New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-22
THE xXxyIath CONGRESS- AND ITS
ACTS.

table to look back and see, with some mi
nuteuess Of detail what it has done 1t has
sat two sessions, each long and arduous. III
is Republican in both branches, and that party
may be Justly held responsible for is doings.
II has been stigmatized as gang OF radicals
nest of ultras, that have dragged the coun'
try to the brink OF ruin. That rild-mannered
man ard most cautious of Conservatives, Mil
lard Fillmore is SAID 10 have declared that the
Abolitonists in Congress have undone ell that
the army has accomplished; while that rn-
spotted patriot add proyerbiaily law-abidins
magistrate, Fernando Wood, has proclaimed
that the Senate and House of Representatives
ought TO be driven out of toe Capitol 10 the
same manner that Cromwell dispersed the Long
Parl amen..
Now. the best ansRer to this son imPeach-
ment of the ex- Presi1ent, and this hery philip
pic OF the e1-Mayor, Is a calm survey Of the
record of the acts Of this much.mahgned body
during the present and past session.
Whatever hall.hearted Uuionists and tfinly
disguised traitors may allege 1t may oc safely
nation has been placed 10 such trying cir
cumstaucea, has encountered such appalling
difficulties, and has been clothed with such
vast responsibilities, az that which has just
adiourned; and, it may be affirmed, with
equal truth, tGat the history of the coun-
try does not afford q parallel TO tie zeal,
fidelity, and patriotism with which 1t has
performed its oucrous and perpexlng duties.
When compared with the number aud magnl-
tnde of the measures it has matgred, the an-
nails of all precedng Congresses dw indie into
utter insignfcance. In proof, barely slaLce at
a summary Of these measures.
|. The acts which it has passed relating 70
the army and navy, have no precedent, IN re-
gard to their variety aud importance, IN the
previous legislation OF this country, and can
hardly be matched by that OF any nation on
earth. The immense armies created by It's
laws. tho splendid navy 1t has set aaCat, the
improvements it has initiated in both branches
Of the seryice, the enormous monetary re-
sources it has developed to sustain this 81
aartIc war, are the wonder Of contemporary
States, and will ill pOsterity with admiration.
II. See tie great work 1t has done on the
subject Of SlayeIy-and done, too, 80 cautiously
and CONSIDERABLY. 1t has prohibited the eX.
lstence Of Slavery in al the pIeient and future
Territories Of the Republic, thus By one short
but comprehensive statute closing up long
and bitter controversy, and BY an irreyocat.e
decree, declaring that through coming tine
Freedom aud not Slavery shall be the general
lass of the land. IL has also abolished Slavery
IN the Dstrict Of Columbia, thus graduating
forever tie heart.c1ncer Of The nation. 1t has
essentially modified the Fugitive Slave law,
coniniug It's operation solely 10 persons
escaping from loyal masters who take the
oath OF allegiance, and have not employed
their slaves ia aid VI tho rebellion. Ii has
added lew provision to the Articles of War
forbiddIng any officer or private to return
runaway negro 10 Slavery, on pain
OF instant dismissal from the service. 1t
has passed taO Coriiscation or Emancipation
acts, by which, probably one-third of all the
slaves of the country will be ultimately made free
men. II has established new test for the ad-
mission Of States, By restricting the existence
Of Slavery therein. 1t has approved the Pres.
ideni's policy OF encouraging all the States Of
the Union to initiate measures for tue gradual
abolition of Slavery. 1t has ratified and sane
tIoned-esch House acting in its appropriate
sphere--a new and effective treaty for stopping
. l.s al ira a m fhn ohae Ia,
rIous measures, so noble, so benefccnt. this
Congress has done the work of half century.
For these alone it should receive the gratitude
aud applause Of the good and wise throughout
the world. Doubtless it might have done
more; but the direct tendency of these is to
Ultimately rid tho Republic Of its greatest
crime. its foulest curse.
III. 1t has struck other effective blows at
the Rebellion, by the passage of a law more
carefully defining and more severely publishing
treason; by requiring all grades Of officials,
with many other classes Of persons, to take
stringent oath of allegiance; by the adoption
OF u radical and searching cOnfscation act,
which SEXES and appropriates to Government
uses the property of Rebels and by the
enactment of q law that levieJ upon and sells
their real estate for war taxes, thus striking
at the root of the negro olgarchy by stripping
its yotaries OF those large landed possessions
which gave them wealth, distinction and
power.
". In addition to this long catalogue of I'M
portent matters spriugiug directly out of the
Rebellion the present Congress has consum-
mated seyeraI great measures, which. had it