Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-07-05
THE JULY SESSION OF CONGRESS.

THE JULY SESS1ON Ok
twill be recollected tha. Congress adjourned
to meet on the 1.t Wednesday in july II
quorum should then be present; otherwise to
.t,nd adjourned until the regular session in
December. Until recently it was not supposed
that there would be July session. The
;mpeachment of tho President, it was supposed
would be tho only matter, making Summer
session necessary, aud since tie adverse report
of tho Jui iciary Committee. that seemed to be
abandoned Tho President was t" entirely
DOW eriess, as scarcely to merit the trouble OF
tedious process for his removal. But tho recent
opiuiou of tho Attorney General, putting oil
unexpected construction upon the military
acts, and limiting the powers OF tue military
commanders, afforded pretext for still further
agitation. Thad. Stevens decreed 1t, the
Ch, onicte urged it, and Wade and his party Of
excursonists, consisting Of fifteen Republican
Senator's were unanimously in favor OF it,
The more moderate Republican journals
deprecate tho probable action of the body
rs likely to delay reconstruction. We OF the
South are at present in such condition OF
collapse, financial and political, that it ~
doubtful whether we can be much worsted by
ANYTHING that Radical Congress will intlict,
but if anything could extinguish the last
epark Of vitality, it would be this unceasnI
political agitation, which distracts us at home'
md keeps out the Influx Of labor and capital
from abroad. We want peace; and rest'is the
sovereign panacea for our ills. For this reason,
we think ill.advised. that course. which
provokes constantly new issues, with the dom
inant party. whetber as in the Georgia and
Mississippi bills, upon the constituuonality OF
the military acts or as in the present opinion
of the Attorney G enernl. upon a construction
Of it's provisions aad which serves only to dis.
close our weakness, and furnish to an unscrup.
ulous party, pretsxt for further nsurpauons.
Thad. Stevens himself admits that the military
bills nre unconstitutional. and Why sickle upon
the terms Of the acts themselves, and endeavor
TO extract civil liberty from the most despotic Of
Congressional usurpations. To say the least Of
it. it seems TO be undignhed as it is mpolitic.
to raise fruitless contest over the dry bones
and hollow shells of our political rights. after
having lost their body and animating spirit.
"The correspondent Of the New York Herald
Telegraph to that paper Of Friday, and says:
1.-The approaching session OF Congress excites
rather moro than the usual degree Of Interest
felt in the meeting of that body. The question
is asked on every hand. 'Wil the coming
session be long onei' aud the replies most
frequently given indicate the prevailing belief
to be, that tho session will be short The
members already here, with one or two excep-
lions, have expressed hopes that the business
before Congress- may DO speedily disposed Of
and the majority of the letters from members
at distance express decided opposition to a
protracted spmmsr session. Several members
have written that they wall be in their seats
when the roll is called, but wi not promise to
legialate upon any other question than that o
reconstruction. The impression now exists
that nothing more will be done during The
session than passing an Act defining and per
fecting the Shellarbarger-S Sherman laws ant
voting On additional appropriation to carr,
them into effect. 1t is we'll known here, how
ever, that the champions Of impea" a"hment or
whetting their knives for another utlack, all,
tho friends of financiu! reformation are on IL
q"i ui"c for an expected opportunity"
BY theilast Washington dispatches, we se
that II quorum of both Houses assembled o,
Wednesday, and the following was Ihe pro.
gramme of operations:
In the Senate. thirty-four members answer-
ed. -Four bills explanatory Of Reconstruction
were introduced. Senator Wilson's provide
thatall Offices held under authority Of rebe
State Governments te declared vacant with,
thirty days after the passage of this Act
Commanding generals may then fill them b,
continuance Of those in office. or the appoint
ment Of othere. or may order election TIL,
boards of registration shall have power 10 re-
Ject permission 10 register 10 those suspected o
w'Sh'ng TO evade the requirement, to examin,
applicants, take testimony, aud, within twcntJ
days after the completion of registration. mn,
erase names wrongfully registered Frclinp,
huyfens authorizes commanders To .ufpend q
remove State officers. and fill vacancy, and va
'datcs acts done heretofore in accorJsne
with tho above. EdmunIs' is similar, excen
that District commanders are subject to IN
approval Of the General Of the Arm;es =
Draks's consists of twelve sections. Sumns
introduced some characteristic bills aud. sfte
appointing committee to wait on the Pres
Gent. tie seaaAe adjourned till Friday.
In the House, i2o members answered 4
their names.
The credentials Of the eight Democratic
members from Kentucky were referred TO th
COMMITTEE on Elections.
------Ns-%-A
HE FOURTH OF JULr.-Yesterday was .h
"gIorious Four th '-tba ninnt o. 6r.t ,:-