Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-02-12
The Past and E'reScaaE---Eise AE-
prOacahiHg Termination OF tEac
EEliTty-FOUrta COnSrcsS.

prOaching Termination OF tElc
'EhiTty-FOurth Congress.
A just and wholesome reaction in
public sentiment was never more con-
spicuously and ~agreeably displayed than
in the changed tone and altered condi-
ton Of affairs than in the lower branch
of Congress. The country cannot have
forgotten the exulting and almost inso-
lent tone of the opposition members OF
the House of Representatives on the eve
of taking their seats at the ommcncc-
mont of the present Congress. Sudden
ly and unexpectedly raised to place
upon the mad and maddening waves of
religious and political fanaticism, they
INDUCED in the most ~extravagant ideas
in regard to the extent, duration, and
exercise OF their power; and the number
of democrats in the House was so small.
and the opposition majority s over
~whcln1ingly large, that, ~extravagant as
these ideas we're, there was too much
reason to fear that they would be
p4OLlPLk III cuCNSSSLu II1 SASCoNSu-"
They would repeal the Kansas-Nebraska
act; they would remodel the naturaliza-
ton laws; they would Protestanize the
religious clement of the country; they
would give Reeder his asked-for scat, in
spite of law, precedent, and the ballot
box; and they would SO shape their Ia
bors and deliberations as to secure an
easy victory for their candidate in the
coming presidential election. All these
spcculations appeared to come not only
within the range Of possibility, but OF
probability; and it was with a courage
Gus, but not hopeful spirit, that the
Spartan band 0 fsome seventy democrat
ic members gathered together in order
that they might present a firm and an
u~nbroken front to an enemy flushed
with success, and confident from supe-
rior numbers of annihilating al opposi-
ton. Then came the fierce and pro-
tractod struggle fer the speakcrship; and
as the struggle progressed, and as the
democratic phalanx became frmcr, boil
der, and moro powerful with each sue
~ccssive day, it was manifest to the coun-
try that the opposition were shorn of
all real power before the opportunity
was offered for its exercise. What was
done, or rather what was left undonc,
after the election of Mr.. Speaker Banks,
ready a part of our political history
They did not repeal the kansas-Ne-
braska act; they made no war upon cur
foreign-born citizens; they cstablishedno
religious test; Reodcr was left seatless;
and they had failed to impress upon the
public mind the belief that they had ex-
ercised their power as representatives
with honor to themselves or advantage
to the people. Notwithstanding all
these failures, Notwithstanding SO many
pledges and promises remained uEre-
deemed and unfulfllcd, at the expiration
Of the last session Of Congress they star
ted for their respective homes under the
confident belief that they were about to
engage in q canvass which would result
in giving to their party the power, place,
and patronage of a dominant national
organization.
1t is unnecessary for u to allude to
the whitening rebuke and hopeless dis
appointment that awaited them. They
fell, and the ~adyenturer to whom they
had entrusted their standard fell with
them. Within a few weeks they have
assembled in the federal capital for the
second, and, most OF them, fer the last
time. The same opposition members
who met in the House Of Representa-
tives on the 4th Of December, 1855, are
the same who. now occupy seats in the
! -o-,o TTarca. h7t how chan~o1 in fhnIr
tone, temper, and PyotcSsjny principles /!
To use their own words, they have been
misunderstood and misrepresentcd; for
they love the Union-they revere the
constitution-and not for the attainment
of boundless power would they interfere
with the domestic institutions Of their
brethren of the South In short, if
they are to be credited, they aH not
what they seem.
The Thirty-fourth Congress is rapidly
drawing to a close. In less than six
weeks it will be numbered with the past.
Attic proper time we may review at
length some Of its principal acts. We
are dealing with the present, and at
PRESENT. gives us much pleasure to state
that both houses of Congress are deyo-
ting themselves to the business of the
country with great zeal, perseverance,
and efficiency. The appropriation bills
are in a forward state, and several pub
lie bills of a meritorious character have
already been passed. a very large a
mount of private business has also been
disposed OF. What will be done with
the tariff bill, the land bills, and several
other important bills now awaiting the
action of Congress, we will not venture
to predict; but we can safely say that a
much larger amount of public and pri-
yate business will be disposed of before
the final adjournment than was antici-
pated by any one at the commencement
of this session Washington Union.
DR.. KANE IMrRovING.-A private
letter received in Boston, dated January
IL Gives the rratifyinn Intelligence that