The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-03-27
Congressional.

. WASHINGTON, March 23.-In the House,
the supplemental bill passei-the veto
notwithstanding-114 Eo25. The House
failed to fix a day of adjournment. =,
In the Senate the supplemental bill!
paSSed-40 to {. A concurrent resolu-
ton to adjourn on Tuesday to the first
Monday in December passed. ',
- The President returned the supple
mental bill, with his objections. The
= bill provides for elections in ten States,
for the purpose of making constitution 4;
but sn elections, while the original bill
remains in force, come within It's restric-
tions. Preliminary to election, comes
registration, and the unregistered cannot
vote preliminary to registration, vague
cath that the applicant is not diSfran-
chised .by participation in the rebellion a;
it is required that the applicant for reg
istFation must decide this for himself.
This is a fearful responsibility for though
inc bib don assign PERJURY, nor fix the
penalty for mistaken swearing, we must
not forget that martial law prevails, and
hat one and all are responsible to mill
iary commissions, without previous re-
sertment BY grand juries. The military
commander determines what iiS:a offence
and Prescribes. the punishment. The
p fourth section provides that the military
commander shall appoint all necessary
boards Of registFation--each consisting
Of three loyal perSons-who may be MD
itafy officers, citizens of a State, CT
strangers exercising important functions,
and vested with unlimited discretion.
They decide questions and make returns;
whatever errors or frauds they commit,
5 pass uuaaestioned. By such measures,
conventions of delegates are to be consti-
: tlited. These delegates are to speak for
She people. Common justice requires
that they Should have authority from
the people. Nc. convention SO consti-
!. tuted viii, in any sense, represent the
wishes of the people !; for under it all en-
bTacing the exceptions and uncertainty
which the disfranchiSement clause leaves
open, the great body of the people may
Be excluded from the polls and he deems
il unnecessary to Investigate further the
details Of the bill. No consideration
aauld induce him to approve such an
election law for any purpose, especially
f6r the purpose Of forming a constitution
Ter State. The President argues the
question st some length, illustrating that
the formation of republican, Governments,
:s-SecordTng to Congressional ideas, may
: IS well commence in Ohio or sPeanSgNa'
..iFIiS as North Carolina, and concludes as
S 6sssws confidently believe ethat the
time Rillcome when these States will
again occupy their true position in the
Union. The barriers which now seem
obstinate must gield 10 the force of en-
.lightehsd ana Just pu6llie opinion, soon
eE or later, and naco stitutional and op-
prsssiTe legislation viii be eFaced from
{ She stsiute books. When this shall have
5 bees eonsammated, I pray God that the
errors of the past may be forgotten, and
that, once more we shall bea happy, uni,
ted and prosperous people, and that at
last, after the bitter and eventful expert
ence t6roughwhich We haye.passed, we.
ssaA all come to kaoR our only safety is
IN the preservation Of the Federal Con-
stitution, and in according tos every
american citizen and every State the
rights which the Constitution secures,