Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-01-15
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.
The Bankrupt Law.


The Bankrupt Law.
- Numerous petitions have been present,
ed, since the reassembling of Congress, against
the repeal of the bankrupt law. The bill now
before the Senate, as a substitute for the bill
passed by the House, requires one-fourth of
the creditors in number and one-third in val.
ue to throw debtor into bankruptcy after a
suspension of payment of forty days, and when
debtor is put into involuntary bankruptcy
he shall receive an absolute discharge after
his estate is exhausted, regardless of the per-
centage realized, and further allows two-thirds
of the creditors to take an estate out of bank
ruptcy and decide upon an arrangement by a
majority. The bill does not propose materi'
ally to alter the voluntary features of the
bankruptcy law, the amendments being inten-
ded to apply chiefly to cases already in bank
ruptcy.
The Franking Privilege.
- The committee on post-oAices and post.
roads have again under consideration the bill
which was agreed upon before the Congress
sional recess, providing for the transmission,
through the mails, free of charge, fpublic doc
uments and newspaper exchanges. 1t is be-
lieved the bill heretofore perfected will be
materially amended and while bill will
probably be reported to the House providing
means of transmitting public documents, it
will be guarded with every possible precau-
ton, tending to check any abuses which might
arise by the partial restoration of the Con-
gressional frank. The committee are consd-
ering several propositions to meet the con-
tingency, and will renew the consideration of
the subject at their next meeting
The Texas Election.
- The Supreme Court of Texas decided
that the late general election at which Dem
ocratic Governor and Legislature were elected,
by nearly fifty thousand majority, was uncon-
stitutional. At the same election an amend
ment of the constitution, it is believed, was
adopted, which would relieve the State from
the present Supreme Court, which Court, it is
stated, is a remnant Of military rule, never
having been in position by a fair vote Of the
people.
In pursuance of this decision, Governor
Davis telegraphed to President Grant for
troops, in case of disturbance among the peo'
ple, to which the President made the follow
ing reply:
Your dispatches and letters reciting the
action of the Supreme Court Of Texas, in de-
claring the late election unconstitutional, and
asking the use of troops to prevent appre-
hended violence, are received. The call is
not made in accordance with the Constitution
of the United States and the Acts Of Congress
under it, and cannot, therefore, be granted.
The Act of the Legislature of Texas, provid-
ing for the recent election, having received
your approval, and both political parties hav-
ing made nominations, and having conducted
political campaign under it, would it not be
prudent, as we'll as right, to yield to the ver-
dict of the people as expressed by their BAL
lots U. 3. GRANT,.
The Chief Justiceship.
- Mr.. Williams has withdrawn his name
from nomination to the position of Chief JUS
tice, which he does in letter addressed to the
President. The history of the withdrawal of
Mr.. Williams is given as follows: When the
President had the interview at the capitol
with the members of the judiciary committee,
he frankly told taem of the embarrassment in
which he was placed by his promise to stand
by Mr.. Williams. 1t was then agreed that
two of the Senators present should call on Mr..
Fish, as the senior-member of the cabinet,
state to him the impossibility of Mr. Williams
being confirmed, and request him to call on
the attorney general and induce him to relieve
the President Of the disagreeable position in
which he was placed. Mr. Fish undertook
the rather unpleasant task, and after hearing
Mr.. Williams, agreed to write his letter ask
ing the President to withdraw his name. The
letter was accordingly penued, on the 7th, in
the following words:
To the President-SIR: You we're kind
enough, without my solicitation, or any knowl-
edge on my part that you contemplated such
thing, to nominate me for Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
Since that time, The food gates of calumny in
all directions have been opened upon me, my
abilities been disparaged and my integrity
brought in question, and it seems to me that
public opinion adverse to my appointment
has been created which might hereafter en-
barrass your administration and perhaps i'm
pair my usefulness upon the bench. With a
perfect consciousness that have performed
with clean hands and an upright purpose all
the duties of the various public places to
which I have been called, and trusting to time
and just public when better informed for
my vindication, 1 respectfully ask you to
withdraw from the Senate my nomination for
Chief Justice. | have the honor to BE- with
great respect, GEO. H. WILLIAMS.
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