The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-25
POLITICAL.
The Fifteenth observation-disclosures
to See Its Enects.

The constitutional amendment adopted by
the United States Senate is denounced by some
of the prominent Radical journals, who sec
that 1t is time to resist the encroachmcnts o.
Congress upon the rights OF the States. The
tendency towards Capitalization is begiunin
to be rebuked by Republican party organs
They sec the danger that must result from
stripping the States OF all power, and confer
ring the same upon Congress. The Providence
tR I.l Journal says:
Should this amendment be confirmed by the
States, and 20 into effect, it cannot fail to
work very important change IN tue govern
ment and institutions OF the country: Inc ar
| ticle annuls forever I'll special quailhcatlons
Tor holding Office in any OF the States, and will
inevitably require very important alterations
in several of the State constitutions, as we'll as
in the relations oil all the States to the General
Government. 1t will prove by far the longest
step that has thus far Deen taken toward tue
consolidation Of our political power and the
virtual overthrow of State institutions.
A change like this which Is proposed by the
Senate is fundamental aud fir-rea ching. AS
was earnestly coutended by several leading
members of that body, it is essentially rcvolu-
/ iionary III it. tendencies and results. Oar po-
litical system will be very greatly modified ny
its operation, and with tho facility which will
thus be introduced OF making still further
changes, it is impossible fully to estimate OF
even to anticipate the ultcrlor consequences
that are likely to flow from it. Out OF u neccs-
sity which the rebellion forced upon the States
| of the South, and which really pertained only
] to them, the champions 0. particular theory
of social rights have carried through the SEN
ate a change in tue fundamental law which
strikes down everything like local lndepend-
~, o1Nn nltG1 ulI 1nr
State to project itself against any social or
political evils to which it mav be especially ex'
poscd. The Constitution of the United States,
as thus amended will clearly no longer be the
constitution which was adopted by our fathers.
With sIch provision, even as possible anti
cipation, it could never have passed the con-
ventlOn of17S7; still less could 1t have been ac-
ceptcd by tue epopular conventions ot any OF tbe
States. If it is now confirmed, 1t will be only
an overthrow oil State constitutions, under the
spurious Suisc Of constitutional amendment
III favor of freedom.
The Chicago Tribune also has bold article
on the subject. 1t says:
State officers are not, like voters, cons;it-
uents of the national government. Their
quallfic ,tions may be- SAT ,ly left to the people
OF the State. The constitutions of The several
States provide various qualifications Tor their
officers The Governors OF some States arc re-
quIred TO be native BON citizens. Under
elch State We have q variety OF Offices 10 be
filed by persons having KNOWLEDGE OF pal
ticular sciences; we have judges and attorney
geuerals, We have prosecuting attorneys, State
gcolo.ists and surveyors, we have hor Tor
the insane aud for IN trea m mt ofoth~i !orms
of disease. Why should not the Staic OF llll-
Ilois require that persons elected or appointed
10 these places shall be able to read or write:
that her judges and attorneys Shall be oducat-
II Al, nj, ,OiA RI
supcIiuteudcnts OF fhospltuls shall have medl-
cal education Yet tho amendment pro-
posed by the Senate prohibits the State from
ostablls6inS any such qualifications. and makes s
eligibility to Office cCe1tcnsivc with the right
to vote. All Citizens, of all co.ors and races,
whether they read or write, or speak the Ian
guasc, or ho.d property, are ma 'e eligible 10
all Offices IN tho State. Can any person give
any good reason for this proposition?
We do not think susl an amendment can be
ratified at the present time. We do not believe
that it viii secure the requisite numhcr OF
votes in Illinois, Indiana or ONO; we do not
think Connecticut, or Rhode Island, or Dew
hampshire will ratify it. and it may fail IN New
York and Pennsylvania. Ihe Pacific States
will undoubtedly reject it. The universal sui
frage clause cannot carry itself and the othce-
holding clause.
What will Become of Grants Staff
On the 4th of March next, when General
Graut ccases to be commander of the army, or
sooner, if he should resign before that time,
the command will dovoivc upon Llcutenahl-
General ". T. Sherman, the next iu rank, and
all OF General Grants officers will formally
tender their designations.
II General Sherman should not rcappolnt
thcm General Rawlings will still remain a
- . 1@n1i.. i1taf n
be nominated to some good civil position;
General BIJeau will fall back on his commits
sion as First Lleatenant Of the Fourth lntan-
try; General Porter will fall back to Major OF
the Ordnance Department; General Constock
will be Major OF the Engineer Corps; General
Babcock Will he also Il Major IN the Engineer
Corps; Colonel Parker will bo First Llcu-
tenant OF the Second Cavalry; Gcncial Dent
will become Major o. the Fourteenth ! fan
try, but will, it is thought. go with tue Presi,
dent to the White House; Colonel Lcet VIII
contiuce as Major in the Adjutant- -Gcncr-rs
Department aud Colonel Webster Will he as
s:gncd to some important post III the Quarter
masters Department, If not retained by Gcne-
raj Sherman, which is more than probable.
The Senate Caucus and the Repeal OF
tI,e Tenurc-of-odicc Law.
A Washington letter OF Monday to the Bati-
more Sun says:
The Radical members of tic Sc atr were in
caucus for a..out tour hours to-t;av. The time
from eleven to twelve. not sui;icinS, MIR. All
thouv. the chairman OF the caucus, when the
Senate met III regular session at noon, seized
the convenient pre,ext that this was the birth
day of WaShil gcon, and. on his motion, al
iourucd at once -whereupon the majority ini-
med ic!v returned to their caucus chamber.
The discussion vas priucinaly over the Teii-
ure-oi-ofice bill, and was aG III: warmer aud
more bitter than at any OF the caucuses during
1n:peachment times Many O.. the senators
lett lour before tho caucus adjourned, absolute
| " refusing to be bound by its decision. IL was
] maintained by some that the subject WAS
one not proper to be regulated by caucus, Lut
that each senator should acv o. his OWL
individual responsibility, which such scna-
tors a. Morton, Fcssendcn, Cameron: Grimes
and others declared they intended TO do. BIZ!
lew senators cared to take the decided stai'i
of ayow:ng themselves absolutely against the
repeal, but it was mGed that there was no!
sufficient time left in which to properly discuss
the matter and that when the new Congies.
came IN ! better understanding could be had
of the merits and dcmeris OF the question: and
ample time to calmly survey all tae crcuiu-
stances bearing on it, Tie old haired OF An
drew Johnson was also brought into play, and
a great ind.spositiOn manifested to give Inn 3
cLpncc TO have any thing 10 do With it. MIR. VIII
sou said the President wonld rejoice to have this
| last opportunity OF rappnS Congress over the
| knuckies; that it the bill was repealed. lewouid
| ia sisulng il take the occasion II chow III
Congress as goin.; back ON itself. and as admit.
zinc, Ina fruiI, uf his SricIrc6 that the l.ill WIS