The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-22
rrnoM oUn SPECIAL conREspoNDENr. /

FROM our SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON, January 1S.-Since the recess
there have been but two measures introduced,
which are likely to be of any immediate i'm
portanco to the readers of The NEWS. Thee
first of these is the bill providing for the COM
pensatiCn OF Southern mon who rendered SER
vices in good faith, while holding civil posi-
tions for few months after the close OF the
war, but who subsequently roinqulshed their
places rather than qualify in the required form,
by taking the oath commonly known as the
the ''iron-clad." The bill for the relief of this
large class of persons, was introduced into
tho Senate by 1Ir. Sawyer, aud is as follows:
A BILL AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO BE MADE FOR
CERTAIN SERVICES RENDERED TO THE UNITED
STATES IN THE LATE INSURREcTIoNARV STATES.
Be It enacted by tie Senate and House OF
Representatives OF the United states OF Amer.
ica in Congress assembled, That the heads of
the several executive departments be, and
the aro hereby authorized to allow, and there
shall be paid from any proper appropriation, to
officers and employees OF tho United States,
who failed to take the oath prescribed by the
act approved July second, eighteen hundred
and sixty-two, such sum or sums OF money as
may be found due to them, respectively. by the
accounting officers ofthe Treasury Department.
for the services heretofore actually rendered,
at the rates prescribed by law or tho regula-
tions Of the proper department: Provided,
That before any such CONDENSATION Shall be
allowed or pail, it shall bo made to appear
that said oath was duly taken after the rendi-
tion OF such services, OF the person claiming
the same shall subscribe aud take before some
competent officer, AMI file, with the account:
tho oath or affirmation prescribed by the act
recurring an oath OF allegiance and to support
tLj Constitution of the United States, approved
August six, eighteen hundred and sixiy-onc;
and If any person entitled TO com"ci.sa Ion
under this act shall have died before the pas
sage thereof, such oath or alb nation may DC
waived.
The measure Is SO clearly equitable that
there ls little doubt that it will speedily pass
both houses. The amount involved is not
large; bat as the class of persons who would
be benefited by such an act are genera " in
needy circumstances, they would welcome the
paymc0t of what is justly duo them lom the
government.
THE PORT ROYAL RAILROAD.
Another bill that will be watched with inter-
est by Charleston readers, is that granting aid
to tho Port Royal Railtoad Company. The
friends of this measure have been very active
" at work here, and have at length got the
scheme reported from the Committee on Pubs
lie Lands in on amended shape, which, it ID
claimed, will satisfy those who have hitherto
opposed it. Strong hopes arc row entertained
of the carly passage OF the bill. 1t is entitled
ga bin to provide for the sale OF certain lands
and lots on the sea islands OF Beaufort Dis
trict, S. c., and for other purposes" and reads
in its amended form as follows
Be Il enacted, &c.. That the instructions given
In tn, .stax commissioners for the District OF
South Carolina" by Abraham Lincoln, Presl-
dent OF the United State, dated tho sixteenth
dav of September, Anno Domin. eighteen hun
tlred :nl sixty.thrce, and all sales Made IN
conformity thorewith, be, and the same are
hereby, confirmed and lc9alZcd, subject to
such notifications and exceptions as have
bccn OF may be made by acts of Congress
passed after The date thereof.
$: c. 2. That all lands set apart as school
farms in SAINT Hcicna Parish, III South Caro-
llna under instructions from the Pre5lucpt Dy,
tho United States direct lax commissioners Tor
South Carolina. which remain unsold, and all
lots IN the City Of Port Royal, III South Carolina
subject by law to the disposal OF said tax com,
missoncrs, which remain unsod, may be SOLD
for cash at public sale by the said commls-
soncrs after three weeks notice publish: od IN
not less than three newspapers CT general cir
culation in the City Of Charleston, III South
Carolina.
SEC. 8. That the said Tax commissioners be.
and they are hereby, authorized to sell, IN lots
not exceeding twenty acres each, to the freed
men who are now AID before tho hrst day OF
January, eighteen hundred and slxty-two,
were residents of the plantations on the sea-
islands in Saint Luke's Parish, in South Caro-
lima, at one dollar and fifty cents per acre, all
the unredeemed lands Ct said plantations
winch may be at the disposal of the said COM
missioners.
SEC. 4. That oil persons who may, have ac-
nnIrei ! claims nnder the order u aIuior- Gene