The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-14
From. Wasahanxton.

Lhe civn rights law, which is about to
take aaect, will, as slawyers generally v stats
execute itself, through the Federal courts
1,n, IN nKS manner with the fugitive sIave law.
~ tne rsesiaens whl have nothing 10 do with
ITS execution, except In the appointment of
United States District judges. Some OF
tAaese sre already appointed; others viii be
Ill the course OF the year. The Judges will
appoint their aids, and will see that tbev
DO not appoint improper persons. The Pre-
sident must take care that he does not se-
lect men for judges who would abuse their
power to speculate, like United States cot
ton agents, upon the necessities or appre-
tensions of the citizens of the States where
the law is to be executed.
The first section of the law goes into ef-
feet at once, declaring who are citizens Of
the United States. This law will remain in
force, OF course, until it is either repealed
or pronounced by the United States Su-
preme Court to be demonstrations, neither
OF which contingencies are likely to rise
very soon. However, the case will he made
IN Indiana or Illinois under their State
laws, which prohibit the immigration Of
negroes into those States, or their resi-
dence there. But these State laws will, no
doubt, be 80 modified as to comply with
the Federal law.
A serious conflict Of jurisdiction las oc-
CURED between the State courts Of South
CaroIna and the military jurisdiction. un-
der General Sickles. The courts havo SEN
fenced white men, convicted Of larceny. to
De punished with stripes, under the old
criminal code Of South Carolina. General
Slckles forbade the execution OF the SEN
renee, ior the reason that it was abhorrent
to the ideas OF phila nthropy and usages of
modern civilization. The Circuit Courts
OF the state have, therefore. it appears
declined TO try criminals at all. The Pre-
sident Is appealed to by the State authori
ties 10 sounteTmsnd Genera! Sickles' order.
!, MT: stephen Powers, correspondent of
The Cincinnati Commercial, was before tho
Reconstruction Committee, to-day, and tes-
tined at length respecting Florida, Lou
lslana and Texas. He takes q hopefnl
view. In the case Of foreign war. tho
enemy. he thinks, would not get 10000 re-
cruits from the south, unless an army in
vaded that section.
The people are generally in favor of pay
ing the rebel debt, but will offer very little
resistance to the collection of the national
taxes. The Freedmen's Bureau has been
necessary, and still is, though, after the
next Christmas holidays, when the CON
tracts for the coming year are made. il will
not be needed anywhere.
ihe negroes have purchased weapons
and are rapidly learning to take care Of
themselves. Some Of the bureau officers
have been incompetent, and speculated OH
it and made the institution a by word. The
people are more loyal than they were at
the end of the war The noise OF news
papers and politicians il only the natural
reaction from the terror OF defeat. and the
apprehension OF punishment.
[ Cor. Baain,o,x !S,,n.
The Supreme Court having adjourned,
TRIALS by court martial having been aban-
bility OF cnnyicting Davis before . civil
court, the President, it is freely rumored,
has about concluded TO order his release on
parole. Mr.. Stephens is reported to have
expressed the conviction that he would be
released and as Mr.. s. has just held q
long interview with the President, it is not
unlikely but what he is foreshadowiny the
event.
In this connection, l will say that q most
important argument, covering eighty print
ed pages, has been received by the Presi-
dent from London, i'll which are set forth
the reasons why Davis cannot be convicted
IN any court of the crime of treason. The
ground gone over dates from the founda-
tion OF the Goycrnment-inclndes the
nights of the States, as then under
stood--the action Of New York, Pennsylva-
MIA, Virginia, Massachusetts, and the
States, IN accepting the Constitution, and
the opinlons Of Washington, Fisher, Ames,
Hamilton, Webster, Ellsworth, Rufus King,
DAVE, Spencer, Madison, Jay, Randolph,
Franklin, Tencl Cox, James Wilson. and
Chief Justice Mexican. OF Pennsylvania.
The pnrport Of the opinions Of these hon
ored ore dead, as showing the sovereignty OF
sends to the President the argument gives
IN detail, may be summed up in the remark
OF Wilson in the Pennsylvania Convention
of 'S7:
Upon the existence Of the State Govern
ments depends the existence Of the Fede-
raj plan. The supreme, absolute and un-
controllable power is in the people before
they make Constitution, and remains in
them after it is made. NV posi-
tion is, that the absolute sovereignty never
goes from the people"
Wade's proposition to the effect that no
moneys be paid ont on account of the Paris
Exposition until France has Withdrawn her
troops from Mexico cannot pass in either
House.
The question OF = general amnesty has
been before the Cabinet once, hnt was op-
posed by also says report-save MIR,
Seward. Should the President, therefore,
conclude to issue 3 proclamation looking
TO that end he will have to do it pretty
mnch on his own responsibility.
fCo,. Philadelphia Ledger.
Not long ago, a board OF officers con-
sisting of Generals Sherman, Thomas.
Meade and Sheridan, was convened at st.
Louis, for the purpose Of examining the
military record of services of each and
every regular officer recommended for or
applying to be made q general officer by
brevet. In establishing standard by
which to judge Of the merits OF each case,
the board decided that gallant conduct on
the held, in fa ce OF the enemy, shonld be
the standard of honorable reward. By this
measurement, a list was made out and sent
to Washington for the approval of General
appointments. When Secretary Stanton
found that the board had ionoral fha