Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-03-12
YRE rHiRrI-rH7H CONGRESS.

THE IHIRTI-FH1U CONGRESS.
The NXXNth Congress died natural and
easy death at noon on Friday of last week. Its
end unlike its life was peaceful, entirely unrc-
lieved by alterations. scrimages, or fights. The
good that it did is chiefly inferred with its bones,
while its evil example of pecuaton and favor
itism will long remain as the elimination Of
democratic proc,tics.
This Congress commenced its labors with
clear administration majority in both branches,
and every appearance betokcned the full sway of
democratic measures. Scarcely a ripple was to
be seen upon the political sea, and the most ex-
pericnced mariners in the ascendant party felt
sure Of prosperous and successful VOYAGE
This sense Of security was slightly disturbed
when Senator Douglas expressed his dissent
from that portion of Buchanan's first annual
message, relating to the affairs of Kansas, and
fully dissipated when the President was found
unable to force Kansas into the Union under
the Lecompton constitution. Since that period
the administration has been powerless except
for mischief Not one of its pet measures
neither the means for the acquisition of Cuba
the increase of the tariff nor the comforting up
on the President the power to assa the Cen
trail American governments, was carried through
and even the appropriation bills would have
failed had not the Republicans lent a helping
hand. Never in the whole history Of the coun-
try has there been an administration commence
ing with SO large majortics Of nominal support
eIs, that soon found itself without the power
TO control or even influence the legislation of
the country This failure, marked ana so
peculiar, has not been owing to the lack Of
means. Il we may credit the developments
brought to light by the investigating commit.
tees, large share Of the contracts entered into
by the government have been made with refer
ence to political obligations and political neces-
sites.
The amount of business perfected, aside from
the passage of the usual appropriation bills, is
quite small. On the last day of the session the
House concurred in the Senate provision for
the reissue of the twenty-thrce millions of
Treasury notes, which gives the Treasury
standing credit to that amount, and will relieve
it from serious embarrassment. The House
yielded this point at the last hour to avoid an
extra session.
The House sacrificed all the mail steamer an
preparations. The various Senate amendments
to the Civil bill, including a provision for the
mail service by the Panama and Tehuantepec
routs to the Pacific, were abandoned by the
Senate to save the Treasury note provision, and
an extra session. The existing contracts above
mentioned do not expire until the Both of Sep
TENDER next The important provision for mail
service in the Gulf of Mexico is thus lost.
The Post Office appropriations bill was sacri- |
feed to a point of ctquette-nothng more
The Senate undertook to force the House to
abolish the franking privilege and to increase
the rates of postage by providing for the same
in the Post Office appropriation bill. The
House resented this attempt by denying the |
right Of the Senate to originate measure for |
the increase of taxation, and they sent back the |
bill upon that objection to it. The Committee |
of Conference proposed new bill, in substance |
the same as that which passed the House on
the 9Th Of February last. The House adopted |
this report, but the Senate debated it, and the |
hour Of - arriving. the session terminated |
leaving the Conference report Enacted upon
Some of the Senators, Messrs Toombs, Mason |.
and others, were as indignant at the pretensions
of the Hcuse, the latter body was at the as
sumption Of the Senate Thus, for the first
time, Congress leaves the mail service unpro-
yided for.