The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, March 26, 1867, Image 2
COLUMBIA.
Tuesday Morning, March 26, 1867.
Coniis? ?it ion.
It luis been noticed already that the
confiscation bill of Stevens in Con?
gress has been postponed until next
December, which, we thi:<k, menus
its final .shelving for the fortieth
Congress. During the war, we were
rery imperfectly posted ou the legis?
lation of Congress, and of course
many of tis were ignorant of the
laws enacted by that body. On this
subject, the Montgomery Mail states
that Congress has already passed au
Act of confiscation us sweeping in its
terms as any that eould be passed by
the present or any succeeding Con?
gress. It is the Act of 1SC2, which
has never becu repealed. This Act
freed thc slaves and confiscated all
the property of persons assisting,
engaged with or giving aid or com?
fort to the rel tell ion.
Xiii"-- law being in force, the Matt
says it is asked "why may not Con?
gress put it into eltect thc moment
Alabama (or any ether State) rejects
the constitutional amendment ami
univeral suffrage. The answer ii
plain and direct-because he Su?
preme Court has passed ?pon thc
law and declared how far the Presi?
dent shall execute it, because th(
President will execute it so far as tin
Supreme Court has declared it to bi
good law; and because the Congres:
has not dared to declare itself hostili
to the Constitution, which is tin
supreme law of the land. Congres;
has violated what a large majority o
ihe people of the United States be
lieve to be the just construction o
the Constitution, but Congress ha
not dared, and probably will no
dare, to violate a plain and palpabl
construction of the Constitution b
the Supreme Court.
The Mail says that the Suprem
Court has laid down the law of coi
fiscation, under the ?Vet erf 18G2, s
plainly that there need be no doul
on the subject. The points estai
fished by that court are:
"1. Confiscation can only follow i
the laws of war acting upon belligi
rent enemies-or
"2. From some statute of tl
United States punishing individu
insurgents or traitors."
On these points, our cotempora:
says:
"1. It cannot follow from the Lr.
of war, because the law of natio
docs not permit the confiscation
destruction of private property,
was adjudged by the Supreme Con
of tho United States, in the case
Brown vs. the United States, (Crane
8th) that enemy's property found i
lam! was uot liable to confiscation 1
thc mere fact of the hostile charact
of thc owner, and without an Act
Congress expressly subjecting it
confiscation.
"But tho Act of Congress exor
rates from confiscation all who ha
taken the prescribed oath ol' al
giancc and received the pardon of t
President, li Congress should :
tempt to set aside :!ie- oaths and p:
don.-,, in order to reach our peoj
with a new Aet more stringent th
that of 1862, it would be an ex p
facto law, which the Constitution ?
clares, and the Supreme Court 1
repeatedly declared to be no law."
As an explanation of the law as t
Supreme Court decided it, the f
lowing circular was issued to 1
United States District Attorneys,
order of President Lincoln:
"WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 1SC-1
"SIR: Many persons against wh
property proceedings, under thee
fiscation laws, are pending in
courts of thc United States, grow
out of tito participation of such j
sons in tho existing rebellion, hav<
good faith taken the oath proser!
by the proclamation of the Presid
of December S, lsc>:j, and hi
therefore, entitled themselves to
full pardon and restoration of
rights of property, except as
slaves, and whore the rights of tl
parties have intervened, which 1
proclamation oilers and secures. '
President's pardon of a person gu
of acts ot* rebellion will of cot
relieve that person from the penal
incurred by his crime. * * *
"VOM respectfully, ?fee.,
"TITIAN J. COFFEE,
' 'Acting Attorney-General
We think, from the above show
that all apprehension from the y
age of such a bill as that of Mr.
vens' -a brief abstract of which
give elsewhere-may be allayed,
that no further "punishment" in
line may be dreaded by the "rob
-
The editor of the New Or?
P icayune, while cramming his m
with strawberries, exults at thc
preach of blackberries, cantel
and peaches.
