The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-01-10
CongressiOnal.

now existing to their being paid.
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, January 9.-In the
Senate, memorial was presented,
asking an appropriation for the re-
lief of freedmen in the District; also
asking for female suffrage in the Dis
trict; also from 5000 hand loom ope-
ratives, asking exemption from taxa
tion. The Ii 1853 bill to prevent
fraud in whiskey revenue passed,
with m amendment striking out the
words sin bond" making tho provi-
sions apply to all whiskey. A peti-
tion from the Alabama Constitutional
Convention, praying for the removal
Of Gov. Patton, for political disabili-
ties, was presented. Morton called
up resolution instructing the Judi
ciary Committee to report n bill abro-
eating existing State Governments in
the rebel States and providing proper
Governments in lieu thereof. Ere
linghuysen moved to amend, so rs to
make reporting of the bill discre-
tionary with the Judiciary Commit
tee. Morton desired to test the
sense of the Senate directly upon the
question. and said it was high time
that Congress defined its position in
terms not to be misapprehended on
this subject; to his mind, the state of
affairs now existing in these rebel
communities had never been more
alarming; that Congress had, on the
I'd of last March, declared the exist
ing Governments in those States as
illegal, and not affording proper
security for life and property, and at
that time Congress had provided
military supervision, until such time
as legal Governments could be estab-
lished; to-day, the military authority
which they had set up was obstruct-
ing the proper organ of the law in
some OF these States, and upholding
the existing illegal and unauthorized
Governments. Morton here sent to
the desk of the Secretary the Acts of
March and July, to be read, and also
the original Order No. of General
Hancock, in which the civil authori-
ties are declared supreme. It would
be seen by it that General Hancock
in this order, not only defied the
power of Congress, but actually null
lifted and refused to execute its laws
AS Gen. Hancock has confronted di-
rectly the Congress of the United
States, it becomes a question as to
which side will submit; he recognizes
the authority of the civil tribunals
organized by the very State Govern
ment which Congress has declared to
be illegal. There was danger that
the work of reconstruction would fail
by the very military power which
they had raised up to forward it. At
this crisis it was incumbent on Con-
gress to be true and constant to it.
self, and proceed to abrogate these
Governments. 1t became Congress
to say at once what they intended to
do, although declaring in the Acts
referred to, that these State Govern
ments were illegal. Congress had not
desired, in the exercise of its power,
to DO away with them abruptly; but
In the present juncture, there should
not be moments hesitation. If the
amendment of Mr.. Frelinghuysen was
adopted, it would mean nothing. He
(Mr: NJ wanted q peremptory order
to this committee, to bring in bill
Immediately, and he desired this Sc
nate to see the order. Mr.. Freling-
huysen did not intend to oppose any
of the experiments which had been
advanced by the Senator, bat thought
it due that some confidence should be
reposed in the judgment of the com.
mittee. The expiration of the morn
ing hour cut off further debate on the
resolution, and the House bill to sus
pend further contraction of the cur
rency was taken up and discussed to
executive session. Adjourned.
In the House, g resolution asking
the release of Father McMahon and
several other Fenians, passed. The
bill preventing whiskey frauds, as
amended by the Senate, came up and
! was discussed to adjournment.