, 1863-03-07
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SATURDAY, MARCH Z, 1868.
THE LAST CONGRESS.
The verdict Of postcrity may be antici-
Gated; and it will be that the American
congress, which has just arrived at the lc-
gal limitation Of its life, and closed its ses-
zion, has, since July 18th, 1851, done as
much for the advancement Of the cause Of
human liberty and good government
throughout the world, as any other delib-
cratiyc body that ever assembled, not ex-
cepting the famous Continental Congress
of TITO. that gave the Declaration Of Amer
Jean independence to mankind. In fact,
t1lis Congress was, as the war that We wage
is but continuation Of the Revolutionary
struggle, only a logical sequence,
necessary result, Of the first; and
without it the Revolution would
have been incomplcte-a movement grand
and bcncfcent in ITSELF but not the
marked and unqucstioned assertion Of the
innlicnable rights Of each individual Of the
human race. The work that our fathers
commenced has been taken up where they
left of, and the great truths that they
cnunciated, but did not universally apply,
have been 30 practically and energctically
rea1irmcd, that before the present turmoil
and strife are ended, that monstrous
heresy that one man may lawfully buy and
eel another, will be eliminated from the
American political system, and no party,
before the close Of quarter Of century,
will be willing to admit that the basis Of
its Democratic pretension ever was 8 dog
ma that contained within itself the com
plete germ ofall the despotism and tyranny
that the world has endured. land no
commentator on the Declaration will dare
assert That its grand truths were limited, or
intended to be limited, By those who pro-
nounced them, By the color, condition, ma
tionality, or faith Of the men to whom they
apply.
The ThiHy-Seycnth Congress will, by
and-hy, take its place in the memory Of
mankind, side By tide with these memora-
bic historical asscmblages, the results Of
whose labors, in securing and perpetuating
human freedom, are every day visible in
the onward march, the increased intclli-
gcnce, prosperity and happiness of the
race. Partisanship, never more malignant
and bitter than when it opposes the grand
reforms that give new vitality to nations,
may refuse to admit the claim that we set
up; and the timidity Of some friends who
lar exccescs, and the disappointment Of
others whose expectations Of greater
results have been defeated, may ask Us to
point out the particular acts upon which
the claim is based, Itispcrhaps proTiden-
tial, certainly it is true, that the general
events of history and the agencies by which
they have been developed have been un-
deryalued by the living witness thereof.
Il is reserved for later generations who arc
above the animosities and prejudices that
give color to the present, who will study
and comprehend the effects of measures
that arc NOW received with hatred By some,
with despair by others, and with doubts by
all; and who will value the actors Of to-
day not by their success but by their fidcli-
1y to the right,-it is reserved for these
generations to say what this Congress has
done. They will not find an omission here
or an error there, and make the one or the
other the reason for condenning all its
recorded acts. They will not single
out an instance Of courage and devotion,
and behind it hide multitude Of sins; but
weighing tho good against the bad, the pa
hiotic against the mean, the wise against
1hc foolish, will declare the result, We
have said what re believe that will be:
and when We remember the difficulties Of
the situation, the magnitude Of the labors
to be done, and the results that have been
attained-how our army Of unprecedented
size has been organized, equipped, drilled
and fought, how the resources Of the na-
lion have been developed, and how amidst
The clamor Of parties and the superhuman
efforts Of enemies, the cause Of freedom
has been advanced, We see no reason, but
in partisanship, why the verdict Of to-day
will diflcr from that which posterity will
pronounce