The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-03-14

forth, the mastery nov on our side, now
on that of the enemy, observe the little
mounds under which reposs the bones Of
unnunbered heroes; contrast the quiet
scene about you with the scene which
made the place immortal G. Marathon or
Thsrmopyle, and you have feelings akin
to those which rise in your mind apon
visiting the splendid solitude OF Repre-
sentative Hall.
We shall have dull times now. Thad.
Stevens is tiP-top specific against ennui.
He il the man to keep the town in roar
the modern Randolph, with his Wit
tempered BY more wisdom. and his nature
more juicy than the milk Of human kind
ness. Congress is about the only 'sinstisu-
tion" here which amounts. to much
Greece had its olympic games, Rome its
gladiators and its triumphs; France ha.
It's emeutes, its insurrections, is revola.
tons and its corps-f-etat; England its
Lord Mayors festivals and it, coronatiens;
Spain its bull-fghts and its game cooks,
but only the irrepressiblc Yankee nation
could produce such 'uecession of legis-
lative bodies as We have had in America.
The Amphyctionic Council. the Roman
Senate, the French Assembly, the British
Parliament, the Spanish Cortes, wsrs. and
are, pretty good in their way, but ought
not TO b mentioned IN the same day with
the American Congress, which has pro-
ducsd more eloquence. more forensic rati-
ocination. more debates. exhibitive Of the
wonderful strength and stretch Of the hu-
man understanding, than have been pro-
duced among any other people. ltis not
strange that toward the Congress which
has just adjourned. large share of the
interest Of our own people and that of the
peoples Of other countries should have
centsred. Its lot was cast upon troubled
times. II had new duties to perform. and
npon the manner of their performance
would be decided, for good or for evil, for
the present and for the future. the mani
fold interests of people far greater in al
their attributes Of moral power and in the
good works of civil xatiou, than the peo-
pie who acknowledged the supremacy Of
the Caesars. No Congress was ever more
yigilantly watched than the one which
has just closed Crowds OF lobbyists and
Of interested visitors thronged the Ma
tional Capital from the time it commenced
its sessions. till Mr.. Grow yesterday at
noon, declared its power ended. Sur
rounded by - large crowd as the spaci-
Gus galleries could contain, it adjourned
without disorder or indecorum. having
performed larger amesas sf legisiarive
business than any Of its predecessors -
having passed the Homestead law. the law
for Pacific Railway and Telegraph, the
law abolishing Slavery TIT HE District of
Columbia, the law richly endowing State
Agricultural Colleges, the Law establish
ing Department Of Agriculture, the law
reforming the Postal Code Of the Nation,
the law for the mere complste destruction
of the internal Slave Trade, the law rec
ognixing the right of Hayti to nationali-
ty, other laws of great and lasting good,
beside the many enactmentt providing
the bones and sinews for the conduct OF
mighty war. 1t would be singular. indeed,
if it had made no mistakes; but l do not
doubt that impartial history will award5to
the Thirty-ssventhrC Congress very large
share Of patriotism, Of courage, and of
ability. And / think that it's measures,
which now receive the strongest condem-
nation from its enemies and the enemies
Of freedom, will b the measures for
which the country, in the end. will have
the greatest cause for thankfulness.
HAwKxrx.