The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-03
Things in Washington.

PROPOSED REPEAL OF RESOLUTIONS RATFYNe
- THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Washington kilograms Of the SOth ult., tc
the New York Herald says: --'-
It has transpired that q movement is being
made which will have an important effect on
the work ofreconstruction. of A number Of lead.
ing spirits in the Conservative purity are en-
deavoring to prevail upon the legislatures Of
those States which have passed resolutions
ratifyine the constitutional amendment known
as article fourteenth, and which legislatures
have obtained an anti-Republican majority by
the late elections, to repeal the resolutions oi
ratification. This, it is believed, they have
clearly the right to do, as the proposed amend
ment, not having been ratified by the requisite
number of States-three e-tourths-h not yet q
portion Of the constitution. It Is cRimed that
IF New Jersey, Ohio and California should re-
neal the ratification resolutions the effect
would surely be to prevent the proposed
amendment from ever becoming engrafted
upon the Constitution Of the United States.
rrsrrNe THE coSsT1TUT1oNAL1TY oFrHE RECON-
SEDUCTION ACTS IN TILE sUPRKMEcoURT.
There are several highly important cases
abont to come before the Supreme Court of
the United States, each Of which will test the
constitutionality Of the Reconstruction acts.
One case. the trial of which is expected to be-
rin yery shortly, will decide the question as to
whether Virginia is in or out OF the Union. It
liz Confidently believed that the decision Of the
court will be that Virginia is not nov and never
has been out Of the Union, IN which case the
situation in the Southern States will be mate
rally changed. The President, it is said, will
then instruct the military district commanders
to act In strict accordance with the decision OF
the highest tribunal Of the nation, and permit
the civil governments to resume their func-
tions untrammelled by the military power. It
is the belief of prominent Senator here that
q majority OF the Judges Of the Supreme
Court, when the McArdle case comes up, will
decide That the Reconstruction acts are un, M,
constitutional, that Chief Justice Chase will
deliver the minority report, and make the most
Of the opportunity to champion the acts and
identify himself yet more earnestly with the
Radical party North and South. II the bot
tom should thus fall out Of the scheme for
Africanizing the Southern States, it is believed
General Grant will reject any nomination
coming from the Republican party...
RELIEF FOR THE DESTITUTE PEOPLE OF THE
General Howard proposes to meet the cases
Of distress in the South by liberal application
of the surplus funds under his control as head
OF the Ffeedmen's Bureau. An unexpended
balance Of over $4,000, 900 still remains in the
exchequer OF the Bureau. In the case Of some
South Carolina planters, who had no money TO
commence operations for raising cotton last
year, General Howard, though not legally au-
thorized to make such disposition OF the Bu-
reau funds, advanced Q sum Of $4,000, taking
lien on the crops for the repayment Or the
money. When the planters sold their crops
the entire amount was liquidated, and General
Howard's benohcent course was gratefully ap-
preciated. In the case Of the Mississippi plan
ters, who lost everything by the river inunda-
tions, it is proposed to adopt similar conside-
Immediate distress among the working people
it is suggested to establish depots Of provisions
at points convenient to the districts in which
the greatest want prevails.