting him during recen
stay in Napoleons dominions. The economist @
the House contradicted himself fagrantly by in
, dulging in some grandoquent remarks on tn
: Austrian adventurer. If Maxmilian is an aG
venturer, he appears to me to be about the mos
successful one who has visited our shores fo
some time. 1t appears that Mr.. Washburne dt
sres to be economical in the expenditure
money for the execution of other folks ideas, br
is willing to waive his economy when freedmen
bureaux and Mexican expeditions are on th
tapis.
rHAp. STEVENS VERSUS MR.. M'cuILocH
The exclusion of the Southern Representative
for the remainder of this session having becon
an article of general belief, the public attenti'
has centered on the great loan bill, propos
to authorize the contraction of the currency in
manner indicated by the Secretary of the Treasur
Mr.. Morrell, of Vermont, chairman of the Comm
tee on Ways and Means reported bill which &C
ferred full powers the Secretary for the gradr
resumption of specie payments. Stevensintroduc
a substitute embodying his most prominent ideas
opposition to the Administration, and the benz
of the manufacturers. The discussion continu
three days; all partisan isues were thrown asid
even the agricultural and manufacturing intere
were not uniform in their opinions; and, on
morning of the last day the result was still dou
full. Morrell, of the committee, had made SCI
BILE, though not effective speech. Wentwo
sided with the other members of the Ways 6
Means, and great expectations were excited
hear Thad. Stevens defense of his amendme
The great partisan leader was now to stand on
own merits, and argue question which each il
vidual member seemed desirous of determin
according to his own judgment The financial
mutation of Thaddeus is not brilliant; his effort
lkeep down the price of gold during the war
lerislative enactment, had been totally unsucc
full, and he could not expect the subservie
which usually awaits him on political topics.
vens thought that Mr.. McCulloch had po
enough in his hands and believed that the
ng' way to return to specie payments is by exclut
the importation of foreign goods. Thaddeus
evidently conscious of his former failures
ENr finance, and of this trial of his mental cali
most He was therefore more nervous than usual,
'''' better posted on his subject. line custonlar.
tention accorded to the radical leaders was in
siied on this occasion by the pecularlty OF
contest and the visible excitement of the spea
Jnl IN, q