Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-03-22

The remaining sections provide for invol
untary bankruptcy, for superceding bank
rupt proceedings by arrangement, for pen
alties against bankrupts and officers Of the
court, and for fees and costs, and define the
meaning Of terms and the computation of
time. The law goes into effect from the
date ofits approval by the President.
THE DEBATES IN SENATE UPON SUM-
NER's REsOLUTIoNs-OPINIoN OF SUM-
NER, SHERMAN AND JOHNSON.
In the Senate on Monday last Mr.. Sum
ner took the floor in advocacy and expla-
nation Of his resolutions, asserting that
what they proposed met the sanction of
well known loyalists of the South, and was
necessary to a just and loyal reconstruc-
tion. While he was advocating the fifth
resolution, he was interrupted by Mr..
Fessenden, who inquired if he thought
piece Of land for each man was necessary
to republican form Of government.
Mr.. Sumner did not think it was. But
it was necessary to give piece of land to
each freedman, in order to conclnde the
glorious work of emancipation.
Mr.. Grimes inquired where the Gov
ernmeut would get the land z
Mr.. Sumner said there we're several ways
of getting it. He would say nothing now
about confiscatiou, though he thought it
would have been wise policy to have divi.
ded the large landed estates Of the rebels
among the freedmen. There were lands
that had been sold for taxes in The South
that might be used for this purpose. But
probably the best way was that which the
President could have carried out if he had
been disposed to do so. 1t was that of re-.
qu'ring, rs condition Of pardon, that the
person pardoncd should assign portion of
his lands to his freedmen.
| Mr.. Dixon said it was asserted that the
military reconstruction bill was to be a final
measure. 1t WAS asserted, too, that it was
a measure Of pacifcation. This he did not
believe. 1t now appeared from Mr.. Sum-
ner's resolutions that it was not 6naliiy.
Tie fifth proposition meant universal con
fiscaton in the rebel States, and he wished
to call the attention of the Senate and the
country to it.
Mr. Sherman regretted that this resolu-
tion was being pressed at this time. He
hoped no furthur guarantees such as were
proposed in this measure, would be agreed
to by any Senator who voted in good faith
upo" the military reconstruction bill. That
bill was being received and considered by
the Southern people, and would be acted
upon favorably by them. He [Mr. Sher-
mani had just received letter from Gov
eruor Patton. of Alabama, to this effect.
He believed the terms of reconstruction
already agreed upon received the cordial
Endorsement Of the country.
Mr.. Johnson said lie rose to coutrov.,t O
statement made by Mr.. Dixon that the poll
cy OF Mr.. Summers resolution would sooner
or later be adopies by the dominant qarty
in the two Houses Of Congress. He [Mr.
Johnson did not believe that Congress
would depart from the conditions of the
bill recently passed. He had so assured
many leading men of the South with whom
he had recently corresponded ON the sub
Jcet. lie believed that bill gave ample
protection 10 all citizens of the South. and
ample guarantee to the governed. He
impIored the Senate TO adheye in good faith
to the measure now before the country. and
not to think Of adopting policy of con-
tisca,iop, which was certain to end in, a
repetition Of the horrors of St. Domingo.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen said that three of the
points in these resolutions were contained
10 the supplementary bill of Mr.. Wilson,
which was uow before the Judiciary Com
mittee of the Senate. After few remarks
in opposition to The resolutions, he moved
to lay them on the table, but subsequently
Withdrew that motion for the purpose Of
allowing Mr.. Sumner to reply to some of
the arguments against lis proposition.
Mr.. Sumner said the mistake made By.
those who opposed bis resolutions was that
OF regarding the. conditions in them
as burdens. 1t was no burden TO re-
quire education; it was no burden to give
a'homestead to every freedman.
Mr.. Howard prefacing his remarks by
saying that be supposed the resolutions
were intended as thesis for discussion
while the Senate had nothing else to do,
rather than as a measure Of practical legis-
iation, proceeded to state bis opinions of the
different Tgopontions contained in th reso-
lutions. Some Of them were contained in
n bill uow under consideration in The Judi.
| ciary Committee. .He did not agree 10 the