The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-02-01
Te1egraph.
Congressional.

WASHINGTON, January 30.-The House
to-day recommitted the proposed constitu-
tional amendment i'll relation to reprcsen-
tation, with restriction to the CO cmmittee
on Reconstruction, anu afterwards went
into the consideration of the Senate bill to
enlarge the power OF the Freedmen's Br-
fean.
a resolution, proposing to extend the
courtesies of the floor to the members
elect from Arkansas, was disagreed to.
The Senate was Engaged in the discus
SION OF the bill giving protection to per-
sons in their civil rights irrespective of
color.)
Mr.. Trumbull withdrew his amendment
offered yesterday relative to the declaration
that all persons of African descent ssbcine
residents of the United States are citizens
thereof" and substituted one declaring
that any persons Of foreign origin may be
declared citizens without distinction Of
race, color, &c.
The TRIAL OF Ex-PREsIDENT DAVIS.
The Congressman who believe with a
prominent Government official, that
''courts-martial arc organized to con-
vict, and that Jefferson Davis should
be convicted, are impatient at the
Presidents delay in forwarding u re-
port prepared. by Judge Holt, show
ing that the deposed rebel ruler was
an accomplice in the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln. They are of the
opinion that the evidence is so strong
as to insure popular endorsement Of
their wish to have both Davis and
Clay tried by court-martiala and chung
to sour apple tree" or to a gallows-
beam, constructed OF some other
wood. General Butler, in q speech
which he delivered last night before a
soldiers convention, went further,
and included Robert E. Lee among
those who should suffer death on the
gallows.
There are others, in Congress and
occupying high official positions here,
who think that Davis should be tried
by the laws of the land, and who are
opposed to any more courts martial,
except for the trial Of those in the
armies or navies of the Union for
military offences. Admitting that the
laws of the land, as at present con-
strued, do not perhaps cover the case,
on account of q conflict of opinion,
they seek to so modify and reform
the ruling and practice as to insure
uniformity and to insure trial of
the great criminal of the age.
This bill, now before the Senate, is
to be discussed in the Senate, and
will be opposed by those who desire
that Davis be tried by @ military COM
mission, as it would insure his trial
before a United States Court. tbut
enacts what is now the doctrine in
Illinois and other States, that an
opinion based upon rumors, newspa-
per reports OF common notoriety, is
but Hypothetical opinion, which
should not exclude a juror, provided
the Court is satisfied that he would
act impartially. But the passage of
this bill will secure the trial of Davis
before civil court, and it will conse-
quently meet with decided opposition.
Washington Cor. N. Y. Commercial
"OrHELLo's OCCUPATION. Boston
dates of the 25th inst. mention that
the thirty y-ffth annual meeting of the
Massachusetts, Anti-Slavery Society
was held to-day, Edward Quincy pre-
siding. A motion was made to dis
solve the society, now that slavery no
longer existed, but was opposed by
w. Lloyd Garrison, who declared
that there were other and equally
high ends to be obtained by the
society in the education and amelior-
alton of the condition Of the negro
race. The motion to dissolve was
lost, and officers for the ensuing year
elected.
There is a powerful movement
throughout the Northwest in favor
of free trade and the modification of
the protective tariff to revenue
basis. Free trade leagues are being
organized in the leading towns and
cities. The Chicago league has been
fully organized, and the names of
many leading citizens of both politi-
cal parties appear in the list of Of
ficers.
Lieut.. Gen. Grant has summoned
the leading Generals to Washington
for the purpose of holding council.
In addition to hearing from them
verbal accounts of affairs in their
several departments, it is said the
Lieutenant-General is DESTROYS os
consulting them in reference to the
different features of the new army
bill now before Congress.
..------e.---.--.-
A late telegram informs us of an
other accident which occurred on the
Hudson River Railroad last Saturday.
Two cars, one Of which was com
plete1y broken to pieces, were pre-
cipitated down an embankment, and