The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., ApyiTl1, 1871.

time they recovered from the fatigue
incident upon passing the Ku .Kluz bill
! net yesterday. An amnesty bill was
passed by two thirds vote, which re-
moves the political disabilities. imposed
by the l4th amendment from all but
9 the following: Senators and members
ss'thc United States Congress who re
signed TO participate in the rebellion
s ail officers of the army and navy who
resigned for the same purpose, and all
members of State conventions who voted
for ordinances Of secession. Those who
wish to accept the benefit of the bill
shall frs: take oath that they will pro-
tect, support and defend the Cnstitu-
: tiou ofths United States. Ncarly20O,OOO
, persons will be relieved by this bill
BepButlcr purposed introducing SINH
laybiil and thereby get cheap rsputa-
L<Ron for maguauimity, bnt member Of
+ his own kidney, who dislike, him per.
sonally, induced Mr.. Hale to be before
hand, and he has thus taken considerable
3 wind out of Benny's sails 1t is all for
the best, however, as Ben will now re-
& tain his identity, as some mistakes would
S be sure to occur in speaking of Buffers
magaanimity. Ben was not present,
/. being engaged IN reply to Senator
Davis, spoon stealing charge. The
general impression is that the amnesty
bill will pass the Senate. am not so
hopeful. Pig Iron Kelley, the great
protectionist, offered a resolution which
4 declared that all internal taxes should
be taken of, except whiskey and tobac-
1 co. What Aimsey lodges these Radi-
Gals do stoop to in order to clear the
!, optics Of the people. But the trick is
ssanderstood. The Senate would scarce
have patience to listen to the resolution
being read ere they would squelch it ;
the people, who are not SO stupid or SO
much asleep as some persons think,
slook to the legislative acts of the doni'
nant party and not buncombe resolu-
j sions, passed by one House with a cer-
! taiuty Of being voted down BY the other.
The Ku.Klux bill was reported
yesterday by tie judiciary committee in
the Senate, and among some minor
amendments was the following: "that
I1he privilege of suspeudiug the writ of
Es6aLcas corpus be extended until the
end Of fhe next regular session." which
sswould expire about the 18th of July,
i but BY taking recess until the last of
siNovember Instead of adjourning, this
lSinfamous electioneering law would be in
Fforce during that time, and tie people
asof he..South, under the control of Grant
esand his soldiers, would be debarred the
flights Ct citizens 10 order to carry the
selections for the Radicals. This amend.
ment puts their iuteufions beyond doubt.
SDesperatiou causes them to scarcely
4IregaId the semb!ance of honesty in their
{ vile work, but ali these devices aud
I frauds will not avail them. They are
elcan gone.
! The debate in the Senate on the ad.
Dission Of Budget, Qk Georgia, was
very much against his Being United
I State. Senator. Tne opposition to him
comes from His Radical brethren, many
Of whom think they have enough mean
men in the Senate already. Blodgett, at
present writing, is very great un-
certainty, but bis loilty may save him.
4 number of Radicals who have been
ksesting the seats Of their Democratic
teompetitors, have Withdrawn from the
fconlest. Ttis better condition Of things
cones irom the fact tina: the commit
stee on elections have a;,pied rule,
hot 10 recommend the payment Of
fmcuey to contestants. WHO lave no
..ycasonabIe ground Ct contest, and to
apay only the actual expenses of defeated
scontes:auts. 1t wOn: pay to contest
dany more, aad that is bad for the Coz
etesiiny caIret-bagsers.
!, ghs city Of St. Louis is being very
ss,trouel; pressed by Western Democratic
emembers Ct Congress, as the place in
eshich to hold the mex; National Demo-
!, 7atic convention. They claim, and
j Irry truly too, that the city is pleasant
5 ID healthy. centrally located and con-
eaected by railroads with all parts ofthe
s;ountry, wish hotel accommodations,
,apable of providing for the vast, num-
ssess who will be present during the
/ t9plding of the convention. They also
lslaiim that such recognition Of the i'm
tGense and varied interests Of the great