Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-12-24
POLITICAL BREYITIRs,


POLITICAL BREVITIES.
The campaign for the adoption or reirc-
ton OF the proposed Constitution Of Ala
bama, the vote upon which is to be taken on
the 4th OF February next, has opened with
spirit. Thirteen Conservative Republican
members OF the late Convention, have pub
lished a protest, in which they assume that
the action Of the convention is in opposition
to the sentiment Of the Northern people, as
expressed in the recent elections, and that
the constitution adopted violates the condi-
tions of the formation of the Republican
party in Alabama by transcending the re-
qulrements of the reconstruction acts, and
adding features Of prescription and disCran-
chIsement, not authorized by those measures.
They believe the Northern people will not
permit the power of their Government to be
directed to the adjustment aad degradation Of
the white people Of the South that they
will not sentence the white race Of the South
to be the servants Of their former slaves, even
as punishment for rebellion.
-Beecher, the novelist, politician and sem
sational preacher, recently delivered SER
mon to the merchants. Merchants in New
York need preaching to. In commenting
upon the sermon Bennett urges him to de-
liver one to the preachers, whom he thinks
are Infinitely worse off than the merchants.
Upon this subject Bennett discourseth as
follows
ave suggest that good text for the SER
mon to the preachers would be the 9th
verse of tho 23d chapter of St. Matthew.
Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo-
critics ! for ye are like unto whited sepul>
chrcs, which, indeed, appear beautiful out
ward, but are within full Of dead mems bones
and Of all uncleaEness -"
Mr.. Washburne, one of the leading Re-
publicans of the House, has made long
speech opposing any appropriation of money
to carry out the treaty for the purchase Of
Russian America. 1t is said that many mem.
bers agree with Mr.. Washburne but on the
other hand it IS claimed by some of the le
gal minds in the House that the House has
but very little, if any discretion in the mat
ter that the ratification of the treaty by the
Senate binds the House, and that it would be
violation of the national faith to now re-
fuse TO confirm the purchase. There is also
considerable opposition to the purchase of
the Island of ST. Thomas.
The New York Times pertincntIy in.
guires why Gen. butler objected to the in.
PRODUCTION OF resolution into the House
calling for information as to the expenses of
the impeachment investigation? The facts
are certainly Of interest to the country, and.
as they are certain to come out before long,
they might as we'll be published at once. Is
1t true that the farce, including the printing.
will cost something like half million Of
dollars?
The Richmond Why's reporter has
dubbed Judge Underwood, aud it will stick.
In narrating the proceedings of the Consti-
tutional Convention, the reporter saws: 1.-THE
Convention met ut j NJ. Mr.. McVeigh's
tenant in the Chair" Underwood ACQUIRED
Mr.. McNcigh's dwelling in Alexandria. we
believe, by first confscatiug and then pur>
chasing it for sum far below its value.
- The House of Representatives on We'd
nesday passed, by a strict party vote. an
amendment to the military satrapy bill ma
king majority Of the votes east sufficient to
secure the adoption of the Constitutions franz
cd at the South by hybrid Conventions of
those States, instead of "a majority of the
registered voters" as originally provided -
he amended bill also sanctions the election
OF members Of Congress at the same time the
vOt9 is taken on the State Constitutions.
= The House of Representatives on Mon.
day last by vote of IS against 80 refused to
let Butler offer resolution declaring that all
loans NOT payable IN gold be payable in law
full money. Radicals and Conservatives voted
together on both sides Of the question:
Thad. Stevens voted for il and Frank Thomas
against it,
- Hunnicutt replying to Marye and the
negro Bland to Gibson, says the Richmond
EHq"ircr,approach nearer to a debate between
representatives Of the highest type Of the
Caucasian race and the gorillas, than any
thing that has yet taken place in this country
The National Republican Executive
Committee have fixed upon the goth day of
May next as the time for holding the next
National Convention for the nomination of
candidates for President and Vice President
Oftho United States, and Chicago as the place.
Ben. Butler, in his late speech in reply
to Blaine, shows that the National Banks are
receiving an average interest Of twenty-five
per cent annually. "The brigands thrive,
but the people perish"
Both houses of the Tennessee Legisla-
ture have passed the bill forbidding common
carriers to make any distinction on account of
race, color, or previous condition Of their
patrons.
- few days since an old gentleman in
Missouri, where the drouth has been severe,
and who has been hauling water for the last