, 1861-11-11

N~~~AA~@A$ l
comes together net a moment too soon. 1t
il, perhaps, unfortunate thdt the represent
atives are not direct and fresh from the
people-the creation Of the last election
the reflex and embodiment Of their opin-
ions, purposes and high patriotism
having, during the summer mingled with
the masses, assisted in the formation and
organization Of CUT army, and shared the
deep notifications which the defeats, dis
asters and other evidences OF the imbecil.
i;y somewhere, Of which the summer has
been SO full, they are, ne hope, up to the
mark-burning to inquire into the causes
Of our huniliations and disgraces, and 10y
ally anxious to so aid, admonisb, advise or
rep1ove the Administration, as to inspire
it with some part Of the lofty energy, the
patriotic fervor, and the self.sacrifcing
zeal Of the men in whose behalf the war is
Tagcd, and who will foot the bills when |
the war is at an end. We hear, and with !
exultation which creates new hope for the |
glory and permenency Of our Institutions,
that the members of the House and Senate,
East and West, are alive to the importance
and necessity Of their work and that the
rotten places, the sources Of weakness and
corruption, the causes of humiliation and
defeat, will be boldly and freely exposed
to the uations gaze by, the action which
they will be compelled to take. We live
in days when the Military Power is ev-
eDthing; and the danger that we have ap-
pretended is that it would become donni-
nant aud gi7e law to the Civil Authori-
ty, and by encroachment after encroach-
mcnt, by weakening the Constitution here,
dirsegardlng il there, and defying it yonder,
We should gradually but, to wise and
watchful men, not imperceptib1y, build up
a Military Despotism, at the head Of which
the first successful commander, with an
army Of half million at his heels, would
dictate to what OILY last year was a
Republic. It will be the duty Of Congress,
az the representative Of the Civil Power
Of the people, the source whence all power
spripgs-to watch the indications which
point in that direction, to compel the re.
tracing Of the steps which lead to that un.
desirable goal, and to reprove, and, il
necessary, punish the recreant officials who
have mace urjustiha0le or tyranDical ust
Of their authority, and to interpose new
barriers against the usurpations Of thu
Sword. These duties and that other duty
which will jmpel them TO look into the
pcculation and rottenncss which make the
names Of contractors" stink in the pub
lie nostrils, they must not shrink. Th,
performance will be difficult, and perhaps
painful; but considerations Of patriotism
must prevail over questions which relat
TO party or persons, and the faith and hon
or Of the Republic must be vindicated,
new impulse must he given to the patrio,
ism Of the people; the great guarantees c
personal freedom, even against the plea {
State necessity, must be established; th
robbers must be hunted down and d,
stroycd, or the Republic is lost Anothe
matter, not less important, will engage a
tention. The public will believe, and tll
belief is spreading, growing more inten<
and causing heartsickness that paralyzt
effort, that, in the Cabinet itself, are to t
found the causes Of our heavy humi1iatio
and grief ef-not in its head, but in the -
visers Of that head that there are men nes
the President, sharing hiB plans, nominal
aiding while really shaping his policy, WI
are an incubus on the p11lar cause; til
to their hidden desire q have peace at tt
price Of national disintregation and d
homer, their innate coTardice Of head al
heart, and to their ambition for high pla.
though attained at cost which men mi
strive IN vain to measure, this heavines
these frequent reverses, this alarming i
action, and the dubious and disheartenh
prospect ahead, are due. Inquiry in Il
direction may not be one Of the legitina
duties of the Representatives Of the pe
pies will; but their belief in relation
this matter Of grave import, may, nj
msst, control their action. That, unbi
den and Of course unwelcome they Y
enter this field OF inquiry, and either res
sure the people OF confirm their worst fes
sud invite their verdict and execution, !
must believe.
Thus the work Of Congress seems to
cut out Our hope is that for once IN
history of this great nation, the naembt