The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-03
Meeting OF Congress To-Morrow.


The extraordinary session of Congress con-.
-vened by the President will open tomorrow
at Washington, If Jefferson Davis and his army
will permit. In another column we publish q
list of the members, from which it will be seen
that it is the most extraordinary session of
Congress ever assembled, and that none Of the
eleven secession States will be represented,
with the exception Of Tennessee, by Andrew
Johnson. twill be the most important session
that has ever taken place since the formation
Of the government-more important than even
that which issued the Declaration of Indepen-
dence in l776, and that which adopted the con-
stitution of the United States in 1887. Then
the population was only three millions; it is
now thirty three millions. There is, therefore,
more at stake in preserving tho integrity of the
Union and saving it from dissolution than
there was at the time Of it's formation. Then the
American people needed the assistance of one
foreign Power to enable them to wrest their indie
pendence from another. Now, unaided and alone,
they can maintain their independence against
the world in arms, crush domestic rebellion,
and at the same time administer chastisement
to England, France and Spain, should any or
all Of these Powers combined attempt to en-
croach upon our rights or interfere with our
interests on the American continent, as they
threaten to do. But to maintain this position
it will be necessary for Congress to adopt
vigorous and comprehensive measures. 1t is
for that purpose, and that alone, that the Presi-
dent has called Congress together. Its duty Is
to raise an army, a navy and sinews of war
commensurate with the extraordinary circum-
stances In which the country is placed.
Owing to the declaration by the Secretary of
State to the Powers of Europe, of the intention
of this government to abolish privateering, a
large naval force will be necessary. Indeed,
the invention Of steamers renders privateer-
ing in modern times of little avail; and in
any event, therefore, powerful navy would
be needed to sustain the interests of the
republic; and in order to keep pace with the
improvements of the age it will be necessary
to have certain proportion of the vessels
iron-cased. France and England are building
such craft as rapidly as they can, and even
Spain has ordered five. No wooden ship with.
out such coat of mail, and no mere stone or
brick fortress, can resist the assault of gun
boats clad with iron plates. Again, we must keep
up with the European Powers in the quality
of our firearms, great and small. If England
can put Armstrong guns in her ships which de-
molish an iceberg at the distance of four miles
and halt, we must have the same; and 90
must we do as regards all other implements
Of destruction. A measure will be proposed
to raise standing army of 100000 men, to be
called National Guard, to be kept in a high
state of discipline, and to be always ready to
defend the republic, either from foreign or do.
mestic foee. But, independently of this mea-
sure, the army of the Union now in the field
ought to be increased to half million of
men-a portion of it to be EMPLOYED In
manning our coast Notifications, practising
continually at the guns in the districts in which
they may reside, and taking the duty in turn,
80 as not to Interfere with their ordinary ayo-
cations as citizens. The coast defences ought
TO Dc placed on war footing, and be made
lmpregnable by repairs and by the erection of
new forts and earthworks. Our policy ia natu.
rally peace, and it ought to be so now. if we
could maintain it with honor and with a due
regard for our interests. But we NAV az we'll
make up our minds to the memorable fact that
henceforth we are compelled to become war.
like Power in order to maintain our yerv
existence.
NOW, to accomplish the results in yiew-in
oS'ei "oros 70 carry on war-money, the sine VI
OF war will be required to large amount
Congress must vote it literally, or else the re.
pubic Will go to the wall. We perceive it il
intended to put heavy tax on tea and sugar
SIS 'lsic are articles Of priYerss, cosss,n otto,