The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-20
From, Washington.
A despatch to the Herald say

amendment inahis forth coming mes
sage. They argue that i'll so doing
he viii head Off certain other pro-
positions which the radicals intend
to adopt. ! understand that Mr..
johnson has not as yet given these
gentlemen their answer. 1t has been
rumorod hero for the last week, that
it was his intention to propose an ar
rangement similar to the one now.
pending, butiu a modified form, re-
commencing, among other matters,
the Withdrawal OF the disfranching
provision in the amendment as it is
now proposed
The President is collecting from
the most authentic sources. informa-
ton regarding the situation OF the
South. preparatory to framing his
annual message. Gen Siclles was
closeted with him to-day, and sub
mitted his views. 1t is possible that
tho President may recommend to
Congress the convocation Of
national convention, in which all the
States shall be represented, to con
slider the grave questions now before
the nation. Although the people of
the South may not favor the pending
constitutional amendment, and may
regard the schism between the Presi-
dent and Congress as calculated
ultimately to inure to their own
benefit, they will in the end acquiese
III whatever the highest branches of
the Government may unite in pro-
posing. The President will pro obably
suggest such measures to Congress as
may make the legislative and exccu-
tive departments q unit upon the
question Of rcsoration
4 despatch to the Baltimore 1meri-
cam has the following:
Leading Southern gentlemen, who
have recently visited Washington, in
dlcate n decided change as in progress
lii the South on the subject of impair
tlal suffrage. The overwhelming de-
feat of the Dem ocratic conservative
party IN the recent elections has con-
rlnced all thinking Southern men
that restoration is impossible, with
out some concession To- the dominant
loyal scntimcntof the country. The
position taken by the President, and
the belief that the people of the loyal
States would repudiate the action of
Congress, has caused them to commit
their States so strongly against the
constitutional amendment as to pre-
ciude any probability of It's adoption
by them Ill any contingency. Beside,
they argue that, to consent to the dis
franchisemcnt Of all the active rebel
element, would be unjust to those
who arc no more guilty than them
selves. Ia this dilemma, they say
that, OF the two, the South would
prefer to admit the negroes to quail
1lcd participation i'll the elective fran
chise. AS soon as the sentiment of
the people of theSouth can be brought
up to the necessary point, the propo-
sltlon for q compromise on this basis
Will be entertained, and, it is believed,
favorably received The indications
also multiply that the leaders OF the
Democratic party are also about to
change front on this subject. and Join
IN the effort to obtain settlement of
the existing difficulty on i generally
satisfactory basis In this settlement,
the Administration Will be left out in
the cold, and permitted to linger out
the balance OF its term in practical
lnslgniticanco and obscurity.
The Washington .Stcn., of the 10th,
says:
In the case of William T. Smith
son, the banker, against Edwin M.
Stanton, Secretary of War, for tres
pass, damages areclaimed Of $40, 900;
in the suit instituted by NEessrs.
Hughes, Denver and Peek, for the
plaintiff, Mr. W. Y. Eendall has en-
tered his appearance for the defend
ant, and plea OF not guilty having
been entered, the case stands for
trial. 1t is not probable, however,
that 1t Will be reached at the present
term OF the Circuit Court.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MEMPHIS. On
Tuesday night, about o'clock, the
cotton mills at Memphis were disco
vered to be on fire. 1t required but
a few minutes to complete the work
of total destruction. \ stately build
ing, full Of machinery, and busy with
the industry Of 20Opersons employed
in it, was almost in q twinklins
wholly consumed.
HE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN MIS-
s3oURI.-Eighty Counties of this State
give an official and reported Repub-
lican majority of n, 500. The Coun-
ties vet to be heard from will Drobo-