Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-01-15
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fOsNG fhS6.
Congress having reassembled after the
adjournment during the holy days have re-
sumed their labors. We hope they will
turn their attention to those great practical
subjects which are Of pressing and present
importance TO the country, avoiding those
which are Of little use, or of doubtful utili-
ty. The finances, the revenue, the civil
service bill of Mr.. Jenckes, retrenchment
of the public expenses, the establishing
uniform rule of suffrage without distinc-
ton of race or color, throughout all the
States and territories, and giving protec-
ton to all persons in the pursuit of all To-
gitimate calllngs, these are among the sub
jects which demand immediate attention
and early settlement. The members Of
both Houses seem disposed for work but
they have not yet had time to accomplish
much.
In the Senate, Mr.. Edmunds, from tho
judiciary committee, has reported substi-
tute for the bill introduced by him on the
18th of December last, to prevent the hold
ing of civil offices by military officers, and
to prevent the holding of more than one
office at the same time. The substitute
provides that no person shall hold, nor
shall he receive compensation or salary, for
performing the duties of more than one Of
fee or place of trust or profit under the
Constitution or laws of the United States,
whether such Office or place be civil or mil
itary or naval and any person holding
such office or place, who shall accept or
Ill p & trttg
profit under the Constitution or laws of the
United States, shall be doomed to have va
Gated the Office or place which he held at
the time Of such acceptance.
Mr.. Frolinghuysen has presented to the
Senate memorial setting forth that it is
impossible for a Union man to live in GER
tain parts of Georgia, that the murdorers oil
Union mon cannot be brought to justice,
that intimidation has been used to influ-
| ence the vote of colored citizens, and ask
| ing that some legislation be made to RENE
| dy this state Of things.
In the House, Mr.. Boutwell,, from the
Judiciary Committee, has reported joint
resolution, proposing an amendment to the
Constitution, defining who might vote fol
L
tives to Congress. 1t provides that no one
shall be prohibited from voting on account
of race or color, and provides punishment
for persons interfering.with the rights Ollie
gal voters.
On Monday last the House voted, l2l I,
AZ, to repeal the Tenure-of-o office law.
Mr.. Butler Of Mass, has introduced ;
bill to aid in administering justice in thu
State of Virginia. Referred to the commit
tee on reconstruction. The bill recites tina
large majority of the judges of the Stat'
courts are disqualified under the 14th arti
Gle of amendments of the Constitution, bu
that the United States courts in that Stat
are discharging from punishment criminals
convicted of murder because of the disqual
ification of such judges, and that great con
fusion is being caused thereby in the ad
ministration of justice in titles to renl es
tate. 1t, therefore, provides for the suspen
sion of dgments and DEGREES until tn
question of the validity of the courts arts
ing from such disqualification be determ
incd in the Supreme Court of the United
States, all causes before such courts to b
continued, bit no further proceedings haC
until such decision is made.
b. +. Butler has been making an elabo
rate speech on the subject of the finances
which is exciting good deal of comment
The Boston Post gives the following notic
of it:
The speech of Gen. Butler on the financ
es will arrest general attention for its orig
inality, and the thoroughness of much o
its criticisms. After discussing the situa
ton and the remedies proposed for exist
ing difficulties, he brings forward plan 70
the resumption of specie payments and re
lief from the evils which now encompass
us. The substance of his proposition /
this THAT it will not answer to curtail til
present amount of currency without pro
viding n safe elastic and inexpensive sub
stitute, capable of being made plentiful o
not according to the changing wants c
business. He holds that the national wealt
must be developed to that standard a
which the country will find use for all it
currency, for the benefit only of the credit
or class. His plan for a currency is as fol
lows Withdraw the legal tenders and sup
plant them with an equal amount of certii
icates of value, receivable for Government
dues and convertible into Government
bonds; take away the power of issue nov
granted to the National Banks, leavin
them merely banks Of deposit; and ALLOW
any individual or association of individu
ais to obtain certificates of value, for Gov
ornment bonds, which may be again ex
changed at pleasure, thus increasing or di
minishing the volume of currency accord
ing 10 the inducement offered by the pros
poets of business profits or Government in
terest. Tho General shows how the ne'
currency may be introduced, and how
would affect Government bonds. His OF
servations on paper currency in genera
on the old Continental scrip, on what on
financial history has to teach us, and on tn
illustrations of the subject furnished b
England will be read with decided inter
est, as Offering the comprehensive and com
pact view of avigorous mind that has bold
ly grappled with the great question of tn
time.
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