Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-01-19
Important Action of the judiciary Com
mittee,
SUFFRAGE ELL TO BE REYoRTED-ANoTHER
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, &c.
| Washington. correspondent of the Ba

SUFFRAGE BILL BE LEN
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, &c.
A Washington correspondent OF the Baltl>
more .S~a, in his letter on Sunday, says:
Mr. Boutwell, will to morrow report from
the committee on judiciary Il bill to secure
equal privileges and immunities to citizens Of
the United States, and to enforce article four
teen Of the amendments to the constitution.
The bill provides that no citizen shall be
deprived of the right to vote for electors for
President and Vice President, representa-
tives in Congress, or members of the Legis>
lature Of the State in which they reside, by
reason of race, color or previous condition Of
slavery and any provision in the laws or
constitution, of any State inconsistent with
this section, are hereby declared to be null
and void.
The bill provides for carrying out this prin-
ciple, and then further declares that any per-
son disqualified by section three of article
fourteen of the amendments to the constitu-
ton, and from whom such disability shall not
have been removed by act of Congress, who
shall exercise the powers and duties OF any
Office therein specified, shall be deemed guilty
of misdemeanor, and being convicted there
of shall be imprisoned and kept at hard labor
for the term of two years, and an indictment
for the same may be found at any time within
two years from the commission OF the offence.
The judiciary committee will also report
en- amendment to the constitution granting
universal suffrage for State and municipal
officers.
Congress year or two ago passed law re-
curing that the respective States should elect
United States Senators in the month of Jan
uary. The effect of this law is bad upon the
legislation of Congress, for it takes too many
Senators and Representatives away from their
seats. A large number of important mea-
sures are delayed because of the absence Of
Senators who are interested in them
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.-A most destructive
confagration occurred in Philadelphia last
week. The fire broke out in the rear portion
of the extensive jewelry establishment of J.
Z. Caldwell & Co., Chestnut street above
Ninth. OF seven clerks who were sleeping
in the building five escaped through the
second story windows, all seriously burned,
and two are missing-Hogan, from Provi-
When last seen Hogan had fallen down near
persisted The following is a summary of the
assurances on and estimated value ofproperty
destroyed: W. G. Houston, owner of west
building, value of property S5S, 900, insurance
$4,000; J. E. Caldwell, jewelry, s25O,OOO,
insurance $4,000; Geo. Howell, owner of
east building, $50 900, insurance $4,000;
Howell Il Bro, paper hangers, 1925, 900,
insurance s105,O6O; BENZ. Orne, owner of
centre building, 100000, insurance s54 900;
j. F. & e. 3. Orne, s125,000, insurance
s225,000. Total property destroyed sSol 900;
insurance 100000
EXPRESS ARRANGEMENTs.-It is report
cd that the Adams Express Company has
made compromise with other companies,
and is to retire from the combination. The
basis of the compromise is the issue of three
millions of stock by the Adams to the Amer
=, md thn La