. Ijlstj ii t Xo. 2-General Or?i>rs 1.1
! Tho following general orders have
boon issued by Gen. Sickles, on as
! suming command ?d' this department,
! for r. copy of which" we are indebted
! to Gen. Green:
HEAJDQ'RS 2D TVTTT.TTAKY DISTEICT,
(NORTH AXDSOTTTH CAKOIIIXA,)
I COLUMBIA., S, C., March 21, 1SG7. j
I General Orders 2Yo. 1.
I. In compliance with General
'Orders No. 10, Headquarters ol' thc
j Army. March ll, 1807, thc undjr
i signed hereby assumes command of
i thc Second Military District consti
i lided by tho Act of Congress, Public
I Ne. 68, 2d March, 18C7, entitled "Au
Act for the more efficient government
of the rebel States."
I [. In the execution of tlivi duty rf
the Commanding General to main?
tain the security ol" the inhabitants
in their persons and properly, to
suppress insurrection, disorder and
violence, und to punish, or cause to
bc punished, all disturbers of the
public peace and criminals, the h eal
civil tribunals will be permitted lo
take jurisdiction of and try offenders,
excepting only such cases as may, by
tbeorderof the Commanding Gene?
ral, 1)0 referred to a commission or
other military tribunal for trial.
III. The civil Government now ex?
isting in XorJ.h Carolina and South
Carolina is provisional only, and in
ail respects subject to tho paramount
authority of the United States, at any
time to abolish, modify, control or
supersede the same. Local laws and
municipal regulations not inconsis?
tent with the Constitution and laws of
the United States, or the proclama?
tions of the President, or with such
regulations as are or may be pre?
scribed in the orders of the Com?
manding General, are hereby declared
to be in force; and, in conformity
therewith, civil officers are hereby
authorized to continue thc exercise of
their proper functions, and will be
respected and obeyed by the inhabit?
ants.
IV. Whenever any civil officer, ma?
gistrate or court neglects or refuses
to perform an official act properly
required of such tribunal or officer,
whereby due and rightful security to
person or property shall be denied,
the case will be reported by thc Post
Commander to these Headquarters.
V. Post commanders will cause to
be arrested persons charged with the
commission of crimes and offences,
w hen the civil authorities fail to ar?
rest and bring such offenders to trial,
and will hold the accused in custody
fe- trial by military commission, pro
vost court or other tribunal organize*]
pursuant to orders from these head
quarters. Arrests by militai} au
thority will be reported promptly
The charges preferred will be accom
panied by the evidence on which thej
are founded.
VI. The Commanding General, dc
siring to preserve tranquility am
order by menus and agencies mos
congenial to the people, solicits tin
zealous and cordial co-operation <>
civil officers iu the discharge ol' thei
duties, ami the aid of all good ci ti
zens in preventing conduct tendin?
to disturb the peace; and to the en<
that occasion may seldom arise fo
the exercise of military authority ii
matters of ordinary civil administra
tion, the Commanding General ve
spectfully und earnestly commends ti
the people ami authorities ol' Nortl
and South Carolina unreserved obc
dieiice to the authority now estab
iished, a:; 1 the diligent, consid?r?t
and impartial execution of the law
enacted for their government.
VII. All orders heretofore pub
lished iu tiie Department of th
South are hereby continued in fore?
VIII. The following-mimed officer
are announced as the staff of th
Major-general Commanding:
Capt. J. W. Clous, 3Sth U. S. Ir
fantry, Act. Ass't. Adjt. Gen. au
Aid-de-Camp.
Capt. Alexander Moore, 38th U. S
I ti fantry, Aid-de-Camp.
Brevet Maj. J. lt. My ri ck. 1st Lieu!
3d Art., Aid-de-Camp and Act. Jndg
Advocate.
Maj. .Tames P. Boy, Gth ll. S. Inft
Act. Ass't Inspect. Gen.
