Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-15
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

On the 9Th, the Senate passed the bill to remove
political disabilities, afteraddng number ofnames
to the list contained in the bill. A resolution
allowing compensation to Southern Senators from
the second session of the 10th Congress was tabled
This is the second effort made in behalf Of recon-
structed Senator'S They first wanted pay tor the
whole term of that Congress but as they were not
admitted until toward the close of the last session.
the Senate would not grant them pay for services
not rendered The nomination of Charles NJ
Wilder, colored, as postmaster of Columbia, s. g.,
was confirmed. He is the first negro confirmed
by the Senate A bill to pay certain Southern
revenue officers, who were unable to take the test
oath, was passed. The persons to whom it refers,
are those appointed by Secretary Mccullough just
after the war, when he could not find "oyal'' men
competent to do the work. The passage Of this
bill is simple act of justice to officials who could
not have been paid for their services without it.
In the House, bill for taking the census ofthe
United States in 1870 was passed. 1t includes
divorce statistics The Senate Indian approprla-
ton bill was passed, with some amendments. 1t
goes back to the Senate for concurrence in the
amendments.
On the 7th, the Senate passed bill re-organizing
the judiciary System of the United States, with
some amendments. 1t goes back to the House.
The Vice-President laid before the Senate a
message from the President. recommending that,
before adjourning, Congress shall provide for the
submission of the Virginia constitution to the
people some time during May or June next, at
an election to be held under the direction of the
military commander of the district, with view to
the submission of the constitution, as adopted by
the people, to Congress at the commencement OF
the next session, and the early admission Of the
State to representation in Congress. The message
makes similar recommendation as to Mississippi.
In the House, Butler called up his bill to pro-
vide a provisional government for the State OF
Georgia. 1t was the occasion of long debate,
but was at length laid aside without action upon
it. A committee of conference on the Indian ap.
preparation bill was appointed. The Presidents s
message was read, but was not referred to any COM
mttee; the reconstruction committee, to which it
properly belongs, having already expressed itself
in opposition to the views of the President.
On the Sth, a resolution was introduced in the
Senate, making the adoption of the 18th (Cniver-
sal Suhrage) amendment an essential precedent to
the admission of representatives from Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas. The Presidents message
was discussed, but no action was taken with refer
euce to it. The Senate is in favor of postponing
action in the premises until December.
In the House, Hoge, the minority candidate
from the 3rd Congressional district of South Caro-
lima, took his seat. A bill authorizing the SUBJ
mission of the constitutions and the elections of
State officers and members of Congress, in Virgin
ia, Mississippi and Texas, was passed By vote Of
l25 to a. 1t authorizes the President to order
elections at his discretion also authorizes him to
submit the entire constitutions or separate prov-
sions, and forbids elections in Texas until author
zed by the President. The commanding general
may, with the approval of the President, suspend
any existing State law in either of the three States
deemed oppressive, until action by the Legisla-
lures, which shall assemble on the fourth Thurs
day after ratification is promulgated by the COM
manding general.
On the 9th, in the Senate the bill authorizing
elections to be held in Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas was passed by vote of A to q with several
amendments. The clause authorizing the Com
manding Generals to suspend the laws in certain
cases, was deemed oppressive, and stricken out
An additional clause was adopted, declaring that
the restoration of these States should not be regard
ed complete until Congress had approved their
action. The amendment requiring the States
named in the bill to pass the 18th amendment was
adopted by vote of 80 to 20.
In the House, the bill to remove the political
disabilities of parties therein named was read in
full and passed by vote Of l07 to 80. The Sen
ate amendments to the bill providing for elections
in Virginia, Mississippi and Texas were concurred
in by the same vote
Mr. Paine, of Wisconsin, from the committee
on elections. reported resolution that all persons
claiming seats in the House from the third and
fourth congressional districts of South Carolina,
except such as may be reported as ineligible by the
committee on elections, shall, on or before the
18th of April, file with the clerk of the House the
grounds upon which they claim seats: and the
committee on elections is authorized to appoint a
subcommittee, to sit during the recess, and take
testimony. Adopted.
The meaning of this is that Messrs. Wallace and
Hoge are to furnish subcommittee during re-
cess, with the evidence on which they claim to be
elected
On the 10th, Congress adjourned at - o'clock,
sine die. There was nothing Of importance done
by either House, The President signed the Vir-