Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-12-16
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Eron <Vas:lingfcn-Procec OF Com
grGss, Sc.
WAeHINGToN, Dec II.
MISCELLANEOUS

MISCELLANEOUS.
CouSIe ssman Bowen gave S., OO0 bail to an
gwer the charge of bigamy. Bowen asks early
trial
There is before tbs Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States u case tom the Southern District of
Now York, which involves the right OF MORGAN
tile agencies to collect and communicate to their
merchant subscribers information concerning
the financial condition and character Of mer-
chants throughout the country privileged
Communication, and further involves the ques-
ton whether such mercantile agencies as hith-
erto conducted in this country shall longer
exist.
SENATE-1Ae Committee on Judiciary h&ye
made unanimous repor. that the Indians are
not citizens of the United States under the 14th
amendment of the Constitution of the United
States, the treaties and laws always having re-
garded them as independent nations, and not
interfered with in their local administrations.
HoUsE-Considered bill for full and general
grace amnesty and oblivion OF all wrongful sets,
doings or omissions of all persons engaged in the
war of the late rebe lion; exceptions sre as fol-
lows Educated at West Point Annapolis
members either of House of Federal or Confed-
crate Congress heads Federal Executive De-
partments !; Ministers abroad judges Federal
Courts ana those holding similar Offices in Con-
federate governments ; members of Conventions
who voted for or signed ordinance of secession
or Governors Of States which were in rebellion;
Confederates who treated cruelty or otherwise
than according to the ussges OF war Federal
prisoners; persons intruste6 with funds which
they have not accounted for all deserters and
bounty jumpers; property exceptions follow; al
property wherein the United States. third
parties which have become vested in by sale,
forfeiture or confscation, and lands used now or
heretofore for Federal Cemeteries, and every
right of action and liability arising, Or any ordi-
nance, law or contract in aid in rebellion and
every such right shall be deemed invalid.
Mr.. Butler reported the bill, and said in ex-
PLANTATION that it was drawn nu.ais nlutandis
from the amneatic bill, passed by the English
Parliament after the Scotch rebellion of 1745 -
de quoted from the preamble and body of the
act, and referred to the exceptions in it. among
Which all persons by the name and clan of Mac
Gregor, and all who had been in favor of having
the French army invade Great Britain. He
wished that the state Of the country was such
that all of the exceptions could be struck out,
but such was 10: the state of the country
The bill swept out ever thing that had
been done wrong on one side as we'll on the
other, AID said that no more suits could be
brought for acts mons or committed
during the war, either by those who warred in
behalf of the United States by those who
warred against it. 1t threw the mantle of
charity over all. The bill excepted the leaders
of the rebellion, but why should they be
oepted? They had played for empire and lost,
and should now take the penalty Of the loss. It
would be seen that the first exception only ap-
piled to those military and naval officers Of the
United States who had received their education
at West Point or Annapolis it did not apply to
officers who had not been 80 educated. As to
the National Cemeteries, he said he thought it
time, after hearing an eulogy in the Senate On
General Lee, that the idea that those cemete-
ries could be in any way tempered with. should
be put end to. II the Union soldiers did
anything during the war. they certainly
conquered lard enough to be buried in.
He wanted his bill passed if for other reason,
that that question mig ht be settled forever
An objection had been made to the bill that it
was not general amnesty. he was not the most
forgiving of men. and he trusted that he was
not the most vindictive. He could remain IN
forgiving as long as his ncighbor and he could
forgive an honorable opponent quite as early as
his eighbor, but when he Gid forgive he forgave
! au over. and when he did not forgive he rcmem-
bered all over.
Mr.. Lawrence asked how many pereous the
pension bill would relieve?
body in the South who was under legal trouble
or vexation i; it would relieve every man who held
postoffice, was g sheriff or constable before the
war and had taken an oath to support the Oon.
stitution. As to the excepted classes, all that
they had to do was to come to Congress here
after and petition for a removal of th:ir Gise-
bilitics.
Mr.. Beck offered substitute for the bill as
follows:
That all persons other than those hereinafter
excepted. now disqualified to hold Office by the
third section of the 14th Article of Amendm ent
to the Constitution of the United States, are
hereby relieved from such disability and the
same is hereby removed from and after the pass
age of this act except from the following classes
Of persons: z
First-Whoever having been educated at the
Military Academy at West Point or the Naval
School at Anna polls shall have engaged in the
rebellion and instructed against the United