The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-03-11

Inc LOUISVILLE SilLiIueTclal, Oh NeSteT-
day, has the following among its WASH
ton dispatches:
A majority of the House Reconstruc-
ton Committee informally agreed to re-
port a bill next week 10 provide for a new
registration and election for all State Off
GERS under the present Constitution Of
Tennessee, on the grounds that the pre-
sent State Government does not protect
citizens in their life, Liberty and pro-
perty.
General Butler is prenaring bill for
the reconstruction of Tennessee. 4
delegation of Republicans of that State
had meeting at Buffers house, where
they compared notes, and Mr. May
nard presented the draft of a bill
said he was thoroughly satisfied of the
necessity of reconstructing Tennessee,
and had no doubt of the power of Con-
gress over the subject. He said he would
take Mr.. Maynard's bill and merge it in
to his own. The matter is to be brought
before the Reconstruction Committee
next week.
The following discussion on the Geor-
gia bill took place in Congress on the 4th:
Mr.. Butler addressed the House in ex-
PLANTATION and advocacy OF the bill. He
argued that Georgia presented herself
now fol the first time, asking in proper
glIise for admission. Two of her repre-
sentativcs had been admitted to the
House, but admitted under mistake of
facts; but it had been thought that Geor-
sia had been organized honestly, fairly
and legally. After stating various rea-
SONS for the passage of the bill he said that
was necessary for another, grander and
more comprehensive reason, and that was
because it was grave and solemn exer-
else of the power of Congress over States
which, having got into the Union, under
took to Cypress citizens of the United
States. and to rebel against the laws and
against the spirit ofthe constitution The
State of Tennessee, for instance, believ-
ing herself beyond the power of Congress,
had proceeded to abrogate every law and
every constitutional provision on which
she was admitted to representation. If
the judgment of the House went with
his own he proposed to exhibit also to
Tennessee the power ofCongress against
wrong and rapine and murder. The
Governor of Tennessee had sent mes
sage TO the Legislature stating that he
was utterly powerless to protect the
citizens of Tennessee against organized
bands of robbers and murderers; but the
Legislature had adjourned without pro-
viding any such means. Hundreds of
men were being murdered weekly i'm
Tennessee, and there was no redress.
He proposed to bring the condition of that
State, very soon, to the attention of the
House and the country.
Mr.. HAWKINS, (rep.) ofTenn., inqui-
red of Mr.. BUTLER where those muir
ders were committed.
NJ. BUTLER-In Tennessee. -.
Mr.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.! 81
Mr.. BUTLER-All over the State.
Like the man with the smallpox, they
break out all over. Laughter.)
Mr.. HAwKINs-I have never heard
of such things =
Mr.. BuTLER-None so deafas those
who will not hear. / have the pre-
sentiments of two grand juries in that
State saying that they are utterly pow
erless against the bands of organized
ruffians there, and we ought to deal
with Georgia SO as to demonstrate to
the world that we have not abrogated
and abnegated the power Of Congress
to deal with men, wherever they may
be, under whatever sort of State OBJ
legations, who render the life and lib
erty of the citizens of the United States
unsafe. He gave notice that he would
offer an amendment to the bill provid-
ing that the power granted by the
Of Georgia to the Gen
eral Assembly to change the time of
holding elections and to prescribe the
day for the meeting of the General
shall not be so exercised as
TO postpone the election of the next
Assembly beyond the Tues
iay after the first Monday in Februa-
~, 1872 He explained that the OBJ
ect ofthe amendment was to give the
oval men who had been elected to the
first Legislature their full two years
service. He wOuld treat
he negroes who had been turned out
If the Georgia Legislature precisely |
Is he would have treated the loyal
legislature in 1861, if there had been
me, who had been turned out by the |
'ebels that is, he would restore them
o their positions and keep them there
or their full time.