The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-12-22
Washington correspondence
Charleston Courier.

work of reconstruction has been much
advanced since the opening of the
session. Virginia comes into her
place in the Union at ouoe, through
the decisive action of the President,
and the appreciation of General But
ler, who is the Chairman Of the Com
mittee on Reconstruction. The hesi-
tation at the admission of Virginia
was caused by the apprehension that
she would follow the precedent of
Georgia aud Tennessee, and discard
negro suffrage and negro Legislators.
Therefore guarantees against such u
change was demanded by leading
Radicals. General Butler was salts.
fled with the written assurance on the
subject, which were given yesterday
by prominent members Of the Vlr
giuia State Government. Congress
very promptly passed tho bill, which
was matu' cd ut the last session, re-
moving all political disabilities from
some FIVE hundred citizens Of the
Southern States. Among the names
you will find those of mon who were
distinguished in tho 'late war as states
mau aud soldiers. There will be
other Bills for the apecial ,cliof of
individuals, but il is intended as soon
as the Fir.eoth Amendment shall be
declared to be adopted as part of
the Constitution, to decree universal
amnesty, aud also 70 abolish tho Radi-
cal ,e-t oaths.
As Texas, Mississippi and Gcorgin
will so"n assent 20 the Fifteenth
Amendment, II Bill will be p ssed d.
reo,ing the Secretary Of State to AL
uonnce by proclamation the adoption
of the anendmsnt rs soon AZ it shall
hive received the assent If the requi.
site number of S,utes, ani IL cn,npnt.
ing the nambe, 10 include any SAFE
that shall once give its Legislative as
sent To the same, even though said
State may, by a subsoiusnt legisla-
tu,e revoke that assent.
Thus, if Naw York, on the l,t Of
January, shall repeal her Act of
ratification, IL is to be treated as a
nullity. In this way tho final adop.
tion of the amend ment is likely to DO
occurred this wDter,e 1t is urged that
thousands Of Southern citizens will
be converted tosthe support of the
AdministIa by the promise of a
general amnesty law, consequent upon
the adoption of the Fifteenth Amend
ment. lt,t ,s. a.
The Bill providing for taking the
census Of 1870 is in progress. The
law under which the last oersus was
taken is still in existence, and unless
/ new law be substituted for it, the
next census must be taken under its
provisions The census was heretofore
taken by United States MAJ shals and
their assistants, But it ia proposed
to employ different machinery for the
purpose. FiSbme have advocated the
employment of the officers of the To-
ternal revenue service, and this, it IL
said, would b6 the most economical
plan, rs the officers are already under
pay. But 1t is strenuously objected
by both to the marsbuls and to the
revenue assessors and collectors, that
tho people are averso to them. The
people, not only In cities, but In rural
districts, are shyof tax gatherers, and
will not give them satisfactory and
full answers TO their Inquiries
The present law limits the number
Of members Of tho House of, Repre-.
sentatiyes to two hundred and thirty
three. Tho YiRton law, as it was
oslled from tho author, Sami. +. Vim
ton, of Ohio, was intended to fix this
40 the permanet number. An extern
aion Of the number, by adding two.
ffths Of the blacks TO the representa-
tive number, was not thon oontemplat.
cd. Now il IA proposed to FIX the
namber q Aaitely, and pefmansntly at
three hundred. 3. u ,',3 ,,'s.,, = ,g, 4
,YOlH Il -.t---T+s % sss-----
The Yorkville Enquirer says; wJos
seph Hardin, confined for il.i,it jssillihg,
! escaped from tho JAIL III this town on
last Thursday night s@ He ont through