The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-02-18
Congressional.

Congressional.
WASHINGTON, February 17.-In the
House, Bingham introduced the fol-
lowing, which was referred to The
Reconstruction Committee:
Whereas, large majority of the
votes given at an election held on the
= day of February, 1868, were for
the Constitution presented by the
Convention of the people OF the
State of Alabama; and whereas, GER
tain combinations of citizens within
the said State refused to vote, with
the intent thereby to defeat the ef-
forts of the friends of the Union to
restore said State to its proper rela-
ton to the Union; therefore,
BE ii enrcted, de-, That the Legis-
lature elect under the new Constitu-
tlon of Alabama be convened at the
Capitol of said State, as soon as prac-
ticable, by order of the United States
military commander within said State
of Alabama; and that upon the rati-
fication by the said Legislature Of
the fourteenth article of the amend
ment to the Constitution of the
United States. proposed by the thir-
ty-ninth Congress-, and the establish
ment by law of impartial suffrage
within said State, rs authorized by
said Constitution of Alabama, the
said State shall be admitted to repre-
sentation in the Congress of the
United States, in accordance with the
laws of the United States.
Trumbull's bill. introduced to-day,
defining the jurisdiction of the Courts
of the Unite dStates, in effect is us
follows: 1t provides that all Courts
of the United States shall be bound
by the Acts Of Congress on political
questions, and that it rests with Con-
gress to determine what government
is the established one in any State,
and it is declared that no civil State
government exists in the excluded
States of the South, and no so-called
civil State governments in such States
shall be recognized by either the
Executive or Judiciary power of the
United States, until Congress shall
so provide, or until such State is
represented in the Congress of the
United States. The Reconstruction
Acts are declared political in their
character-the propriety or validity
of which no judicial tribunal is COM
petent to question, and the Supreme
Court of the United States is hereby
prohibited from taking jurisdiction
of any case growing out of the execu-
ton of said Acts, in either of said
States, until such State shall be rep
resented, etc.; and such cases now
pending before that court, shall be
dismissed; and all Acts authorizing
an appeal, writ Of error, habt cor
pus, or other proceeding to bring be-
fore said court for review, any case,
civil or criminal, arising out of the
execution of said Reconstruction
Acts, are hereby repealed.
Nothing else important presented,
and under regular call, the House re-
sumed the appropriation bill, and it
finally passed.
In the Senate, petition was pre-
sented from 100 New Jersey negroes,
asking 800 each, to carry them to
Liberia. A similar petition from
negroes. The South
Carolina Conyention asked aid to ex-
tend the Port Royal Railroad. The
Judiciary Committee reported a bill,
that the majority of votes shall decide
all elections under the Reconstruc-
tion Acts, and voting on the adoption
of the Constitution. Duly registered
persons may vote in any part Of the
State, upon presentation of certi-
ficate. A bill, conveying into the
Treasury the proceeds of captured
and abandoned property, was dis
cussed to adjournment.
Sumner presented petition from
citizens of Massachusetts,, praying
the abolition of the presidential Office,
as dangerous to the Republic.