The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-27
( Continued from Ist Page.


stricons, preliminary to election, registration
The unregistered cannot vote. Preliminary to regis
tration vague oath that the applicant Is not DIS
franchised by participation in rebellion Is required
Whether it is proper for him to take the oath, the ap
pican for registration must decide for himself This
is fearful responsibility, for though the bill does not
assign perjury nor fix penalty for mistaken swearing
we must not forget that martial law prevails aud ain
ant is responsible to military commissions, without
previous presentmcnt by grand juries The military
commander determines what is an offence and pre-
scribes punishment. The fourth section provides that
the military commander shall appoint necessary boards
for registration each consisting Of three loyal persons
who may be military officers, citizens OF the State or
strangers, exercising important functions and vested
with unlimited discretion. They decide questions and
make returns. Whatever errors or frauds they COM
nit pass unqucstioDed By such means conventions
Of delegates are to be constituted These delegates
are to speak for the people, Common justice requires
that they should have authority from the people. No
convention so constituted, will in any sense repre-
Bcnt the wishes Of the people, for under all, embra
cling the exceptions and uncertainty which the dis
franchisement clause leaves open, the great body of
The people may be excluded from the polls. He don't
deem it necessary to investigate further the details Of
the bin. No consideration could induce him to APP
prove such election law for any purpose, especially
for tue purpose Of forming a constitution for State
The President argues the question at some length
illustrating that the formation Of republican govern
mcnts, according to Congressional ideas may well
commence in Ohio or Pennsylvania IS i'll North Caro-
lima, and concludes:
81 confidently believe the time will come when
these States will again occupy their position in
the Union. Barriers which obstinate
must yield to the force Of enlightened and just
public opinion sooner later, and unconstitutional
representative legislation will be ctfaced from
statute books. When this shall have been consum-
mated, pray God that the past may be for
gotten, aud once more we shall be happy united
and prosperous people, and that last after the bit
ter and eVcntul experience through which the nation
has passed. shall all come to know our only safety
is in the preservation of the Federal Constitution, and
in according to every American citizen and every
State the rights which that Constitution secures"
New YORK. March 23.-Mr. Peabody, who has
been here attending the meeting of the Trustees OF
the Southern educational fund, gave a dinner last
night to Gen. Grant and Mrs. Grant The trustees
and large number of guests present At the
close Of the banquet Hon. VIM. Cullen of South Car
DINA, moved a resolution, Hon. VIM. 4. Graham, OF
North Carolina, seconding, highly audatory of Mr..
Peabody.
R1cuMoND, March 23.-It is authoritatively stated
that even Cen Lee is strongly in favor of the people
voting for the convention that every man not actually
DISTINGUISHED should not only take the necessary steps
to prepare himself to vote, but prepare his friends,
white and colored, to vote.
WAsHISGToE, March ga. H. Garland ex-mem
Der of the Confederate Congress, whose brought
out the opinion Of the Supreme Court abolshing the
oath to attorneys, is here. He will apply for his seat
as senator from Arkansas, and rejection will bring
the matter before the Supreme Court.
New YORK, March %, $50 4 N.-Winter Garden
and Southern Hotel burning.
New YORK. March %, noon.-Winter Garden en-
tirey destroyed, together with Booths wardrobe
Southern Hotel badly damaged by water. Loss three
hundred thousand dollars.
Exports OF specie $4,000.
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, March 19-House Resolution sus
pending the issue Of Agricultural College scrip to the
insurgcnt States passed by l03 to %.
Joint resolution authorising the publication of laws
and treaties in three Louisiana papers passed.
Mr. Stevens called up the conscation BILL and pro-
ceeded to read his speech the same, but broke
down. The clerk finished the reading. Its further
consideration postponed to the second Tuesday in
December.
House went into committee on the million relief
bill Mr.. Butler offered his amendment as substi- |
tute that all persons owning l60 of land en-
joyiDg income Of over six hundred dollars be |
taxed by the Government for the support Of the poor
The committee rose, after long debate without action
Supplementary bill reported by the committee Of
conference passed, and goes to the President Ad |
journed.
lScnate-The joint resolution suspcnding payment
for enlisted slaves postponed.
The credentials Of Senator Thomas, of Maryand |
were referred to the Judiciary Committee
Bill excluding from either house persons tainted
with rebellion referred to the Judiciary Committee
Conference committee reported the supplementary
bill. Majority of voters sufficient to ratly the const
tuition, provided the majority registered voters
with additional clause, that Congress must be salts
fed that registered voters had unrestrained liberty
VOTE and that the constitution meets the approval OF
the majority of the qualified electors Of the State
Bill passed. Executive session and adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March 2D.-SenGte.-A petition from
Ohio for suffrage referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
A bill prohibiting Federal dplomatists wearing uni
form unauthorized by Congress, passed.
The Territorial Committee reported farorably on
the bill for the admission of Colorado.
The Senate discussed Indian affairs and adjourned.
Hoetye-Thc Committee on Foreign Relations was
instructed to report means for the release of Rev.
John Mcmahon, sentenced to imprisonment for life in
Canada also to report means for enforcing claims OF
citizens of the United States against Great Britain,
pending in 1858 and accrued since
An attempt was made to introduce bill to pay
Southern treasury agents who could take the oath.
Butler objected
\ resolution, instructiug the Committee on Public
Lands to report on the expedency Of providing for
the future redemption Of bonds granted southern
States in 1885, complete certain railroads, Of
fered, but postponed
resolution instructing the Committee Rules to
consider the propriety of constituting standing COM
mittec on labor, was adopted.
The House went into committee on the million re-
lief BILL and djourncd without action.
WASHINGTON, March 2l.-Senatc.-A bill exempt
ing wrapping paper made from wood and cornstalks
from internal revenue, passed An amendment, tax
ing scrip issued by any national bank, State, munich
paity or corporation adopted.
A bill, suspeuding payment for enlisted slaves
passed. Executive session, and adjourned.
Ho@e.-Resoluton to send evidence to the Senate
affecting two Senators in connection with the New
York customhouse frauds, passed. Senators alluded
10 supposed to be DoolttIe and Patterson.
The House vent into committee of the whole no
the million relief bill Butler again opposed the bill
in violent terms. Debate loud, with severe passages
between Butler and Bingham. Bingham said he re-
PEELED with scOrn utterances affecting his integrity
and honor from any man who here protested to be
the hero of Fort Fisher taken Fort Fisher not TAKEN
Bingham proceeded in his denunciation amid roars OF
laughter, and some excitement Butler rose tereplyl
but the committee rose. Butler appealed for an op.
portunity to answer which finally granted the
bottled-up gentleman from Massachusetts,. Having
unanimous given, Butler proceeded to defend
himself for voting for Mr.. Davis. He hoped thereby
to the country He did the best he could during
the war; but the only victim of the genteman's
Biugham's) proves that he (Butlerl knew of was
an innocent woman hanged upon the scafold. Butler
alluded to Mrs Surratt in whose prosecution Bingham
was active. The committee rose, and without a vote
she House adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-Senate.-A petition for
the strict enforcement of the laws in Utah was re-
Ia bos IAN at,ittn nm