Brevet Maj. Gen. B. O. Tyler, Di
puty Quartermaster Gen. C. S. A
Chief Quartermaster.
Brevet Brig. Gen. W. W. Barm
Major ami C. S., U. S. A., Chief Con
missaiy of Subsistence.
Brevet Lieut. Col. Chas. Pugi
Sure;. LT. s. A., Med. Director.
D. E. SICKLES,
Mnjor-General Commanding.
Il will Lc seen from this order tin
no change whatever will take pla<
in thc administration of the laws I
tlie civil authorities, unless some ox
gency arises which may demand tl
interference of the military anthea
ties. "We hope and trust that no sue
exigency will occur, and that tl
desire of the Commanding Genen
expressed in tho si:*th paragraph
the order, "to preserve tranquili
and Order by means and agenci
most congenial to the people," w
be faithfully co-operated with, bo
Ly the civil authorities and all go<
I citizens, and that they will rend
i that "universal obedience" to t
laws which is so highly desirable
j the present condition of our politic
I affairs.
i m, ~,-.
j The doctor's motto-Be patient.
Thc Kxiimnle of WiuU Hampton.
Under this caption the Richmond
Times comments:
Light upon the intricate problem
of lihow to deal io Uh the freedmen?" has
broken in upon us from a most un?
expected quarter.
Wade Hampton, of .South Carolina,
that Chevalier Bayard of the late
civil war, is destined to become as
distinguished as a eagacious, practi?
cal statesman, as he was os a hero
when a member of i hat intrepid band
of groat warriors, wh.--.se sabres once
flashed in the van of the Army ol'
Northern Virginia.
Comprehending- at a glance his
linty to the whites of South Carolina,
lie lias sought to resent- iii-.' freedmen
of thai State from th? greedy clutches
of that base class ot' white men wdio
arc intent upon degrading and dis?
franchising their own race. With
that promptness and sagacity, which
were his distinguished characteristics
as a soldier, he has recognized thc
vital importance of thc negro bein?
advised, taught and guided by those
wdio are still his only sincere and true
friends. Calling to his aid tho gen?
tlemen of thc highesi social position
near Columbia, he is reported te
have addressed the freedmen ol' thai
section with great effect, and has
forestalled that class ol wretches whe
are giving us so much trouble in thu
State.
In consequence of lue prompt
action of Wade Hampton and of tia
respectable planters of South Caro
lina, the most friendly relations an
said to exist between the whites ant
blacks, and the latter have d?clar?e
their determination not only to sup
port for ofiice thc. most respectabli
candidates, but also to petition Cou
gress for the restoration to the dis
franchised classes of all their civi
rights.
This happy result does not at al
surprise us. Whenever the men o
character and substance at the Sont!
have acted as Gen. Hampton ha
done, they have routed th?; "meal
whites" who are now corrupting th
negroes.
As early as tho loth of July, 1865
this paper commeuded the exampl
of Mr. J. L. Marve, of Fredericks
burg, who pursued the course wine
Hampton has just taken. Th
influence of his timely address an
example is still felt brits conservativ
effects upon the blacks ol' that plact
They are said to have recent]
rejected thc advances of the di:
franchising white renegades.
Let us hope that tl ie most di
tinguished und effective speakers i
this Stato will at once imitate tl:
timely example of Hampton.
Tho disenthralment of the neg]
from the pernicious influence of tl
depraved men who are now endeavo
ing to array his prejudices against u
should be tho special task of 01
most gifted and respected leaders tu
statesmen. What greater and mo
important service could men like 1
M. T. Hunter, ll. A. Wise, Willia
Smith. Thomas S. Bocock, Jol
Letcher, Thomas S. Flournoy, Jam
Seddon, William L. Goggin, Walt
Staples and a host of other eft'ecti
and able speakers, render the whi
race in Virginia, than to enlighti
the poor blacks as to their duties ai
true interests? The time has ?
rived when tho example of Wa
Hampton should bc universally in
tated.
