The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-02-25
WASHINGTON NEWS.

WASHINGTON, Feb: 1.-The, Reconstauc-
ton Committee will vote Thursday on the
bill appointing Kuklux Commissioners in
each county.
FEB. 15.-The New Jersey Senate rat,
flied the fifteenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition to-day.
The President has allowed the test oath
bill to become an act without his sigma
ture. The President says.
If this were a bill for the repeal Of the
test saith required of persons elected or
appointed to Offices of honor or trust, it
would meet my approval. The effect Of
the law. however, is to relieve from taking
a prescribed oath all persons whom it was
intended to exclude from such. Offices, and to
REQUIRE it from all others. By this law the
soldier who fought and bled for his country
is to swear to his loyalty before assuming
official functions, whilst the general who
commanded hosts for the overflow of his
government is admitted without it.
I cannot affix my name to a law which
discriminates against the upholder of his
government I believe, however, that it is
not a wise policy to keep from office by an
oath those who are not disqualified by the
constitution, and who are the choice of le-
Gal voters, but whilst relieving them from
an oath which they cannot take, | recon-
mend the release also of those to whom the
oath has no application.
FEB. l6.-The Committee on Reconstruct
ton have ordered the chairman to report
a bill repeating the test oath, according to
the Presidents, recommendation. There
were two negative votes, Charles H. Por-
ter and Hamilton Ward.
The committee also reported, but had re-
committed, with the privilege to print, Mr..
Cobbs's bill creating a Ku Kluk commits
sioner in each county Of the States lately
in Instruction, and Kentucky. The bill
gives the commissioner extraordinary jul
dicial powers. He can call ont the posse
comtatus. or militia, or the nearest ar
N.Y., or naval forces to serve his processes,
Representatives Sheldon and Sypher
were before the Appropriation Committee,
urging the completion of the C~ustomhouse
at New Orleans. The hearing seemed
favorable.
HousE.-The bill for the safety of trave-
1crs carried by steam was taken up. 1t
contains seventy-one sections, and fifty
five printed pages. 1t establishes regula.
tions agains: fire, leaking, explosions and
other accidents. The bill passed and goes
to the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Appropriations
Committee of the House have agreed upon
Sl7o, 900 for the New Orleans Custom.
house.
I SENATE, Appropriations resumed Anamend
ment to strike from the Legislative, execu.
tive and judiciary appropriations the claim
inserted last year by Senator Drake, was
proposed, which prohibited as evidence in
the Court of Claims certain Presidential
pardons. The amendment authorizes any
pardon or amnesty granted before the
suppression of the rebellion under the proc
lamation of President Lincoln.
This amendment is not to apply to suits
in the Court of Claims arising under tht
act of March, 1853, to provide for the col
lection of abandoned property, and thu
prevention of frauds within the ~insurrec
tionary districts. The claims opened by
this amendment is about $4,000, O0o.
The amendment does not help person:
pardoned by Presiden johnson after April
1865. The amendment was rejected by
vote of 80 to 10:
Mr.. Trumbull renewed portions of thu
amendment repeating the proviso ofthe law
which makes a pardon the evidence of thu
guilt of any party accepting it..
Mr. Conklin argued that portion was viz
tually a confession of guilt.
) Mr.. Trumbull's amendment that a par
don should not exclude a pardoned part.
from the Court Of Claims, was carried b,
the casting vote of the Vice President;
; HoUsE.-The Conference report terrific
rializing the district passed, and gees 10 tn
President, who will undoubtedly approx
it.
FEB. Ex-senator Harris was before tn
3 : Commerce Commietee to-day, urging ap-
| PREPARATIONS for the New Orleans custom
house. It is understood that Mr.. Mullet'
plans for completing the c]ustonhonse hav'
beer. approved by the committee. The,
involve the ultimate expenditure Of Sever
to eight hundred thousand dollars, and tn
use Of iron instead of stone for superstruc
ture, saving many tons in weight: