Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-04-24
BUSINESS OF CONGRESS.

Ihe lax Bl'', which We yesterday pfinted
in full, is the rrcduct Of long snd anxious
thought and discussion. /: vas : vast sub.
iact; .nd there waa a necessity to approach
it boldly and without delay. 1t is possible,
therefore, that critics may find in it features
which might bo improved, and which msy
call for further legislation yet However, all
must now work together to facilitate iis exc
cu:ion ani success. We have called for heavy
taxation; wo have got it; and II ihere ho inc
qualities, omis sions or errOsR, lot US trust to
have them corrected by the light Of expe-
riencc. Farue; will Ger tainly consider their
allotted tex. Of a tithe ftheir produce, very
hea -, AZ compared, for example, with the
tpo per cent. upon salaries over 81 500, CO.
pecis!ly as the tithe is to be one tenth Of tie
gross produce without deduction Of eNpenees,
labor, rent OF interest; but this will probably
he hrrssftor equal,z-d, not, we fea-, by light
en'ng tho tax on the farmer, but by p]a'ing
a heavier enc on tho salaried people. We
sincerely hope that cur people will chserfu)ly
agree to make the hest Of it, knowing how
needful this # ,rt ia to attain the intstimaEle
blessing of Independence.
The bill Of MIR. Clay, for ccnscriPtion OF
foreigners has been under discussion in secret
session Of the Seuste. Why in sec:ot sea-
sion, To us tho principle and policy Of that
measure seem 81 1lain, and All our people are
so deeply interested ir having sound con-
clugirn arrived at in that matter, and ths rea
sons for that conclusion understood, tia. tie
secsesy is = needless mystery. Thore arc no
"fc.eieners' here, that III 10 ssy none whom
vic can rcccsn;z, es foreigners, because there
is Il o Cfiicisi person hare to give Us notice OF
the fact There is no nationality that wo
csn recognize here, save our own, bersuse no
nation presents jts elf to us f'r recognition in
tho proper and only conceivable wsy-by
its representatives and coneuIs. Neither docs
any question Of irritation" to fo'eign ma
tions Prise. IN declining to ba repre-
sen.ed by tIi:isl agents heye reign nations
u,nst erprci that wo will decline to know
them; ,l..y must ho surprised that We persist
in calling certain residents Of our country
Frenchmen or Eng'ishIucn, end giving them
certain exemptions aa euch, when thfir own
governments: neglect tho oniy mosnH Of pro-
tecting them, and 10 not cs:e what becomes
of them.
In short. this mcaGurc, advocated by MIR.
Olay, iq tho only lever and instrument in our
hands by which we can hasten our recoeni'
{ on by tho other powers, III max ns them
feel tho Inconvenience o. not boius represent
cd he,c. If the country ~cre fully infolmcd
Of the nature of this question ard its impor-
tance, we believe men would wonder why it
should 90 debated secretly, and would even
havo curiosity to know how each Senator
and Representative votes upon 1t.
In tho meantime, a similar bill, and f,r the
very sams purpose, is psrding in the u n"s
asa. IL wts introdutsd By NJ. Veat, Of Mo-;
and tho Ormmi,tee on Military Aifdra bas
u,iaaimnus'y orGored it to be reported, with
a roccu,mends ton that It pase. Crest pro-
gress has been Iaade in this i'm po,taut MISTER ;
for even in tho p,c'ent nr'rinn, when bill
70. c0nsccir rtipn Of foreigners aas Introduced
by the vigiiAns AID s,sac!ons Mr.. Foots, Of
Tennessee, the pcnpn1ai wGuld nat TO listened
to; and It was stiff Il in committees
Congress will probably a' ;nra on or be-
fore tho lst Of M.y; but there are still some
matters of considerable interest nwaiii,G ac-
ton, which, it il hcp.J, will be put cut Of
hand before adjournment. 1he,e hsva been
several nll!a passed Ibis scs"i n Tor incr:aso
Of grado and pay 10 6lfuronl claS'"s OF pub
tc servants, civil end military; but tho bill for
increase Of tho comm on soldiers pay. which
has passed the uouss unanimously, twice
over, has not yet been actch upon by Tho
senate. Are every ones wspts and claims
TO b, considered before the soldiers Whlle
4sla,ies Of two thousand do!l.rs mus: he in
creased to three, and thrre TO two, arc 'he
b. iyats soldiers sill TO bo limited to their
.lsven dollars por month, which (as MIR. Da-
siB, of Mississippi, Indignantly dscIsres) "~ill
buy inst eleven drinks" Moro than this,
here il House bill pending to allow commH
,ation TO ths soldiers in money for their short
Allowance Of ncat-not yat sctod on, nor
considered. Truly our soldiers aie the most
patient and good hulnored soldiers in sll TIC.
world; they grudge no toll, no peril, no pri-
1ation; but they must be treated like human
beings; and if the Senate has any objections
% pass these bnls, all We can sag il, 1t
nay be judicious to debate them in secret
,ession.