Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-03-22
From the Springfield Republican.
The New Congress.

FROM the sptlnBucu lttpupncau
The New Congress.
The pnblicists generally agree that an
extra session of the new Congress, which
otherwise would not meet till December,
must be called very soon, 10 open in May,
or early in the fall. But th- necessity for
this is not clearly apparent yet. IT the ad-
ministration determines 10 finally collect the
revenues at southern ports by naval vessels
outside the harbor; or 10 ad,ertise them as
no longer ports Of entry; or is forced into
an armed collision with the seceding power.
then. in either event, an early session Of
Congress will be necessary, in order TO Sc
cure the legislation required 10 maintain its
positions. Bat neither OF these contingent
cies NAV occur; each and all will be avoid
ed. if possible by the general government.
Tie southern powersl are sill working I'M
der the old Tariff of the Union--thrir pro-
rosed mod fcatipn having failed; while the
new and higher tariff gors into effect in all
the northern pots on the first of April.
The practical annoyance TO the general
government, and he interests of the people
of the Norih, growing out OF this question
Of revenue, is YET to be measured. It may
not he great enough to justify forcihle in.
reference, or an EXTRA summoning of Con-
grrss. If the South only collects the rrve.
nue. on her legitimate commerce, always
small, and now more than ever depressed
il will doubtless become tile part of prn.
drnce TO lei her engross it through he sum
mer, il thereby the peace car be kept. and
the problem of the reaction among the
southern people, on Which everything de
ponds, allowed 10 work itself quietly oui
The summonng Of Congress would be o
itself cause OF new excitement and sug
grstion OF menace TO the South. that nil
be snharpily used against the Union parry
IN that section.
Another serious objection TO an extra
session this summer is that most of The
slave States, remaining in the Union, wouIr
not be represented i'll the lower House
which would therefore be made up almos
exclusively OF free State members. Thu
elections Of Representatives from the free
States will be completed (Save Californif
which does not elect till September) by
Rhode Island and Connecticut during thu
first week in April but Virginia does moi
elect till the last Of May, nor North Caro-.
lima, Tennessee and Kentucky till, August
nor Mary land till November. To enter
upon important legislation without the pres
ence and cooperation Of these States wous
lie very unfortunate, and we fear fnfal>tc
happy results. 1t should moi, ii win not be
done, we are sure. except in a contingency
OF necessity not now developed. Indeed
the final treatment of this whole secession
question will depend largely upon the course
of public sentiment in the slave states, both
rebeliious and loyal during the next six
months. These very congressional cleo
tions of the great central States in Nav
aud August are likely TO furnish the key tC
the solution of the problem; and it is there
fore more than ever important to bridge
the whole difficulty over till the regular
meeting of Congress ia Deccn Der. If thi.
can be done, then an Intelligent judgment
can be formed and a decisive policy alopt
ed. Then we shall know whether a rrun
ion is possible al present, or whether 6
peaceabe secession is not advisable, to he
of longer or shorter duration a the south
ern experiment is able to sustain itself.
The with travail of the senators N4) anf
the representatives (37) of the seven Sc
ced NJ states of course leaves both hnuse,
OF the new Congress wholly in the hands
of the republicans. Counting the two Kan
sas senators, they will have 81 members O
the upper branch to p opponents, with :
senator from California whose political DO
sition is yet to be decided, the contest fp
his election resting between "A coalition o
Brec kinridge and section of the Douglas
democrats on one hand, and the republican
and the rest of the Douglas men on Il,
other. Of Tie representatives alread,
chosen there are one hundred and two re
publicans, tifIy-one democrats, and thre,
(Appleton OF Massachusetts. Fisher of Del
aware, and Rollins of Mi>souri) independ
eniS. Tie republicans will probably hav,
| four more from Connecticut, two from Rhod
Island and one from KansaS-carryin tn, i
number up to one hundred and nine. Blu
the above mentioned Independents, and 9th
er members (Union men) from Tennessee
Kentucky and Maryla may give sub
>tantial administration strength in III,
House. on most questions, OF nearly on,
hundred mud twenty mrmaers. AT all event,
with the present states represented, the ad
mnistration will have good working ma
Jority. The whole number will be POI an,
100 will constitute majority.