The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-07
of the South, grooming under the spurious dcs-
potism which now Expresses them, are anxiously
awaiting the day of their deliverance.

potism which now Expresses them, are anxiOusly
awaiting the day of their deliverance.
The Extraordinary Congrcss-The Rssnlt
Before the Country.
The extra or war session OF Congress met on
the Fourth day ofJuly last the anniversary Of our
national independence, in pursuance of the pro-
clamatlon of the President. That proclamation
set forth that the National Legislature was con-
vcned for the purpose, of considering and deter
mining such measures as in their wisdom the
public safety and interest might seem to de-
mand. The events which had been for some
three months crowding upon the country, threat
ening its nationality and very existence, made
the occasion of the meeting of an extra
Congress be looked forward to with the
most intense interest by all classes Of the
people, from the President down. II was true
all minds felt, no matter how grievous the con-
viction might be, that this was to be no peace
Congress- that no measures of compromise or
Cancellation could be even thought of; for those
who had formerly stood between the people
Of the Southern States and their friends in the
free States had first sounded the slogan of war
and then destroyed all means of mediation by
Withdrawing from the halls of Congress. Under
these circumstances vigorous legislative mea-
sures were lo~s~3 It. aud it was with feelings
of confla!hs eesple awaited the action
Of theff representatives in either branch of
the Capitol at Washington. The Presidents
Message was the absorbing topic Of spe-
culation, and it was felt that great
deal depended upon its tone and the extent of
the demand he would make upon Congress to
suppress the rebellion rampant in twelve States
of the Union.
In all their anxiety the people of tn loyal
States confided hopefully in their Chief Magis-
trate and upon the men whom they had sent to
represent them, and in their joint hands they
felt that the cause of the Union was safe. The
first act of the President and of Congress con-
flrmed this. In his Message, after combat
ting in characteristic, but in plain and
simple language, the doctrine Of seces-
sion, showing how contrary it was to the
spirit of the constitution and destructive
to national prosperity and greatness and i'm
pressing upon Congress the necessity of Crap
ping it with strong hand, he proposed the
raising of volunteer force Of four hundred
thousand men, and the appropriation Of sum
of four hundred millions of dollars, to put down
the rebellion. This demand might have ap-
peared equal to the emergency; but, in order to
strengthen the hands Of the government to
the fullest extent, Congress passed bill to en-
power the raising of force of half million
of men, and five hundred millions of
dollars thus considerably exceeding the
requisition made upon them. This was
one of the first acts of the extra Congress.
and one bill was reported for the double OBJ.
ject of raising men and money. Subsequently
the bill was amended, and its operation con-
fined merely to the raising of the volunteer
force, other bills being drawn and subsequently
passed to provide the above amount of money.
This act of Congress gave general satisfaction
to the people, as did every act having for its
object, whether directly or indirectly, the vigor
GUS prosecution of the war.
Many of the acts of the session are Of retro
spective character, necessary to legalize the
acts of the President in his first steps-and when
it was impossible to receive the sanction Of
Congress meet the exigencies pressing upon
the country.
But the important bills submitted by either
house. were the Tariff and Loan bills. In these
will be found legislation new to the country,
but which will, nevertheless, receive the con-
currence of the whole community in view of the
extraordinary necessity therefor. The act comes
hnforo no in form, tho,, xvho frot
ported. The tax upon gold and silver watches
and carriages, and the excise duty upon
domestic liquors have been struck out.
There is levy of twenty millions up
on real property and incomes. Incomes
exceeding eight hundred dollars pay an annual
comes of non-residents are taxed five per cent.
The income tax will BIZ more particularly felt
by all who receive wages or salaries exceeding
the limit fixed, as we'll as by those who derive
incomes "from any source of business, trade or
vocation, dividends Of stocks, interest on money
or debts interest on legacies, annuities or de-
rived from any other source within or beyond
the boundaries Of the United States" OF this di-
rect tax of twenty millions New York pays
$2,603,9l8. Bills have also been passed for the
increase of the regular standing army, for the
appropriation Of 100000 for field fortiica-
tons for the defence of the capital, for
the building Of armored vessels of war,
for the maintenance Of the volunteer force, for
paying to the Governors Of States the cost of
suppressing instruction in their midst, and
| several others all more or less looking to the
speedy suppression Of the rebellion.
| Congress has not spent much time in idle talk
ing. 1t has acted UP to the apprehensions
ELECTED by the greatness of the danger, and
members can return to their constituencies with
the pleasing reflection that they have done their
duty to the country in this her hour of peril.
In another column we give list of the bills
passed by either House.
THE DIRECT TAX BIIL.-There has been q
good deal of misconception as to the provisions
of the Income and Direct Tax bill. This has