Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-03-13
[From the Greenvillc Daily News, March 6 I
A Talk with Congressman Aiken
---Some Interesting Washing
ton News.

---Some Interesting Washing
ton News.
COL D. Wyatt Aiken, NJ. G., arrived in
tho city yesterday en route home from
Washington, Congress having adjourned on
the 4th instant, to meet again in cxtru
session on the 18th instant. At the read.
ing room of the Mansion House last uight
he was surrounded by q number of friends
and listeners, who were anxious to learn all
about Congressional affairs, what had becp
going on aud what would likely happen at the
extra session. Col. Aiken possesses the
happy faculty of fluent speech, and by his
ready conversational powers can always
entertain crowd ss we'll in private chat as
on the stump. He was free to answer ques.
tions, aud gave somo very interesting ac-
counts of the debates in Congress, especially
on the pension bill and the army aud lcgis-
Intive bills the same causing fierce strug-
giles and which failed to pass with the
amendments demanded by the Democrats.
The army bill as introduced provided that
a General of the Federal army should have
power to command his forces in the capaci
ty of posse con,itatus at all Federal cleo
tons to suppress instructions, without au-
thority from any other source. This Col
Aiken claims as unconstitutional and the
section was stoutly opposed by the Demo-
Gratis, North and South. This power is
vested only in the Governor of the State,
and the Federal army is at his command
only when Instructions occur. The Dem
oorats demand tho repeal or the jurors test
cath, known as tho lronclad oath, which
deprivcs many citizens of serving as Jurors
in the United States Circuit Court. mhe
repeal of certuin sections of the election
law, was also demanded by the Democrats.
The law, as it now stands provides that a
Deputy U. S. Marshal shall be present at
the polls in cities or towns of over &c, 1000
Inhabitants The Radicals making the
word 'town' mean township, have illegally
sent their deputies into townships, and it
is well remembered that great number o,
our citizens have been arrested and dragged
to Jail illegally and on tho information OF
some paid instrument who claims that he
has been ntmidated. Tho discussion OF
this question, Col. Aiken describes as being
very bitter and exciting.
Tho army appropriation bill, with the
but the amendments were stricken out BY
the Senate and on this tho matter hinged.
Both parties seemed bound to "stok" to
tho bitter end, and tho consequence is 40
extra session of Congress, to convene on the
18th instant, at which time lively time
is expected. Unless tho bills arc passed.
the entire government, with all its attaches
from tho high salaried officer to the hum
blest clerk or employee, will soon be without
his pay, and there will bo no money to
support the army. Tho two bills appro-
pirate something near S60,000,00O to run
tho Government for the next fiscal year,
beginning 10 Juno
At the reorganization next Tuesday week
all tho newly elected members, those cleo
ted in November last, take their seats. Tho
election of Speaker will take place, and an
exciting time is anticipated. Speaker Ran.
dali will probably be elected, though
Blackburn, of Kentucky, is a strong and
popular candidate, and would make a good
run.
The Senate will contain a Democratic
majority Of seven while in the House there
are, Of the 292 members, I48 Democrats
FL Greonbaokers, and 1913 Republicans
Three Greenbackers oaa DO counted on to
vote with the Democrats, nine are allied to
neither party, end tho Republicans claim
tho rest. Two vacancies occur, however,
in the Democratic ranks, occasionod by the
death of Sloicher, of Texas, and the suooes-
sor Of Mr.. Crittenden, of Mo-, having been
stricken with paralysis and not being ex-
pccted to recover. 1t confidently asserted
however, that fully sufioiont number of
Greenbaokers will act with the Democrats
To inanra thn alnotion of Snoak kon nd da,,exa.