The national Republican., 1862-06-20
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II would Be wholly inadequate expression
Of the truth 70 cay that the responsibilities de-
volved by evsnts upon the present Congress
surpass thoss devolved upon any Of IL prede'
oessors. That would be to compare thingr,
between which there Is no comparison, being |
a unlike in kind - In degree. -r..--
II is not merely war, but attempted revolu-
ton, that this Congress has 70 deal with. It'll
not merely the subjugsaou Of an enemy, but
the paciacadon Of great section Of the couu-
try, which Is the problem to be solved.
To apply financial measure % the duties Of
Congress, II may be said. that the expenditures
Of the Government have become ten times
greater than at ordinary periods, and expendi
ture may be said to be test and gusge Of the
extent of tbs operations Of govsrunents.
II there has been Occupied expenditure 10
supervise, 81, also, there has been Occupied
amount Of money TO provide for, BY taxes and
loans. |at ,t ..to.
There is no precedent, and no approach 70 a
preoedsnt Of such sudden and enormous en-
largement Of governmental operations in th'
history Of any nation in ths world The En'
ropaan mouarchies ara not uufrsqusntIy en-.
gsgsd In great wars, but their naval and mill.
t.ry establishments are upon such scale In
time Of peace, that actual hostilities do not
enlarge them at all In the proportion which
we ars now Witnessing here. The total cost 10
Great Britain Of the late Russian war, which
lasted about two years, was one hundred mil
liens sterling, equal 10 the ordinary Bri,ab
revenue for two years. The increase Of ex
penditure In war, Of the continental Powers, IL
still len, ss they maintain themselves In peace
upon . war footing, witch the insular English
have not been in the habit Of regarding as ne
cessary for their security. ....-.
But great ~ have been the emergencies and
necessities OF this war, Congress has been found
adequate TO them. Especially has this been 30
in respect 70 the creation of revenues by taxa
ton. The Treasury Department proposed
ninety millions Of revenue but Congress, of i,s
own motion, took the earliest opportunity ai
the present session to declare that 1t would
raise one hundred and fifty millions and IL
more than redeeming the pledge made In tha,
declaration. In governments having parlia.
mentary constitution, it Ia at executive instance
that appropriations are made and revenues
granted, and this is the first instance, here or
elsewhere, In which the represen' stives OF the
people have imposed greater burdens upon
their constituents, than they were urged TO dc
by the executive power. The parliamentary
history Of England is . record Of struggles BE-
teen the nurmuring and grudging Common,
and the Anistsies with their demands for reve
nue. snd subsidies. In our American case, |,
wss the Commons who stepped forward, upon
their own view of their own duties, TO vote
nearly twice as much a. the exchequer asked
for.
Nor has this Congress, under complication
Of difieulties-some Of which are fit for public
discussion, and some OF which cannot yet be
properly dipcussed been wanting, either in q
ststsemanlke appreciation Of the revolutionary
crisis, or in the frmpess to meet It.
Thus, II has already
Abolished slavery In the District Of Colum-
bis;
Forever prohibited slavery in oil the Terri
tories Of the Union, now acquired or to be here
after acquired;
Prohibited, under severe penalties, the sur
render Of fugitive slaves by naval and military
onicers;
Offered compensation to such States US shall
before this war closes, voluntarily emsncipat,
their slaves;
Provided for the emancipation Of slaves de-
voted to The uses Of the rebellion, BY thei
owners.
These are measures accomplished by the COZ
current action Of the Senate and House.
In addition, the House has parsed bill 70
the emancipation Of the slaves Of large clasee
Of rebels, and has directed the bringing in Of
bill providing jury trial for all persons elaine
as fugitive slaves, and denying the benefits &
the fugitive slave law to all who have take
part In this rebellion. And the development
by votes and discussions in the Senate, Civ
unhesitstipg aasuI nance that these bills will re
ceive the ooscurrencs of that body.
Thus, ibis Congress, in the midst Of q gres
war, has boldly .lsunched new policy; sfsc
ing, ct ell points, the social condition Of on,
half of The Confederacy. We may we'll call
new policy, although II is really but a rstur
to the policy Of the revolutionary fathers, frol
which tive generations had backslidden.
The present Congress will have position
history, as conspicuous and enduring, as thi
Of the Constituent Assembly OF the French Re,
olution. Changes as la,tipg and vastly greats
will date from 1t.
1t is not merely the present times, but Ii
latest posterity, which will honor the true me
10 this Congress, who, resisting both sedu
ton and menace, have proceeded strsightfo
ward In thepsth OF duty, and have at last carrie
through the great historical measures whic
now crown their efforts Their children an
their childrsn's children, to the renotest gen,
ration, will preserve and prize as their richie
Inheritance, the records Of their votes.
- Gov. Seward has returned to Waship
ton, from bis recent visit to Auburn.