The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-30
Correspondeace OF the Phonix.
WAsaINaToN,,D Ga January 26. 1870

and is again one OF &he States OF the
Union. Although nog admitted unoon-
ditionally, still the friends Oh the Bing.
ham bill contend that the Senate amend
ment does not materially affect it. The
amendment provides, in substance, that
no member of the Legislature or officer
of State shall take his seat or enter upon
his duties until he has filed, in the office
of the Secretary of State of Virginia, the
following oaths: "I do solemnly swear
that have never taken an oath as
member of Congress, or as an officer of
the United States, or as member of any
State Legislature, or rs an executive
officer of any State, to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, and
afterwards engaged in insurrection or
rebellion against the same, or gave aid
or comfort to the enemies thereof-so
help me God" Or such person shall, in
like manner, take, subscribe and file the
following oath: II do solemnly swear
that I have, by Act of Congress of the
United States, been relieved of the disa-
bilities imposed upon me by the four
teenth amendment of the Constitution
of the United States-so help me God. >"
1t further provides that the Constitution
of Virginia shall never be amended 80 as
to deprive any citizen of the right to vote
who is entitled to vote by the Constitu-
ton herein recognized, except for crime,
&C., or to deprive any citizen of the
United States, on account of color or
previous condition, from holding Office
State, or impose any qualification on
hf for nffsoo 0fI
citizens; and, further, that the constitu-
ton of Virginia shall never be amended
or changed so as to deprive any citizen
or class of citizens of the United States
of the school right and privilege secured
by the constitution of said State. The
friends of the original bill contend that
these restrictions are unconstitutional.
They say that it is not in the province
of the Congress of tho United States to
impose conditions such as these, which
could not be enforced, and which were
not applicable to oil the States in the
Union alike. The Attorney General of
the United States contends that condi-
ton upon one State that is not obliga-
tory upon all, is Uoid. If these views
be correct, land they seem to have the
sanction of the best legal minds in Con-
gress,) then the original bill was only
amended to crafty whim of the MAORI
ty, and, in effect, Virginia is now State,
Internationally, and without restrictions
further than those imposed upon other
States.
The attention Of Congress will soon be
called to the laws passed to prevent the
forgery and counterfeiting of public
securities, with view to have the same
amended and made more efficient for the
prevention of this crime. There are so
many different kinds of Government
securities, consisting, for instance, of
bonds, coupons, national currency,
United States notes, Treasury notes,
fractional notes, certificates of indebted
ness, certificates of deposits, checks for
money on authorized depositaries, stamps
of various kinds and denominations, &C.,
that great impositions, almost daily, are
being practiced upon the different de-
partments, and, oftentimes, it has been
found impracticable to prosecute for
such impositions.
The attack upon the administration, by
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts,, has Gre
ated great excitement upon both sides of
the House, the one being very jubilant.
while the other is equally indignant.
General Butler has been seeking an op-
poTtunlty W Ieply 10 LIS coiieuBuc, anu
it is expected he will get the floor to-day.
Although there has been some little
npleasantness" between the President
and Mr.. Butler, in times gone by, it is
evident that warm friendship is grow
ing up between them, at present. But
Ter introduced bill, in the early part of
the present session, to abolish entirely
the tenure Of Office bill, which was GER
tainly very grateful to the feelings of the
President; and now, in taking up and
defending SO warmly the canse of the
administration against the libelous at
tacks of Mr.. Dawes, he will be looked to
AS the leader of the Presidential party in
the House. He very facetiously remarked,
few days since, when questioned about
the difference between himself and Gene
raj Grant, that "he was forgiving, while
the General was for-taking."
The Worlds Fair is meeting with op-
position from unexpected sources in
Congress. Senator Sumner first opposed
it, upon the ground that England had u
fair in view, and it would not be best to
hold two fairs at the same time. Oppo-
sition now comes from Mr.. Hamlin, of