The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-02-11
News from Washington.

"Leo," the Washington correspondent
of the Charleston Courier, furnishes the fol-
lowing interesting paragraphs: M
The Republican Congress will pass the
joint resolution reported from the Com
mitteee on Reconstruction, providing for
another constitutional amendment, (arti--.
Gle fifteenth imposing negro suffrage up
on all tile States. The House has passed
it by the required majority Of two-thirds,
and the Senate will concur: This finishes
the work of reconstruction: Feeble at
tempts were made by moderate Republi-
cans to amend the Act so as to couple
amnesty with. suffrage! Mr. "Bihghaln's
proposition to this effect failed, and Mr..
Bingham was the only Republican men,
Der who voted against the Act upon its
final passage. There are thirty-seven
States in the Union. Three-tourths
of the number of States; through their
Legislatures, must ratify the article be-.
fore it can become n part OF the Consti-
tuition. So it will require the assent Of
thirty States. Only twenty-five States
can now be counted for it, and some Of
them now Republican may be adverse to
it after another election of members of
their respective Legislatures. Therefore,
it is admitted by MIR. Boutwell,, the mana
ger Of the measure, that it may require
some years to give effect 10 the Act The
necessity Tor change Of the Constitution
is an acknowledgment that the original
compact forbade any interference with
the subject This is. perhaps, the last
amendment to the Constitution that the.
Republican party will propose. 1t may
confirm the party in their power for sew
cral years. But their wiser leaders con-
slider this as doubtful. 1t may be the
means of it's overthrow at the next Presi-
Dental election. a.. ,s.. ls
There are six hundred Bills before Con-
gress, reported from Committees, for the
reliet of private claimants A largo ad.
dtion to the number may be expected
from loyal citizens of the South, or from
Northern citizens, whose properly was
taken or destroyed in the South. Con-
grcss is afraid to touch this subject. They
cannot decide upon. tho principle that
should govern their action in regard to
claims Of loyalists. The committee on the
Judiciary reported against thepropositon'
of Senator Robertson to commit such
claims to the judgment of the Court of
Claims. That Court decided, in promi-
nent case, the Government was answer
able for property of loyalists taken or do.
stroyed by the Federal army. Perhaps
this was the reason for the report OF the
Judiciary Committee adverse to MIR. Rob-
crtson's resolution. o. ",~,a p
Then, again, Congress is disposed to-
keep the subject in its own hands, and act
on each case according to its merits. AS
the matter now stands, a loyal citizen. OF
Massachusetts, whose property was taken
for the use OF the Federal Army in the
South; claiming the same cannot receive
any compensation, though if the same
property had been in like manner taken
in Pennsylvania, he would be paid for it.
General Buffers paper money speech
and Bill finds an army of supporters in
the Northwest and Southwest. He has
received hundreds of letters from those
quarters supporting his proposed measure,
and earnestly dcprecating resumption.
of specie payments. The writer's depict
an embarrassing situation of affairs in
their respective regions in consequence of
the want of paper currency. This Con-
, gress will do nothing towards, a return to
Il specie standard, except probably, to le.
galize gold contracts, and it is doubtful
whether that measure can pass the House.
There is no hope and no danger ofa specie
currency for five years to come.
J
THE JUDICIAL SYsrRM.-Scvera1 bills