Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-04-22
Have we a Congress =?

Things begin to look sdually. A gov
eminent dollar is worth but So IL cents ;
speculation is running up the prices Of
the necessares of life even faster than
the government paper runs down the
wealth Of the country is passing from the
many to the few, and the laboring classes
are becoming dlspirited and sullen; and
congress has neither the wisdom nor the
courage to adopt the measures that are
Essential to avert the crisis to which all
these things tend. Indeed congress seems
to be oblivioBs alike to these facts and to
the growing dissatisfaction of the people.
The members devote themselves to poll
tics or speculation outside of the capitol,
so that il is difficult to get together quo
rum for legislation, and the reasonable
among their number, secing this drift OF
things, take courage to speak boldly for
peace with traitors and for conceded dis
union, after all we have suffered in this
great struggle to defend the nation; and
after several days Of excited discussion
as to whether members shall be expelled
for talking treason, the lame conclusion
reached at last is a mild vote of ceUsure.
Throughout the country the sympatti-
zers with treason grow holder day by day,
and ia some places at the west have the
courage to attack the soldiers of the
Union willie on duty.
Congress has been more than four
months in session what has it done P
What solitary practical measure Of any
importance has it perfected? 1t devotes
one day in every week wholly to bun
combe speeches, and uses up nearly ev-
cry other day in the same way. 1t is
ready enough to pass fine resolutions
against rebellion and slavery, and to
pledge the resources Of the country to
put them down, but when it comes to
practical measures without which there
can be no success, it halls and stumbles
and postpones, and acts as if it did not
know what must be done, or knowing
had not the pluck to do it. The anti
slavery amendment Of the constitution is
a great and needful mea ure, but it can
not possibly be con5ummated before the
nation has passed the crisis of its fate
md if consummated its only real value
ies in The successful overthrow of the
cbelion Till that is achieved it will
emain, like the heap of resolutions and
already accumulated, mere
mpotent words. Let the House pass
be amendment by all means, but waste
o time upon it, or upon any other
latter not Immediately connected with 3
le great and fearful work on hand, the
verthrow Of the rebellion. A month {
ore of useless talk in congress will
ut gold up to POO, inAict remedies
image upon the business of the coun- a
y, and so dpmoralize the people that '
~ conceivable catastrophe will be pos +
Bile.
There is still one source of confidence
#. We have larger aud better armies {
ian ever before, with leaders Of tried I
,ility and courage, and at length c
nifty of plan and movement under
nglo guiding mind. The salvation OF
ie Union now rests with Gen. Grant
I'd lis veterans. All that congress can
0 is to furnish the 'sinews Of war; and
ave the generals alone. Let a tax be
WED sufficient to save US from i'm
ending national bankruptcy, and then
ongress may either adjourn or amuse
self with president making at the ex /
enso of the people. But let the es-
entail thing be done, and at once, or
ne people will soon be praying for a d
)romwell to drive the national legisla-
,rs from their seats and take in hand
ne work they persistently neglect
'prtngfeM Republican,.