-
"A Looker On," a highly respect
ble and intelligent colored resident
Charleston, wdio is a far better ext
nen I of the feelings ol' the class
which he belongs limn any one of t
speakers at the late meeting of t
colored people in that eily, writes
the Charleston pap< rs, uenounci
the speeches made by Northern col
ed men at thu meeting on the 21
These speech-make.\s are support
by Northern societies, and must co
ply with their requisitions. He ?
vises the freed men to enjoy their o
opinions at the coming elections.
MISSISSIPPI MOVES vor. AX Ix.rc
TI ox.-The 3fL<tsissippian learns fr
undoubted authority that Jut
Sharkey telegraphed to Gov. Hr
phrcys for permission to file a bill,
the name of the State of Mississij
to enjoin all proceedings to sub;
the people of that State to milit
rule, under the recent Act of C
gross, and that the Governor inn
diately replied, giving the desi
authority. Since then, ihe Cover
has received a telegram from Ju
Sharkey upon the subject, stat
that the "prospects ure good."
-1 ?? >
MEETTXC OF THE RABBIS.-It
announced that the Rabbis of Eur
aro to ass? .ble in council, in Pa
this year, in order that tho great ?
hedrim may take placo in conjunct
with the Universal Exhibition. '
Central Jewish Committee of P
has taken the initiative of the m
ing, which will bo especially calle?
to decide the following questi
The abolition of the prohibitioi
certain articles of food; thc supp
sion of polygamy, that exists am
the Jews in Algeria, and the reco
tion of female children as c?pi
qualified to inherit with males.
Pennsylvania.'* liejily to Ol'tll Ca?
rol ina.
At the recent session of the North
Carolina Legislature, a series of reso?
lutions were adopted, inviting all the
States-North, South, East and
West-to meet in national conven?
tion, for the purpose of "proposing;,
in exact conformity with the Consti?
tution of the United States, sud
amendments to the Constitution thal
the result will ba such mutual con?
cessions as will ie.nl to a restoration
of our former happy relations:"
Gov. (roary, of I'enusylvania, in :
recent message to the Legislature o
that State, acknowledges the receip
of these resolutions, and says th;;
under ordinary circumstances lo
would l>c- satisfied simply to submi
the commanicat ion without comment
but, says he. when "we reflect tba
the people of North Carolina inviting
; this assembly are not in full coin run
uiou with tho loyal States-that the;
have been for many years in. the hain
? of looking with great indifl'ereuc
upon the national interests, and o
tolerating disloyalty-that through
out tlie thrilling aud sanguinary \va
of tin- rebellion tiny used their ut
most efforts to destroy the Constitn
tion and the Union, and to establis;
a hostile Government of their own
that they recently refused to ratif
the mild and wholesome amendment
to tin; Constitution-that Congres
i by the passage of the reconstruct io
Act, has made a salutary provisio
I for their future military governmen
and for that of the other refractor
! districts lately engaged in rebellion
is not the presumption with whic
these unrepentant rebels and subji
j gated traitors now ask for mutm
j concessions surprising?
The people of Pennsylvania hn\
I always been loyal io tho Governmen
I true to thc Constitution and laws <
the nation, and have stood in tl
j foremost ranks of the defenders i
the Union. They have no conce
sions to make-certainly none ;
those who have waged a troubleson
war, and who have been conquered
the point of the bayonet. The do
trine is certainly abhorrent that d
feated treason should ask the loy
men of this country to meet the
upon equal terms in convention
amend the Constitution they rep
dialed and attempted to destro
The guilty failure of those men h
assigned them toa far diff?rent task
submission to the terms of the co
querors and obedience to that 1:
?which we all obey.
"While Pennsylvania has no cone,
sions to make, her people, desiring
speedy, just and properre-adjustnie
of all the Slides in the Union, et
nestly beseech the citizens of Noi
Carolina, and of all the Southe
States, to return without, delay to t
benign influences of the Gove)
mont, while yet the terms cif such
return arc easy, and not to wait :
more severe conditions, and perla
for more serious punishment.
