The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-26
OPINIONS OF THE WASHINGTON PRESS
ON THE BILL
From the National Intelligencer1


At a late hour last night the reconstruction
bill passed the Senate, with the odlous House
amendments included-amendments that should
have palsied the hands that penned them, as
they will blacken, in after days, the character
of those who pushed them forward to a success
full consunmation. We know that the better
sort of Republicans desired at heart that that
form of embittered proscriptiveness should not
be forced upon them, but the behests of fanati-
cism and mercenarness we're all-powerful, as is
seen by the apparently despairing vote against
the bill.
From the National Republican presidents organ }
As it will be observed, this bill passed the
Senate yesterday evening. If the President
approves of the measure he will make himself a
military despot over ten States of the Federal
Union. He cannot sign it with honor. 1t sets
aside the Constitution and Supreme Court of
the United States, disregards all civil authorl-
ties and laws, and confers absolute power, un-
limited and uncontrolled by men, upon the
President. We sincerely hope and believe that
he will return the bill with bis objections, and
throw the responsibility of having enacted such
monstrous law upon its authors.
From Forney's Chronicle, (radical organ.)
The measure of Congressional reconstruction
is complete. 1t leaves nothing to Inference 1t
is clear-it leaves nothing to doubt. While
with one hand it excludes traitors from control,
1t restores the common natural rights to all
loyal men, aud accompanies the pledge with the
protection. AT one full swoop the whole sys
tenn OF oppression, whether State governments
or State laws, falls to the ground. For the first
time since the beginning of the world man has
been secured the full opportunity to prove him
self worthy of self government.
B We have received a communication from
the Eastern part of the State, protesting against
the passage of the bill now before the Legisla-
ture for making four new Judges and arrang
ing the Judicial Districts. We deem it unneces-
sary to publish the communication, il is not
probable it would have any effect to prevent the
passage of the bill, especially while there are so
many members of the Legislature. and others,
who want offices created that they
get place. The election of four new Judges
would bleed the State Treasury to the amount of
eight or ten thousand dollars annually.
----
u The Legislature has given away nearly all
the stock the State owned in the n. G. Railroad
to other projected works of internal Improvement.
A bill passed the House of Commons on Tuesday
last, to transfer 100000 of N. c. Railroad stock
intended to run from the Coal Fields in Chatham
county, N. c., right across the Will Char d
Ruth. Railroad, to Cheraw. S. c., and thence to
Charleston. That's building up North Carolina
ports with vengeance!
SPITEFUL.-Mr Stokes, a member of the House
Of Representatives from Tennessee. is in favor of
coniscation (although he himself once a
secessionist) In recent speech in Congress he
said:
God willing. and living. there shall be a
question propounded to this House and this
ton whether a portion of the claims of loyal men
shall not be paid by the conhscated property of
rel Is"
HORSE STEALING.-Horse and mule thieves
had better be careful how they appropriate
such animals without permission of their owners.
The Legislature has passed law making the
penalty death for the first offence.
SUNDAY WoRK.-The Mayor of Raleigh
rested and fined some merchants of that city for
selling goods Sunday.
Now the Mayor of Washington city ought to
arrest the U. s. Senate for working on Sunday.
That body sat all Saturday night (the 16th) and
until 81 o'clock Sunday morning, having under
consideration the reconstruction bill. 1t don't
pay to work on Sunday.
LOOK OUT.-A resolution has been introduced
into the U. S. Senate, declaring the pardons here
tofore granted by the President null and void.
BREAD WANTED.-We have received COM
munication from lancaster S. c.. written by
respectable gentlemen, stating that many Of the
people of that section are destitute of bread, and
asking relief. The casualties of war, and the
almost total failure of the corn crop in Lancaster
District last year. have left the people in very
destitute condition. The drought prevailed so