The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-01
E:.s.s:-s os n.o..s:-ous Measures.

E,sls.re cS Mos.ss-oUs Measures
In accordance with the concurrent
resolution adopted last week, Con-
gress took q recess on Monday, till
the 21st of September, having been
in session since tho first Monday in
December. between seven and eight
months, without finding time, how
ever, as the Baltimore Sun asserts, to
act upon any of the measures vital to
the practical interests of the country,
except the limited tax bill, which
throws considerable appointing
power into the hands of a party
official. If it has left undone great
deal that was demanded by the well
fare of the country, it is some con-
ISOLATION that it has not finally matur
ed some important measures for
mischief, which had been presented
and passed in one or the other of the
two houses, and which threatened to
disturb still further the political con-
dition Of the South, and even menaced
the peace of the country. The bill
which provided for the distribution
of arms among the 'tloyal" in the
South. which had passed the Senate,
having been, at a late period, re-
ferred to the Military Committee in
the House, was not again heard from.
The bill for the reorganization of
the States of Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas, which had passed the
House, died out in the Senate, and
some other bills or resolutions tend
ing in the same direction met a SINH
lar fate in one or the other of the two
houses, SO that no new bill has been
passed affecting those States, except
the electoral college bill, which pre-
vents them from Voting in the next
Presidential election. The country
has reason to be thankful that it has
been repriered for season at least
from those pestilent propositions
which BODIED SO much danger to the
public peace and stability.
The atrocious arms bill would, in
all probability, if adopted, have led
to war of races in the South-its
real object being to maintain party
ascendancy, whether or no. The
venerable Representative from North
Carolina, Mr.. Boyden, gentleman
of recognized position and character
in that State, where he has long COM
manded the respect and confidence
of the people, Tin contradistinction
to the new members, generally, from
the South, said what was as true of
any Southern State as of North Ca
rolina when he declared: "I warn the
House that if arms are sent there we
will be ruined; we cannot live there.
There never was O more mischievous
measure than this proposition to arm
one class of our people against
another" Yet, this was just what
Congress proposed to do, the House
having passed Payne's bill, and the
Senate Wilson's section to that effect
In the bill reducing the army; but
neither of these measures passing the
other body, the iniquitous scheme
tailed to be consummated. Not
being content to give up the object
entirely, Senator Wilson reported a
bill, on Sunday night. repeating the
Act forbidding militia organizations
in the Southern States, which was
passed, and which was probably in
tended to supplement the arms dis
tribution bill, by enabling the Go.
vernors Of the reconstructed States
to organize the so-called loyal militia
of those States, as in Tennessee; and,
by military force, keep down the rest
of the population. 1t is, perhaps, in