----? ?
Tin- TriWujic on tin- Sleeting.
The New York Tribune, under t
head of "New South Carolina," sa;
The tidings wo publish this mo
ing from the capital of South Cai
Lina are calculated to astonish I
Hip Van Winkles of the North,
great meeting of the people has lu
held, preliminary to the reeonstr
tion of tl-.e State under the recs
Act of Congress, and such emin?
chiefs id' the late oligarchy tis Gi
Wada Hampton have fraterni:
I heartily with tin; most capable :
i trusted negroes; thc leading whi
j ami blacks vicing with each other
expressions of mutual confidence ?
good will, 'i'la: whites conceded
the blacks every right which ti
clair', for themselves; while the bia
take rho 1 ad in asking Congl.es^
repeal all disabling and disfranc]
ing acts, so tis to allow tho Statt
command the services of her ab'
ami most trusted citizens. lu sin
Sonta Carolina has already ta
her stand on tin; true, broad, gr
rous national platform of unive:
amnesty with impartial suffrage, ;
will soon be in Cox,gross, sham
the obstinate owls of the Middle
Western States out of their lingei
prejudices ami alu ?tions of preju<
against ti recognition o? the ina!
able rights of man.
Such is the natural, benificent c
rations of the; reconstruction ac
Congress, so fiercely denounced
the President and by tho cop;
head Congressmen ami journals a'
act "to organize hell" ia the Soi
to destroy liberty and to whelm
winde land in anarchy and mill!
despotism. So far as we now
see, ?'very ex-rebel State but T
will promptly ami cordially rc
ganize on the basis proposed by (
gross, and have its delegations re
to take seats in Congress before
close of this year. What patriota
does not swell with joy and gratil
at the prospect?
The etb'tor of the Newbern Jou
of Commerce, who has been rai
it, thus reports : We never remen
to have witnessed such an univ?
efl'ort to secure the blessings oi
abundant crop, as we have recei
All on the line of the A. k N. C
H., over which we passed yester
and the day before, the planters
evidently alive to the great inij
ance of vigorous, well directed et!
I to place their plantations in oi
and manure thom.
LETTER FROM SENATOR SHERMAN.
"We notice ia thc Macon Journal and
Messenger, of the 16th, the following
letter to Col. W. K. DeGraifenreid,
of tl lat city: j
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
WASHINGTON, March 12, 1867.
DEAR SI::: Your letter of the 8th
instant is received. The hill yon re- :
ferret! to was passed in the earnest j
hope that it would tend to the full
restoration of all the States to all their i
rights in the Union. The sixth sec- \
tiou 1 think too harsh, but it was put
in in the House as the result of oppo?
sition from both extremes. At the
request of large numbers from thc
South, wc ure passing a supplement?
ary act to provide machinery of re?
construction. The original ??ill left ]
all this to each State, but then: was \
danger of double organizations and'
Conventions, ami, therefore, to avoid
further st vile or difference, this new
act will bo passed. It is merely a :
scaffolding.
My earnest conviction is. that the
South should not forego this oppor?
tunity to be restored to representa?
tion; and you may rely upon it. that)
a majority in both Houses will ad?
here to this otter, and execute it in
ge,,,! faith and to the letter, ii your
people will do likewise. Neither sec?
tion can ii" prosperous while the pre?
sent condition of militarysurveilancc
prevails. You can do as voa please
with this. Very truly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
- . ? ? ?. -
THE PRESIDENT.-Thc New York
Times pays the following compliment
to President Johnson:
Tia ro is an impression, which is
carefully nursed in certain quarters,
that President Johnson is shaking in
his shoes at the prospect of being
impeached. "What the President
most dreads," says a Boston paper,
"is impeachment." There never was
a greater mistake. Not many days
ago, the President remarked that he
considered it a matter of much more
importance to Congress than to him
whether he was impeached or not.
