Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-26
MORNING LEADER.
a 0Feat and lIemerabIe ConEress.
TFrom l6e washington Republican

- WIN NN n MNAAAN AAAU NA HNNN~
sion Of the truth, to say that the RESPONSE
bilities devolved BY events upon the prgsl
ent Congress surpass those deyolyed upon
any Of rs predecessors. That would be to
compare things, between which there is nd
comparison, being as unlike in kind IS in
degree. u Cd" 'H .asu eof hnt
ltis not merely war, bat attempted rev
olution, that this Congress has 70 deal with,
II IS not merely the su9iugstion Of any
ensny, but the paciHoationof a great sec
tion Of the country which is the problem
TO be solved
To epplya fRapeial measure e the du-
ties Of Congress it may be said, that the
Expenditures of the Govornment have be-
como ten times greater thnn at ordinary
periods, and expenditure may be said to be
atest and guage Of the extent of the opera
tons Of governments.
II there has been decupled expendi-
ture 70 auparEise, 50, also, there has been
Occupied amount Of money 10 provide
for, by taxes and loans
There Is no precedent, and no approach
70 s precedent Of such q sudden aud enor-
nous enlargement Of governmental opera
tons in the history Of any nation in the
world. The European monarchies are not
unfrequently engaged in great wars, but
their naval and military establishments
are upon such a scale in time Of peace, that
hostilities do not enlarge them at all in
the proportion which we are now witness
ing here. The total cost 10 Great Britain
Of the late Russian war, which lasted about
two years, was one hundred millions stel-
ling, equal 70 the ordinary British revenue
for two years. The increase Of expendi-
tnre in war Of the continental Powers, is
still less, as they maintain themselves in
Peace upon q war footing, which the insu-
lar English have not been in the habit Of
regarding as necessary for their security.
But as great have been the emergencies
and necessities Of this war, Congress has
been found adequate to them. Especially
has this been 50 in respect to the creation
Of revenues by taxation. The Treasury
Department proposed ninety millions Of
revenue, but Congress, of its own notion,
took the earliest opportunity at the present
session 70 declare that il wou raise one
hundred and fifty millions, and is more
than Tedeeming the pledge made in that
declaration. In governments having a
parliGmsntafy eonstifdtion, il is at execo-
tive instance that appropriations are. made
and revenues granted, and this is the first
instance, here or elsewhere, in which the
representatives. Of the people have imposed
greater burdens upon their constituents;
than they were urged 10 do by the execu4
tive power. The parliamentary history of
England is. q record Of struggles between
the murmuring and grudging Commons
and the Ministries with their demands for
revenue and subsidies. In our American
case, it was The Commons -Whostebped for
ward, upon their own view Of their own
duties, to vote nearly twice IS mnoh as the
exchequer asked for. -pi I..s-s
Nor has this Congress, under a compli-
eatiun Of difheolties--sone Of which are
at for public discussion, and some Of which
cannot yet be properly discussed-been
wanting, either in a statesmanlike appre-
eiation Of the revolutionary crisis, or in the
frmness to meet it. @
Thus, it has already h ea-..v
Abolished slavery in the District Of Co
lumbiai rtt4fTIl IGsF EtI .8-I
Forever prohibited slavery in all the
Territories Of the Union, now acquired or
toibe hereafter acquired; r Z0I 1g0 ]
Prohibited, under severe penalties, the
surrender Of the fugitive slaves by naval
and military oflcersi wan. FTfTFf
shall, before this war closes, voluntarily
emancipate their slaves;
Provided for the emancipation Of slaves
devoted TO the uses of the rebellion by
their owners. i'-t 4 ~ aa "a
t- These are measures accomplished by
the concurrent action Of the Senate and
House.
IN addition, the House has passed q bill
anI Irr 81 -nH
classes Of rebels, and has directed The
bringing in Of q bill providing jury trial
for al persons claimed as fugitive slaves,
end denying the Benefits Of the fugitiYe
slsve law to all who have taken part IN
this rebellion. All the developments by
votes and discussions in The Senate. give |
U1hesitqting assurance that these bills |
VIII receive the concurrence of that body. /
Thus, this Congress, in the midst Of /
great war, has boldly launched a new poll /
icy, affecting at all points the social condi- |
ton Of one-half Of the Confederacy We |
may well call it new policy, although it |
is really but return to the policy Of the /
Evolutionary fathers, from which two gen
srltions had bsckslidden.
The present Congress viii have POSI-
tion IN history as conspicuous and endur- 1
Ing as that Of the Constituent Assembly Of /
the French Revolution. Changes asalast-
ing and vastly greater will date from it.
y T. is not merely the present times but
the latest posterity, which VIII honor the
true men in this Congress, who, resisting
both seduction and menace, have proceeded
straightforWard N the path Of duty, and
have a. last carried through the great his
t0ficai measures which now crown their
s1erts. Their children and their chill
dren's children, to the remotest generation,
vii preserve and prize as their riehestiR-
hsritance, the records Of their votes.