The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-02-12
The Immigration Bill,

Office for eight years. Passed first
reading.
The Immigration Bill.
The bill to encourage immigration
and appropriating ten thousand dollars
additional for that purpose, we are glad
to see was defeated in the House of
Representatives on the 9th. 1t is about
time that humbug was dried up. Let
the Legislature pass wholesome and
equal laws, and the State government
inaugurate system of honest and ex-
act economy; let us have rctrenchmcnt
and reform, instead of creating new Of
fees and constantly increasing the pub
lie expenditures. The States liabilities,
immediate and remote, have; been dou-
blcd in two years, until they now stand
ut the appalling sum of forty millions.
1t is worse than idle to talk about i'm
migration to any considerable extent
under such q discouraging condition,
and all moneys appropriated for the
purpose is simply waste. Besides, the
immigration needed is not of the sort
which has to be hired or coaxed.
New Constitutional Amendment.
According to the telegraph, the con-
stitutional amendment as it finally pass
cd the Senate reads:
No discrimination shall be made in
the United States among the citizens of
the United States, in the exercise of the
elective franchise, or in the right to hold
Office in any State OH account Of race,
color, nativity, property, education, or
creed. Vote 40 to l6.
The bill goes to the House for con-
currence. An attempt was made to so
amend as to restore the right Of suf-
fragc to parties at present disabled by
reason of their participation in the late
rebellion, which was defeated-ayes
81, noes 30. And thus, as was minated
last week, Boutwell's amendment is de-
signed solely to take away from the
States all control over the elective fran
chise, and to force negro suffrage upon
Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware, and
perhaps two or three " free sovereign
ties" North and West whose people
arc still little sensitive on the subject.
Congress is making rapid strides, and
the States above the old slave line are
i'll fair way to get a little more Cen
tralism than they contracted for at the
commencement Of the late civil war.
Under determination to punish the
South, conceived in fury and passion,
they are signing and sealing away their
own rights, and soon will be in worse
condition Than the last-named section.
The Tenure-Of-O office.
The proposition to repeal the tenure
of-office act and leave General Grant
free from the restrictions which a fac
tious and malignant opposition have
thrown around the present Presidential
incumbent, hangs fire in the Senate, and
the chances are that it will not be re-
pealed, though some immaterial modi-
cations may be made. Many of the
leading Radicals seem unwilling to
trust the General with all the privileges
pertaining to the Office of Chief Magis-
trate, though they are quite ready to
take oti'ense at an intimation from any
quarter that he is not in full sympathy
with the party. The following occur
red in the Senate proceedings Oh the 9th
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds, the Sem
ate took up the bill to repeal the tenure
of-office act. Mr.. Edmunds said the
bill as it had come from the House pro-
posed to remove all legal restrictions
from the President in the exercise of
the power of appointment and removal.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had
not thought it wise to do that, and had
reported an amendment modifying the
bill so as to permit the President to sus-
pend civil officers, whenever in his
judgment the public good may require,
subject to the approval of the Senate,
and without giving specific reason for
such suspension. The majority of the
committee, of which he was one, had
thought it fit that the heads of depart
ments should be subject to removal at
the will of the incoming President
alone, and had reported an amendment
to that effect.
Daily Press and Herald.