The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-04
Affairs in Washington.

WASHINGTON, February 3.-In the debate
on the whiskey tax last night, Schenck, the
Chairman of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, said there were parcel of speculators
throughout the country trying to kill the
whlskey market, by circulating a story that
the Ways and Means Committee, or some
member of the House. would propose to in
crease the tax on whiskey, or perhaps put it
back to its old rate. He would say that 80
far as the Ways and Means Committee were
concerned, no such proposition had been or
would be entertained. He hoped there
would be no tinkering by the House of this
part of theybill. aif
the Constitution, establishing universal suf-
frage. which was adopted by the House of
Representatives on Saturday last, reads as
followsca sysrtA fTa r.
Be IL sesosoea (two-thirds of both Houses
concurring, That the following article be
proposed to. the Legislatures of the several
States,ras an amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States, which, when rati-
fed by three-fourths of said Legislatures,
snail be held as part of said Constitution,
namely:
Sec l. The right of any citizen of the
United States to vote, shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or any
state, by reason of race, color or previous
condition Of slavery, of any citizen or class
OF citizens of the United States
Sec 2. The Congress shall have power to
enforce by appropriate legislation the pro-
visions of this article
The vote by which the resolution was
adopted. was: Yeas $50, nays 42-two- thirds
OF the House voting in the affirmative.
Senator Trumbnll, from the Judiciary,
introduced q bill recognizing the Federal
Judiciary. In the House, Beck introduced
o bill regarding Mississippi, with Bing.
hams notifications, but instead, as Bing-
ham proposes, admitting the present clai :
mants for Mississippi offices, Beck's bill
provides for an election in May, under uni
versal suffrage and amnesty for both the
modified constitution and State officers:
meantlme the State remaining under mill
tary control
Henderson introduced bill in the Sc
nate. yesterday, to provide for Depart
ment OF Home Affairs, which gives the head
OF tho department seat in the Cabinet, and
places under his supervision the Land
Office, the Indian Bureau, mining matters
and the Freedmen's Bureau
In the Senate, Trumbull's judiciary bill
makes nine Supreme Judges, and provides
1 1Or the appointment of Circuit Judges
Ihe consular appropriation bill was passed
considered to adjournment
In the House, the Secretary was directed
10 wlthhold the payment of the stationary
contract. The recusant New York witnesses
aG tue par OF the House were left in charge
OF the sergeant-atarms till tho committee
IS IS satisfied. An air line road from here to
New York was discussed. The Indian ap.
preparation bill was discussed to adjourn
ment.
Ii IS stated on tolorable authority that the
Postal Committee will vote down the propo-
sition for postal telegraph, as the public
competition.
Internal revenue receipts to-day reach
$1,000, 900.
John M. Langston, "a negro) of Ohio
VIII bo an applicant for tho ministership to
Hayti under Grant. This is the same posi-
non offered him by President johnson, bnt
decIi ied for the reason that he would not
dim his political prospects by accepting an
ollce under the present administration
All tine cut smoking and chewing tobacco
and snuff not stamped according to law of
July 20, 1868. will be seized and confscated
after the 18th instant