Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-06-23

lecting the freodnlen ~ He has continued
those under him in a situation little better
than slavery p}"
Tho office under Saxton's administration
WIS neutrality-suspicious., and especially on the
Sea Islands; but Commissioners Scott is now
rapidly reforming the abuses which existed
under his rreaeocssor. They notice tic affairs
of the. Sea Islands at considerable length
They represent thirty thousand negroes as be-
ing there n,ostly}i III a destitute condition.
This they attribute chiefly to dishonest sharpers
who have como from the North, and who sys-
tcaatcally swindlc the freedmen with worth,
less money. ThcymentoD gross extortion and
nml-trcatment of the freedmen on plantations
managed by one Underwood, of Boston-
They found jenkins plantation, near by, ad
mirably managed. Edings' plantation is the
only Que where the frecdmcn are prospering
without white supervision.
They Recommend rs the most equitable So
luton of the Sea Island question, that tho
land should be. surrendered next Jannary>to
former owners on condition that they pay the
freedmen for, the improvements which have
hccn made by them. Tilson an: Scott cou-.
cur in this recommendation They suggest
tho issuance Of the necessary orders by the
superintendent in time for rl"nttng arrange
Inents Thoy also rccomlmend that the ser
vices of citizens in tho Bureau, as agents, be-;
hcnccforwarI discontinued Thoy report Col.
Ql"~",-, .a"'.'straton in Florida as judi
cious and beneficial
Mr. Doo!ittie callod up the resolution offered
10y him yesterday, requesting tie President
to communicate to the Senate any iuforma
tion IN hispusscsson relative t, The departure
of Austrian troops from Mexico. He said he
had reason to believe that the resolution
would bring out information Of y very satisfac
tory charactcr. lie was confident Mexico was
about being evacuated by the French troops
The resolution was adopted:
The Legislative Appropriation Bill was con.
sidercd.
The House proceeded TO the ccousidcrationof
the constitutional nmendmcntas reported frou,
the Reconstruction Committee, which was
tcretnfore passed ny the House, and was al.
tered by the Senate in reference to the basis
OF representation and reputation Of. the Cou.
fcderatc debt
Mr. Stevens proposed to debate the sub
Ject for short time, speeches to be limited
I" fifteen minutes, which was agreed to by the
House.
Mr. Stevens closed the debate by saving
the amendments were not such as he desired
as they did not recognize the right of the
black man q, vote lie however. trusted that
something on this subject would be done in
future legislation. III took occasion to stig-
inatizn the President as an usurper unlcrta-
king to establish Civil Governments in the
seceding States.
Under his (Stcvens") demand for the pre-
vious question, the House concurrcd in the
Senate's amendments to tho constitutional
amend ncnt by vote Of one hundred and
twenty to thirty two.
The Speaker, therefore, announced the Join,
resolution as passed.
Several gentlemen announced the reasons
for the absence of their colleagues, who, they
said, If present, would have voted for the prop
osition 'I'
Mr.. Eldridgc, to ridicule those gentlemen
said that if Brooks and Voorhees, had not
beon unseated they would have voted against
the proposition. Laughter Mr., Schcnck
retortcd by saying lie had no doubt if Jefltr.
son Davis were a member of the House, he
too, would have voted against the amend
mcnt. Laughter.
On the Republican side the votes consisted
of Republicans of every shade, including
Smith, of Kentucky, Raymond, of New
York, and Whalcy and Lathrop, of West Viz
gina. Tho negative votes were composed
wholly of decided Democrats.
The proposed constitutional amendment
will be submitted to tho Legislatures of the
respective States for their action.
Nlr. Stevens proposed substitute for the
pending Bill reported by the Reconstruction
Committee, to enable the States lately in re.
bei!ioh to regain their privileges in tho Union.
The material point III tho substitute is the
admission Of Tennessee with her present Sen
ators and Representatives; but she is hereafter
to be excluded unless before the first of Jan
nary she extends tho right of suffrage im-
partially to every Glass, besides ratifying the
constitutional amendment to which reference
Is above made.
WASHINGTON, juno l4--Thc Banking
Committee Of the House of Representatives to.
day reported Bill emendatory of the Nation.
al I&ankinA lotr Ill., a