The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-09


tbe flags of Sumter" and .Moultrier are to be
exhibited. A committee o. arrangements OF
which the Hon. John A. Dix Is CHARM an has
been appointed, and, from the patriotic Pur-
pose to which the proceeds are to Be devoted,
We anticipate the concert will be success
The Coming specisl Session ~ Congress-
What h 20 BE Done ~ Ii.
Eight weeks from this DAY, on the snniyer-
sary of the Declaration Of independence. Con-
gress will assemble at Washington, in con
formity to the proclamation, by the President
Of the United States, Of the 10Th ultimo. Since
the period when the representatives Of the tair-
teen COME derate Colonies, signed the memo.
fable document, in which they pledged their
elves, their fortunes, and their sacred honor"
to unite In forming new nation, separate from
Great Britain, no assembiage of greater i'm
portance, will have been held on the American
con iaent 1t viii find the country 10 the midst
OF civil war, and il ia Impossible, to foresee
now, at what stage Of The conflict it will have
then arrived A battle may be looked for, any
oey, between the troops ass mtled in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, and the rebel forces; but
whichever side may prove victorious, hostil'ties
will not end with single blow, and An ardu-
Gus struggle must precede the definite restora-
ton of the integrity Of the republic The ap.
preaching Congress, win hold the des,inies Of
the nation in its hands. The future welfare of
the Union, good or evil, will depend upon its
decisions Peace or war, calamity or pros
perity, the settlement or continuance of exist
ing difficulties, will evolve out OF its proceed
ings. Nothing, therefore, can be of more mo-
mentous importance, than that the task it has
to accomplish should be maturely considered
and clearly understood.
The seven Confederate States, Arkansas
North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, will,
probably, none of them be represented in the
coming session, unless the war should effect po-
itical changes, or the vote of the latter State
should, unexpectedly, be cast in favor of the
Union. Of the whole two hundred and thirty
eight members of the House of Representatives
had there been no rebellion, there will meet,
therefore, only one hundred and seventy two
OF these, twenty. one are still to be elected.
According TO the divisions which have hereto
fore existed, there would be one hundred and
five republicans, and sixty-seven opposition;
as the Senate would comprise thirty one
republicans and fifteen opposition. Sach
a method of calculation is, however, con-
pletely obsolete at present. The expe-
rience Of an oge has interviewed since
the adjournment Of the late Congress, and
had then entered upon, has developed in fear
fol proportions. Bloodshed has grown out Of
discomfort. and the clang Ct arms has taken the
place of legislative debate. The INDIGESTION,
and wagering policy OF the late administration,
together with the unparalleled imbecility, pro
fligacy ard shameful neglect, which charac-
terizcd all parties in the Congress which ex-
PRED on the 4.h of March, have reduced the
country 10 the verge of ruin, and past orgaui-
zations viii all be forgotten, by traly patsiotic
representatives OF the people, who desire to
save the Union, and restore ii 10 the position
from which il has fallen.
Had Mr.. Buchanan adopted prompt and eff
crushed revolt in the bud, ii would never have
extended beyond the confines Of South Caro-.
lima. Instgated by traitors like Cobb, Floyd
aud Thompson, be CALLED with it, until the
secession spirit in the Gulf States had engen-
dered numberless outrages, and acquired q
strength he was too feeble and irresolute to
cope with. Congress was equally culpable'
A few farsighted statesmen, made endeayors
to procure the adoption of measures, which
would have restored the extreme South to its
allegiance, but they signally failed. The ma.
jority opposed itself to all concessions, and
even refused to permit an expression of the
popular will, respecting snch propositions as
the Crittenden amendments to the constitution,
and the resolutions Of Senator Bigler. Had
these been adopted had single conciliatory
prefer been made, every subsequent embitter-
ment would have been avoided No hostile
almies would be nov arrayed against each
other: and. at no greater cost than the kindness
which brotherhood should dictate. the clouds
would have been long since dissipated, which
obscure stars upon our national flag. Thus,
when Mr. Lincoln came into power, he found
the government utterly disorganiled lie. too,
"slumbered and slept He abandoned the
country TO its fate, and, during tee first month
Of his administration, devoted his abilities to
dividing spoils among bis supporters, and APP
pointing to office the first, second and third
cousins or friends. and leading members of
his Cabinet Just before the grand awakening,
occasioned by the bombardment of Fort Sum
ter into which the inactivity of the new gov.
ernment had enraged the Southern rebels.
nearly every republican paper OF this city. out
of some paltry jealousy connected with patron
age, had attacked him, and was prepared to
Contribute 10 MS overthrow.
The das,ardly attack Of the armies Of South
Carolina upon the starving garrison at Fort
Sumter, dashed TO pieces every past political
issue. 1t appealed to every dsinterested,
patriotic sentiment in the American heart. The