Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-26

Case of MIR. Butler, of Tennessee-RemOVaI
OF Political Disa bi1ities-Maryland Poll
ticians and Politics In Washington
Whtskey and Tobacco Tax BnI-.Sur-
rats Case.
WASHINGTON, June 16-The House to-
day concurred in the Senate amendments
to the bill removing political disability
from Roderick r. Butler, who claims a
seat as q Representative from the first dis
trlct of Tennessee. The bill, as passed, not
only mod1fes but abrogates entirely the
test oath, but it is applicable to Mr. But
ler's case only. A few of the republicans
objected to the passage of the bill on the
ground that the test oath was one of the
safeguards of the republic, and that its
modification or abrogation, even in an in
dividual case, would be an abandonment of
one of the principles upon which the re-
publican party rested. The number of re-
publican votes against the bill was very
few. Many of the democrats opposed it
! because of an opposition to class legisla-
ton. They advocate the removal of dis
ability from all who are willing to take the
oath to support the constitution of the
United States.
Mr.. Butler was a member of the seces-
sion Legislature of Tennessee, and voted
for that ordinance, and was so deeply en-
gagged in legislation in the interest of re-
bellion that he cannot possibly take the
test oath in any form, and a new oath to
meet the special case was framed. The
House had great scruples in John Young
Browns case, and in other cases, and the
necessity of keeping up the test oath in its
integrity was enforced by speech and vote;
but it seems that all these scrul les vanish
when it is proposed to abrogate the oath in
favor of radical. Several of the republi-
can members, including Mr.. Shelabarger,
of Ohio, Ia member of the committee of
elections, which reported the bill,) who
have hitherto been great sticklers for the
test oath, were in their seats when the vote
was taken, but lodged. They desired Mr..
Buffers admission, but hesitated about
putting themselves upon record as favor
ing modification of the test oath.
Maryland politicians in Washington seem
to be all at loss as to who will receive the
appointment to fill the unexplred term of
Hon. Reverdy Johnson in the United States
Senate. A number of prominent Mary
landers have been named, but no one pro-
fesses to be sufficiently in the confidence
of the Governor to say tor certainty who
the lucky individual will be. Mary landers
here are very anxious to have the congress
sional nominating conventions for the sew
eral districts of Maryland called about the
time of The New York convention, CT as
soon thereafter as possible. There is really
no contest except in the district now repre-
sented by Hon. Frand Thomas, but it is be-
lieved that it will be best to make the nom
nations as early as possible.
The reconstruction committee proposed
to have q meeting this morning, but failed
to get quorum of members The bill for
the partition of Texas was to have been
considered. 1t is pretty generally under
stood that the bill will be reported back
substantially as originally introduced by
Mr. Stevens, except that, instead of making
it obligatory upon the Convention to divide
the State, he will so modify it as to declare
that the Convention may divide it.
The ways and means committee has en-
tered upon the work of modifying the tax
bill in accordance with the instructions OF
the House resolution adopted yesterday.
The several parts of the bill have been
divided and referred to sub committees for
preparation. Representatives Hooper,
Maynard and Logan are the subcommittee
on whisky, and Messrs. Griswold, Allison
and Brooks On tobacco. The committee
will not report bill on these subjects, pro-
badly, until the close of the present week
They will accompany the modified rates of
tax with restrictions and regulations SINH
lar to those heretofore reported in the gen.
eral tax bill. From present indications,
Congress will not be prepared to adjourn
before the 18th or Goth of July.
1t is not expected that Surratts trial will
take place on Monday next, as the prose-
cutting attorney cannot get ready by that
time. If another postponement is asked
for, the accused will be admitted to bail.
o. K.