The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-01-06

to-day. and represented that there were
starving people in Louisiana. The
bishop, accompanied by the President,
proceeded to the capitol, where they
had conference with the Louisiana
delegation. Gen: 6ypher will, to-mor-
roT, introduce resolution authorizing
the War Department to Issue rations to
these people.
Only the Republican members OF the
Senste Judiciary COMMITTEES were in
conference with the President at the
capitol. The object or result was inac.
cessible. It is supposed to be about
Williams.
Governor Warmoth is here.
In the House, Wheeler, of New York.
from the Committee on Appropriations,
reported the army appropriations. The
House then resumed the consideration
OF the supplementary Civil Rights bill.
Frye, OF Maine. said he had had charge
OF similar bill mt the last Congress,
and was prepared to advocate 1t at
length, but he was so convinced that
| The bill commenced itself to the great
majority Of the House and country, that
he would not occupy the time of the
House. but would yield the floor to Mr..
Harris. Of Virginia. Harris addressed
the House iu opposition to the bill, con-
! tending TINT Congress had no right to
Interfere with the internal legislation Of
the States, aud that this bill would
break up the public school system, and
the lunatic asylums, and other oharita-
ble institutions Of the South. He ap.
pealed to the House, whether any one
would contend that the negro was the
equul OF tho white man. A colored
member Lynch, Of Mississippi.) rose
IN response to the challenge, bnt Harris,
amid great laughter, declined to Weld
to him, saying that he was addressing
himself to white men, and did not pro.
pose TO let negro interfere.
Stephens, Of Georgia, next rose to I'D
dress the House, but SAW that he could
not say oil he had to sny in twenty mi.
nutes. and he asked to have an hour al.
lowed blm. T. r. Hoar objyctcd, but
subsequently offered to withdraw the
objection, in case the same privilege
were granted to Elliott, of South Caro-.
lima, colored. Then Walls, of Florida,
also colored, renewed the objection, but
hs, too, withdrew it. Stephens then
took his postioh in the back part of the
nall, on the Democratic side, and pro-
ceeded to read speech in opposition to
the bilf, remarking that, in view of the
great i'm Importance of the subject, lie had
reduced his views to writing. He was
not opposed to the bill because Of any
opposition he had to do full and AIN ple
lustice to every human being within the
legitimate jurisdiction of the Federal
legislative power. The chief end Of all
governments, whether State or Federal,
should be the protection Of right. His
opposition to the bill sprung from no
prejudice against any man, woman or
child within the limits of the Unitod
States. on account of race, color or pre-.
vious condition of servitude. He enter
tanned no feeling Of that kind, and was
not governed in his action by any inhu-
ence Of that sort. His opinion of jus
tice and it's proper administration was
not founded on that dogma, SO gene
rally announced, and so pern;cous in
principle, that it should be for the greut.
est good of the greatest number; but on
tho higher rule. that it should be for the
greatest good Of all. without detriment
or injury to any. While be did not hold
the doctrine of the equality of the races,
be did maintain the great truth. how
ever paradoxical it might appear, that
all men wero or tied equal. That great
truth had bee. announced first by q
Council OF State, on the 4th of July,
l776. but it was never meant to convey
the idea that all mon were created eaua
in all respects physically. mentally a nd
morally. It was, however, meant to as
sert the great law Of nature-that all
men had the same right to justice, and
to stand perfectly equal before the Law.
In proof of his willingness to have oil
natural rights secured to colored men,
he sent to the clerks desk and had read
extracts from addresses made by him
to the people OF Georgia; but he "a.
opposed to this measure, or to any one
kindred to it, because Of the want the
necessary power on the part of Congress
under the Constitution. He assumed
that every member would admit that tho
powers of Congress were specific and
limited, and that oil tho Legislative
powers which Congress could rightfull,
exercise were held by delegation from
tue people Of the several Suites, and ht
contended that no new powers had beer
conferred on Congress by either til.
fourteenth or fifteenth amendments te
the Constitution. The proper remcd,
wns in the iulrmnpk of fho oo,rt, -