Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-02
RIGATs.
RICHMOND WHlG.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DEC. 3, lses.'
stetesmen Wanted.

Statesmen Wanted. =
The Montgomery Mai" which claims TO os ineHd
Of the Administration, seems disposed to handle both
the Executive and Congress with gloves of:
Tho E,eeutive, says the EMAIL committed a grave
srror in not summoning Congress to Richmond on the
bappening Of the sad disasters in the Southwest
Though cor gress might not lave been able to have
remeded our mshaps yet the stern character Of kess
misior.unes made it and proper that the Repre-
sentanyes of the Confederacy sheud have been con-
vened BY the President to hold inquest the sDe of
the country. Unfortunately for the public veal, un-
tappy differences said to exist between the Presi-
dent aud Congress- which has beea Ascrbed his in
disposition to summon il. What .hsse disagreemtnts
are and with whom the fault lies, We are gaoranS and
only passngy aude 20 the matter as the alleged Tea-
son for the President rot having done what possibly
might have proved q national bene!GctiOu.
The vital questions OF the currency aud .he increase
and organic ldon Of the army could have been much
more eectuAy handled six months ago than a. present.
Every month these mcmentous matter rs are postponed
adds TO the evil ami complexities the remedy. Already
the currency has gone down fully one hundred and fifty
per cent since the last meeting Of Congress-
But though it would have been far better had this
work been accomplished months ago. Congress must
deal with these questions it finds them, aud treat the
d. ease as it Is now developed
The legislation Of Congress 60 far, during the revou
ton has not been such as to challenge public admira-
lion or furnish conclusive arguments in favor Of free
government The history Of chrsiendom does not pre-
sent such an instance OF timd hating doubling,
row and tme-sorving legislation, (f We may except the
despoio mob at Washugton,l as have been furnished
by cur Successive Confederate Congresses Pray what il
the mater with our public men! Has the Whirl of the
wheel Of war Rum5ed the energies AID dWarfsd the
iu,elec. of our statesmehI In times past great
grey up out Of the storm Of revolution aud directed It's
course but the present sugSs seems not only not to
have generated any great men, but to have made mum
mics and blocks out Of those We had before it.
One reason assigned for the dear o! statesmen IL the
preserce the intellect OF the land in the camps of
armies. II such be the case We must invoke the COM
/ handing Generals to detail these gentlemen for the
business OF legislation confident they be more ef-
Sove on sucn theatre, fo- time a: lea than in the
field.
We appeal to our public uen 20 address themselves
TO The ga at gaping wounds of the republic, aad to do
somsthicg to Vitaizs its armies and currency.
l. certaSy is surprising that Congress not sled
together afr the fall OF Voisburg. If il b, in the
power OF the legislative branch OF the Government 10
render any service whatever to the cause surely the
disasters in he Sou Invest occasion enou 10 de-
mAnd their immediate attention. Tn, iDvestg alton
into he GAUGES might have disclosed facts which
the Adinsrat thought best to keep back until tho
| public temper was less eIFperatsd aud respondent,
bu. that investigation nigh; have reSalel in sdatAry
chang aad Gvsred the fresh brood Of disasters that
nov demand investigation quite as imperatvsly as
the fall of Vcksburg and Port HUDSON. Tho Admins
rsdOn al gained nothing, but lost largely By post
poniGR the day OF its accountability. However, i! is
not our purpose to increase the already enormous
"eight Of trouble which ress upon the President and
Cabinet or 10 asgraVae their scue suf,ings by heap
Jog on them the list Of their dereictons. We cannot
say Get bygones be bygones" for that il the ready
plea Of the sycophan who desires bis masters rot 10
r -, Il "a Nv
sitting and exposure Of pas. that future amend
men. be made Bat this need not be done in
anger in hostility-notives Whca We feel quite con-
6dent will ac;uste Congress in its approaching
aminAtOrs of our troubles.
N,r do endorse the bitter structures Of the Mail"
on Congress True no great ability has been displayed
il either House. land great have made their sp
pearance. Ia what legislature May ash, has great
meas manifested itself Of lati, and where do We fad
single new name. which ronises to be tina. CT civil
sder Of the first of the second order Of abi
tyH Certainly nopn the Yankee Congress, nor yet in
the British Parliament the French Legislature in any
political deHberatiVe body in Europe 1t Il age Of
small men, the world over.
As to what the Confederate Congress has dOrc and
lef. undons il must be remembered that there are, in
the language of the Mail unhappy differences between
the President and Congress- and this accounts for very
UGH of the 'tmid legislation" which 30 Provokes the
ire of our contemporary. Harmony was felt to be
the paramount consideration, and dscOrd the worst
Of evils compared with who other evlswere trivial.
Unwilling to make open war upon the President, and
ASaie of hs ,nAs1iSle will, Congress las repeatedly
yielded to him. without protest. indeed bu. az Airs:
convictions HAnpsred, th~Sftsd, trtcked, time and
again. il is 10 wonder that Congress has made poor
showing. It's members have willingly sacrificed their
individual regulations for the sake of concord and 70
avoid even the appearance o. faction. Had they been
met in tho spirit. all would ave been well, aud
the EecordO heir deeds would have been one OF which
none of their cOunsrymen could have been ashamed.
We do, indeed, need statesmen. But they cannot be
had for the asking, and are likely to te generated
by indscrminate Gbu'e Of the body from which they
are expec ed spring There is enough in Con-
gress But the Ae of discOrd has pAralyzsd the best
Qualities Of the best members. The time has come to
shake of all letters aod to do what necessary to sJe
the country, no matte: what man goes down. Ruin
sares Us in the face Congress yield no longer ii
has yielded too much ar,aiy. Its duty must be done
res a-dle,s of whims, pUjuiicss and jealousies.
Tba TriaI