He has not the slightest apprehension
of being convicted of any misde?
meanor or misconduct of any kind,
upon any testimony that any honest
man could deem fair and reliable;
and if lie is convicted otherwise, the
oilium that will follow such action
will, in his opinion, far outweigh
any punishment that can bc indicted.
President Johnson may be a very
unwise man, and may have donc a
great many unwise things; but his
confidence in his own integrity, like
his reliance upon his own convictions
and opinions, is perfectly impreg?
nable.
FROM MEXICO.-The New York
Herald, of Monday, says:
Advices from the Rio Orando con?
tain the intelligence that detach?
ments of the opposing forces at
Catahualpua had come together. Max?
imilian taking part in the altair. lt
was of little importance, however,
and accounts vary ns to its results.
It wns suid that Santa Anna had pro
1 posed to join Maximilian. Juarez
; was about to order thc Trench resi
! dents oat of the country, unless they
j took out naturalization papers. Oar
San Luis Potosi (Mexico) correspond
! eut gives an account of tho journey
of Juarez and his Cabinet from Zaca?
tecas to that point, with a descrip?
tion of tho old town of Gaudaloupe,
its convent and line works of art.
From Zacatecas, our correspondents
furnish graphic accounts of the chain
of events since Miramon's defeat
which have transpired in the vicinity
of the Juarez headquarters.
PROVISIONS ron THE SOUTH. -The
I evidences ave unmistakable that there
should be no delay in forwarding
j provisions to the destitute portions of
J the South, and from no point can
; any of the greatest sufferers be more
: readily reached than from Baltimore.
I What it is stated in tho following
: that one railroad has determined to
: do in bringing forward supplies, we
j have no doubt that all the other
! roads leading into Baltimore will
! also be equally ready to undertake,
I and if these provisions can bo sont
I forward free of freight also, as inti?
mated, there is every inducement for
farmers and others having anything
to spare to hurry their contributions
to this city:
BALTIMORE, March 16, 1S67.
j T" the Editors of Hie Ballimore Sun:
Efforts are being made to send pro?
visions to the South. TheBaltimore
and Philadelphia Railroad Company
will receive provisions along its line
of railroad and furnish cars, if duly
I notified, and bring the corn and meat
her - without charge. Arrangements
will bo made here to send these pro?
visions South without charge, lt is
believed that similar arrangements
I can be made along all thc lines ol'
! railroads. If all tho people of our
j State will promptly collect food and
J send it forward, great relief will be
! given. Many who cannot give mont y
j may send bread and meat. We know
: that many are suffering, and no time
should be lost, lest some should perish
before food can reach them. Provi
' sions forwarded io Baltimore may be
sent to any of thc undersigned: (leo.
j M. Gill, P. P. Pendleton, Ira Can
in ld, .1. Harman Brown, J. (bigie,
Robert Hall, R. M. Spiller, Henry
! C. Kirk, W. R. Sec vers, James F.
: Pentland and Alexander Rieman.
i Logical exercises for ladies-Jump
i ing to conclusions.
His Excellency Governor Orr ar?
rived in Columbia Saturday afternoon
Tm: FKTJ?T UNINJURED.- -We are
highly gratified at being able to state
that, notwithstanding the recent very
unfavorable weather, the fruit ero]) iu
this vicinity is uninjured.
A kiss on the forehead denotes re?
spect and admiration; on the cheek,
friendship; on the eyelids, teudei
sentiments; on thc lips, ! ?ve. The
young men of oar acquaintance
haven't much respect for young
ladies.
Our readers are ref? i red to the ad?
vertisement of S. ?i. Myers c....
which appears in another column
These gentlemen have just received a
v< ?ry fine and well-selected assort meut
of the latest spring goods. whi< li th??v
proposc to s-dl at the lowest po.-sibh
figures. The ladies are invited io
examine t heir stock.
