The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-18
Mewa Ife,rIr,aL.

News 1teSns.
CHARLESTON, December 17.-Ar-
rived-steamer Champion, New York |:
schooner Azelda and Laura, Baracoa'
New ORLEANS, December II
Finche's carriage repository, Leonard
Brothers livery stables and grocery.
in the suburbs of Vicksburg, weie
destroyed by fire last niohf: loss
$73, 200; insured $40, ,OOO-inccndia-
rism.
WASHINGTON, December 17.-In
the Senate, O resolution promotiye of
the prompt settlement of claims was
introduced; in the course of debate.
it was maintained that accounting
officers assumed too much jurisdic.
.tion. A resolution, calling on the
PRESIDENT fUr Instructions 70 officers
under the Act of 1862, to suppress
rebellion and punish treason, with the
amount of money realized and the
names of victims, was adopted.
Davis offered resolution, calling for
the aggregate expenditures of the
Freedmens Bureau since 1865.
Several Senators objected, rs much
or the disbursements was for white
refugees. Pending the discussion,
the morning hour expired, and the
repeal of the cotton tax was re.
sumed. Cottingham, of New York.
proceeded to say that q helping hand
had been extended to those destitute
communities; the direct tax had been
suspended in all the interior Southern
States; the tax had been removed
from sugar, machinery and other ar
ticles, which pertained to that COM
munity; he would say now, that it
would have been much better for
these people, if one of the parties of
this country and the visible head of
the Government, had let them alone:
IT they had stopped staggering
about and talking about representa-
tlon in Congress, and gone to work
to build up their impoverished Sec
tion; they would to-day have been
much happier, and so would we. IF
the tax was taken off, it would wipe
out $50, 900, 600 of revenue, and they
knew not where to go to replace it.
Mr.. @. indicated disposition to vote
for reduction of the tax, but main
tanned that the proper course was to
postpone the bill until February or
March, when the whole subject of
revenue would be up; and gave notice
Ot nIs tntentlon TO make motion TO
fhat effect. Mcrton said that cotton
should not be entirely exempt from
the burdens of the Government.
Ihe discussion assumed a political
turn, when the subject was post
poned. Adjourned.
In the House, after general busi-
ness, Stevens introduced o bill re-
garding reconstruction. Objection
wa was made and the bill postponed.
This bill alters the provision reouir-
ing majority of the registered
voters for the new Constitutions to q
majority of the votes cast. The
second section provides for the cleo.
tion of representatives at the time Of
the election in the Constitution, who
shall take their seats at the session
succeeding the one at the time the
States are admitted. Section third
provides that until new apportion-
ment, the States shall be represented
as follows: Sonth Carolina six-two
OF whom shall be elected by the State
at large; North Carolina eight-one
to be elected by the State at large;
Georgia eight-one by the State at
large; Florida one; Alabama six
two by the State at large; Mississippi
six-one by the State at large; Lou
lslana six-one by the State at large;
Texas five-one by the State at large;
Arkansas three. No number of rep.
resentatives is given for Virginia.
The Judiciary Committee was direct
ed to continue the examination re-
garding Maryland's Republican Go
vernment. Adjourned.
The Government steamer Susoue-
hanna, has arrived. Admiral Palmer
and Capt. Burroughs are dead The
Susquehanna's machinery and boilers
are crippled and the hull strained.
Internal revenue receipts to-day
$279,00O.
Official documents show that diplo-
matte negotiations relative to the Ala
bama claims have closed-both par
ties adhering to their views.
Advices from Hayti represent that
universal discomfort reigned in the
capital, and foreigners were filed
GNrNE l.. L.