Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-25
BY TELEGRAPH.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES
FROM WASHINGTON.

can Congressional Committee issued an
address to-day to the Southern people on
the policy of Congress in reference to
the restoration of the Union Both OF
the Restoration acts are given, after
which the address says 1.-THE negroes
in the South, by the measures Of the Re-
publican party as expressed in their
acts, are elevated to the full and equal
rights of the citizens of the States to
which they belong, and the country
which hereafter will recognize no dis
tinstion on account OF race or color.
The nation is indebted to the negro
race for services rendered during the
late war, and the negro race are indebted
TO the country, controlled in its policy
by the Republican party, for their eman-
cipation from slavery, and now by these
acts of Congress- for their elevation to a
position of equality. From these re-
ciprocal services arise mutual obligations
and duties upon the basis of universal
suffrage" 1t urges the people of the
South to direct their efforts to the es-
tablsment and maintenance Of a system
of public schools for the education
of children of all classes, and declares
that finally the public policy should
stimulate the laboring people to BECOME
land holders, and the owners of large
estates should divide and sub.divide their
lands, and sell them at reasonable rates
to those who need them and can improve
them. In the South there is land
enough for all, and all who desire it
should be permitted to obtain homes.
This common human right cannot be
denied with safety to society. The ad-
dress further declares that Con-
gress reserves to itself full and
unrestricted right of judgment when
ever a State presents itself for ad-
mission into the Union, and that
right will be exercised fairly and gene
rously; but yet, in the interests of peace
and loyalty, certain conditions precedent
ere laid down in the laws, and these must
be met; but beyond these conditions
Congress must be satisfied. Also, that
the people Of the proposed States respec-
lively are likely to be loyal to the Union
by decisive and trustworthy msjorities,
and that their institutions are framed
upon basis of equality, and they will,
from year to year, and from age to age,
contribute to the peace, progress and
prosperity of the States and country.
Major General Absalom Baird has been
ordered to report to General Ord for
temporary duty. His assignment is as
Assistant Inspector General OF the De-
partment.
In the case of the United States VS..
Joseph Brain, whose property was con-
fiscatea and sold under a decree of the
United States District Court, sitting at
Alexandria, Judge Underwood presiding,
during the war, on the application Of the
counsel for Brain, Chief Justice Chase,
on Wednesday, granted writ Of error
on the following grounds:
LIST. The District Court condemned
and sold the absolute estate Of the peti-
toner with bis property, which judgment
was beyond the power Of the Court TO
pronounce.
I'd. Tie condemnation of the property
was for treason. of which the party could
not be adjudgsd except by the finding Of
the jury.
Sd. The proceedings we're in admiralty,
when they should have been in the cems
mon law side Of the court by informa-
ton, aud not by libel
The Judiciary Committee sat FIVE or
six hours to-day for the examination Of
witnesses on various subjects, and ex-
pect TO conclude their labors early in
June. Among the witnesses we're Gen.
Fullerton and the agent Of the Asso-
ciated Press The latter accompanied
the President in swinging round the
circle last year and was examined on
several points in that connection.