The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.

Snubs thc A mncsty ProcIa ma tiOn-No-
body Hurt.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Judiciary Commit
tee to whom was referred tho message of the
President relative to his proclamation Of De-
cember Is, granting universal amnesty, re-
ported the samo back to tho Senate on We'd
nesday morning, with lengthy report stating
that the committee arc Of the opinion that the
powers attempted to be exercised in the pro-
clamation to grant general amnesty are without
the authority or assent Of Congress, and has
no foundation in the constitution or laws. The
report closes with resolution that in the
opinion of the Senate the proclamation Of the
President Of the United States on the 25th OF
December, 1868, purportirg 10 grant general
pardon and amnesty to all persons guilty of
treason and hostility to the United States dur
ing the late rebellion, was not authorized by
the constitution or laws. The Washington
correspondent Of the Baltimore Gazette re-
marks
The report has surprised no one here, as it
was we'll understood in political circles that
such would be the report Of that committee, o
report that is worth about the paper 1T is writ
ten on. The committee careful not to say
o word as to the legal effect Of the proclana-
ton, this beipg left to the judicial department.
have been left without any opinion, expressed
or otherwise, by tho five distinguished gentle
men who compose the judiciary Committee Of
the Senate. AS the Official term OF President
Johnson is about drawing to close, he might
be allowed to depart IN peace, but certain
members of both Houses OF Congress seem
to delight in putting chips on their heads and
daring Andrew johnson to knock them off.
zen while reading the report Of the Judiciary
Committee made to-day and that is s'nobody's
hurt
The constitutional Amendment--Ano-
ther Nluddlc in the Senate.
A Washington telegram, of Wednesday,
says:
Another scene of confusion, amounting to an
almost inextricable parliamentary muddie,
took place in the Senate this afternoon in the
discussion upon the proper mode Of disposing
of the suffrage constitutional amendIent,
which had come back from the House on the
refusal of that body to concur in the Senate
amendments. Over three hours were spent in
determining the effect if the Senate receded
from it's amendments. nearly One-half of the
senators arguing that such action would have
the effect OF passing the joint resolution as It
came from the HOUSE originally; the other half
holding that the passage of q motion to recede
left the suffrage amendment open for amend
ment, or adoption, or rejection.
It became evident that the Republican seua-
tors we're about equally divided upon the
House proposition, which was considered to
prohibit, by implication at least, colored citi-
zens from holding Office. On this ground the
position to this resolution, they demanding
that the measure should be so worded as to
give negroes the same rights and privileges as
are accorded to them in South Carolina, Lou
isiana, &c. On this subject quite heated
conversation was induged in between Senator
Stewart and the Southern senator's in one cor
ner of the Senate chamber, whilst the various
votes we're being takon. Mr.. Stewart had un-
through in a jlffy to-day, and had counted
upon the cooperation OF Southern senators.
The Senate having subsequently receded from
it's amendments, and refused to- adopt
the House resolution, left the whole SUBJ
ject again open to Begin de nooo. This
was just what Senators sumner and viii
son desired, and theroupon they simnltane-
ously, with o dozen other senator's, jumped to
the floor, clamorOus for recognition from the
chair. Mr.. Stewart rushed down close to the
Presidents chair. and succeeded in getting in
O motion to take up the suffrage resolution
adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee,
which gives the co!ored citizen the right to
hold Office. This resolution was expected to
have the support OF the Southern senators,
and that therefore 1t would pass instanter. but,
to the CONSERVATION Of the excited Stewart,
up sprang Senator Howard, one of the most
raiical OF Radicals and announced his de
termination to oppose and discuss the rcsO-
luton. Senator Nye also said he would oppose
the measure. 1t was now six O'Clock, AM the
senator's very gene al,v took advantage OF the
opportunity, whilst Senator Howard was max
ing his speech, to get luncheon.
In their private conferences the friends OF
the pending resolution expressed great fear
that, after all. the suffrage amendment would
fail to get safely through both Houses ct this
session. There are some who would insist
upon provision that the amendment be sub
mitted only to the atate Legislatures hereafter
to be elected, but this proposition would be
discussed and thus, by consuming time, de-
feat the whole measure. G
II he Alabama Claims Treaty-C Certainty
OF Its Rejection.
From the Washington dispatches (oR We'd
nesday) to the New York Herald, we make the
following extracts a
held meeting to-day, and among other sub
jeots discussed the treaty between the United
States and Great Britain concel ming the settle
mont OF the Alabama claims. although the
question was brought up near the close OF the
session of the committee fair expression Of
sentiment was ehcted on the terms of the
treaty concluded between our Minister to Eng.
land, Reverdy Johnson, and the British Minis
clear majority of the Committee eynreeead
themselves as opposed TO the provisions Of
tho treaty. Mr.. Sumner. chairman or the
committee. was oi opinion that Minister
lost siaht OF the real points Mt ISSUE be-
tween the two governments Too much had
been conceded to Great Britain; and IN view Of
the fa0t that partial acknowledgement had
already been made hy that goverpm .nt or the
damages resulting to American citizsns from
the ravages Ut the Alabama, too little attention
had been paid to American interests. This
opinion was concnrred in by q majority OF the
ton, Patterson and Harlan. Judging from aIe
sentiments txpressed by the members 81 the
committee at the meeting to-dayl there CON be
little doubt that the treaty will be reported ad
yerBely to the Senate. The feeling OF tnaiort
ty ofsenators openly expressed indicates ahst
e..1E tho De Evis
sained by a very large vote. w ID, u
Removsl OF Politicsl i,Assa aalitasps
The House 10. day BY adarae vote p lssod tlls
Disability bill reported from the Reconstrnc
OF Kentucky to- have tho names from tha
State ati uck ont tailed, ell the Democrats ani
8 large number ct Republicans voting agaraa
ra,fra RaiiOa1n TY<,ss.<