Carleton has now iu press, and wiiS
I soon publish, two other Southern
? books, which vvill be like.y t > have
a good sale. The titles are. "Mosby
laud His Men," by S. M. Crawford,
one of "his men," and "The Cruise
of the Shenandoah." by C. E. Hunt.
Wc understand thc books will be illus?
trate.! and presented to the public in
Carleston's best style.
Ora MEETING.-The meeting of
the colored people lu id i:: this city,
? and the speeches and proceedings
! thereat, are attracting general atten
? tion in all sections of the country,
j We give the following pithy para
! graph from thc New York Express:
"These meetings are quite signifi?
cant, ami the first one ought to put
to shame the malign legislation of
Congress. Imagine Wade Hampton's
ex-slaves, and we believe there were
1,700 of them at one time, sending a
petition to Congress asking the
Senate and House to repeal the law
which disfranchise* their old masters'.
We expect to sec that sight yet, and
to read of the Stevenses and Sumners
moving to out it upon the table. The
negroes have it in their power to put
to shame those who, while claiming
I to be their exclusive friends, think it
becoming to degrade men of their
! own color.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. -Attention id call?
ed to tho following advertisements, whicL
aro published this morning for the ?rst
. i < u e :
S. Ii. Myers & Co.-Spring Stoch.
C. P. Jackson-Spring Goods.
II. 1). Hanahan-Corn. Oats. &c.
C.,II. baldwin A Co.-Fresh Goods.
Applv at this Office- Cow tor Sate.
\V. T. Walter-Kcal lis?ate at Aue;:, ;.
.Tas. L. Rosborough- Hay.
H. E. Nichols A Co.-Nurse Wanted.
Duffie & Chapman-New Dooks.
Jar-. Douglas -Mule Stolen.
.To\ nor's Stables-Mules ?or Sale,
.r. A T. R. Agnerr-Ginger Sn;..,.-,.
Merchants-To A. Wallace.
-"-<>.<?- ..-- - -
STEVENS' CONFISCATION BILE. -A
a matter of curious information, we
give to our readers the following
abstract of the leading features of
this bill:
"It confiscates all the public lauds
I belonging to the ten rebel States,
', and all the lands and other property
forfeited by the Act of Congress ol
July 17, 1862-all which is to be
I seized, condemned and sold. ( hit o?
I the proceeds each adult male freed
I slave is to receive forty acres, and
I each one who is head of a family
j forty more. Out of the balance a
I sum of fifty dollars for each liouse
j hold is to be appropriated to the
: erection of buildings for the use oi
! the late slaves-8200,000,000 is to be
j invested in United States six per
I cent, bonds and tho interest added
i to the pensions of Union soldiers,
i and $300,000,000is to be appropriated
to pay damages done to loyal citizens
by the civil or military government
of the rebel confederacy, under
which clause Mr. Stevens would be
reimbursed for his property destroy
ed hythe rebel invasion of Chambers
' lairg, Pennsylvania. The remaining
sections of the bill prescribe the rae
f thods and machinery by which Lt is t
I bo carried into effect."
j STRICT CONSTRUCTION.-Thc New
York Times gives us tho following
good hit :
j Some members of Congress are so
I sensitive about tho rights granted
j and secured by the constitution, that
j their delicacy compels them to turn a
j deaf ear to the voice of charity.
? Strict constructionists of this class
object to the appropriation of a
j million dollars to save the Southern
j people, white and black, loyalists and
i disloyalists, from starvation, because
i they cannot find a warrant for it in
j the constitution. This opposition
would bc absurd if it were not cruel
j and inhuman. There seems to be a
fear on the part of these gentlemen
j that tho appropriation will not bo
j fairly divided between thewhites and
Hie negroes; but it is well known that
a large amount of relief was extended
to poor whito people by the Freed?
men's Bureau, and certainly there
was nothing in thc constitution to
prevent food being sent to Ireland
by Congress in a Government shir,
during the famine of 1S47.
I