Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-01-17
THE 'ExTREMEs OF PARTY LEaIsLA-
TIOM,

THE 'EXTRENER OF PARIx Lk013LA
TON.
The renewed eHetsy aad increased, hittsre
mes. y ith which the Radical majorty in Con-
yres, are carrying out their programme .
Southern rs,ors,ruetiun. arc apparent in ill.,.
proceedings Of the past weak. Fully epnsciOu
.. Ito leaders ara Of tue great reaction whict
j. taking place In the public mind at hqpe--
that the party hns been weighed in the balan:
Get. and. found wanting, and is soou to be re
puliatej by its own consi euncies-=,hey are
aeekiug TO sustain their totterng power ant
to avert their anticipated doom through al
African zed South. II-ncc the haste with
%hirii they are hurrying through the work OF
tcoons,ruotion, and the pertinac;ty with which
they seek TO remove every obr' ncle whiei,
might enGanger the wished.for result, Ac,u.
A,sd hy a fear lest the new Southern constiiu
tIons innS fail to obtain mai orly Of the reg.
i>,sred voters As required by the Rrconst, ue-
fi.n Acts, these nre 10 bs modified 90 as "a
enable mere majority Of the votrs cast to
accomplish the wo,k OF ratification. An,ici
rniing that the present provisional governments
will prove anything el,efl. subservient tool.
in ihs!f hands, and may inte,poee unlocked FOR
obstacles III the hcccmf sh.nrnl OF their ds-
signs, 1t is Proposed to nbol:sh these at zone
fell .wuop,' and to substitute for them polni-
cal machinery which shall RESPOND promptly
:" encl, Tuck Of party mnnagcnent at the
Capital Untrnm,neIed hy constitutional eclu-
plea thry are bu, carrying cut the details "f
their policy and seeking 10 consolidate the
s'rength Of their wnnton usurpat;on of power.
regardless alike Of tho rights Of the States aud
tue prorogatives of the Executive. The tele-
graph furnishes the following details Of the
new bill which is 10 be introdue ID into ,he
House, and which will readily pass that
body:
The House Committee on Reconstruction.
this afternoon, agreed upon a hill. 10 be report
ed on Monday, d-claving that there are no civil
governments in the lately ret.ellious States. aud
recognized as valid ar legal either by the exc
"nsive ar The judiciary authority "f the
United Slater. Iu order TO the speedy
-nrorcsme,,t Of the several rccoustru:-
tionJaws. the g HeneraI Of the army is authorized
I" remove aA officer, now employed. aud APP
point others for the performance Of all acts
qnirsd By those statues TO the end that tn.
peoplu Of the said several States may speedily
urSanizc civil governments, republican In form.
Ind res,orad to their political power in the
Cniun. The General Of the army is MIRO eni-
powered 10 remove all civil officers, aud nppoiut
others i'll Heir places. so much Of the Recnn.
struction Acts, AZ anthoriz- The pres!dent t. dc.
tail the military commander. or remove Others.
ilrepraaed. The bill declared it unlawful for
the Prssident to order any part Of the army or
navy 10 assist by furss of arms. the military of
these provisional governments to oppose or "b.
.truct tas aa'iority Vi The United at"tes. TIE
hiN further DECLARES, this in srferrncs' ly any
n furc
-Seeution Of the orders Of the General nf the
army sh all be hall to he u high misdrme NOR.
and that the party guilty ,h-r.of. on.convic,io
shait4ss fissd not exceeding s5,00o. M! -impris
rsel get exceeding Two years The h'li rePeAl'
at hasIs oGil'e Reconstruction Acts iucor eist en-
~ith .4he atr;vs provisions. Stevens voted
sgnipst tho bill in committee, asserting that i,
was fa,ended TO elect Grant. -
Such - IN abstract Of The rrovi.ions of .
hill Eh irh proposes to destroy tie last vestig,
e State righti. and deprive the Executive o
large class Of constitutional powers. whilst i
estatlshes O huge military "deepo,ism which j.
expected 10 prove willing tool in conaoidat
ing Radical power.
To avoid an anticipated collision with IL,
Supreme judiciary npon the question of Ill
c"nsti:utional:y Of the Reconstruction AcIs
r"'S" 10 ~ .Soihee VI Aoon ior arJuulcatIon. IL
proposed 40 change the constitution Of tha
Court SO as to make two-thirds majority &
g.. the members essential TO .l,s. validity Of til
Judgments of the Coutt. They thu. hops I
prevent any Jeiisment r.rss 10 their pre,en
si"n'. which, in, tile present constitution of til
ccarf. isvery likely. = =. .~'
But wilitbs President Submit 10 b. sl,orn
,,hisepn.tiu uiional functions Without resi,taae.
This would seer, to be the contingency
Which in his lsis messne e hs. refers. when i
i,.snates III. determination 10 meo. revols,lo,
iaTy: ensr4 4sehmsn,s 3pron his profogatiye {
revolutionary senpc.Iie.. With General C raj
{" sustain him he might make good his posi,io
.,bu, abe Lieut., Gencral appears to: hare gou
.ii;sss :tbng md baggage" to the enemy. III
gresidsnt would seem to he .ppwerless an
. consfess 10: :bs supreme :" They lnive slra.e
spewaffor two YEAR, bat. That ,hen tile day
ssrerritut1ons will come, we have an tabidir
.,skepe. and hatw we shall he esnsoiel .eeerai,
- the days Of foar sfli;eiivn. and "rhs yer
sNhere'u ne hays : .ssp m sy:tr: /: .ss 81
ssss:; !:g7 - Co.. az :, So