The Portland daily press., 1864-12-19

,suallv offers many facilities for the transac-
ion nj business over the long term. As both
Houses meet already organized, except a re-
vision mostly unimportant of the standing
committees, no time need be lost in settling
questions of personal fitness for prominent
positions, in adjusting various private anu
ocal claims to precedence, and In combining
Ipon the selected candidates tne requiSite
oaorities. Contested election cases. zoo,
which are both more numerous anu more
.omp icated. than may be generally supposed,
IRE out Of the way or these about twenty,
aaov az them requiring the careful sitting of
,oInm;oous snd conflicting testimony, were
l;snosed Of last session. Members come to-
,ethar borrower, not as strangers, but as old
f.onsintances, knowing well the views and
ceilings Of each other, prepared for friendly
cooperation where it is possible and for an
sgonism where it is necessary, without the
low process of developing the support of
tiends, or drawing out the opposition and
sctics Of enemies. The general sense and
smper Of either body is also perfectly under
TODD, majoritles for or against any given
Measure may be predicted with approximate
ccuracy, and such abortive miscarriages as
frequently occur during the long session,
aeasures carefully matured by months of la
'or only to be finally defeated, are compari.
lively unnecessary. Nor, finally, is 1t small
dyantage that the large number who COM
aence congressional life at the beginning of
{ ne first session az each Congress are able to
inter upon the second with months Of loren
'ic discipline and legislative experiencena
There are special reasons why the present
congress may be expected to enter upon its
uties with energy aud promptitude. That
light Of gloom and uncertainty in which the
government has for four years struggled on,
Without landmarks to guide, or preceden,s to
aeon its course, has at last lifted, and, in
art at least, rolled away. Ifeever the way
las seemed doubtful and the issue dubious,
hey are SO no longer. Upon y and every
cherne of concession to traitors and compro-
Mise with treason, the whole country has with
. tongue of thunder pronounced its veto.
Che resources of the Republic are unwasted
md the determination of the people is fixed.
Ieueeforth there lies before us as people,
ms way only; away SO plain that only those
,esotted with passion and prejudice can err.
herein, For timid and hesitaiing steps,
Lways unjusti6able, there is no longer any
,pology or excuse. II is now palmer than
sver before that in bold, energetic, radical
measures, lie our wisdom and safety.
Tn 0io11 Of all tt,;s u saa.os - -..L A.
expect that Congress will resume It's intermit-
ed labors with promptness and vigor. Ofthe
,reat number of bills now pending, six hun
dred more or less, most are Of personal, local
,r special interest merely, and when run
through sieve of moderate ineness, leave
'nly few OF great and> national importance
)ne of these last, delicate, difficult and ua-
popular in its nature, but of great moment to
the business interests of the whole country,
he Bankrupt bill of Mr.. Jenekes though de.
teated last session by one vote, passed the
House on the 18th inst, by vote no less
decisive than seyenty-six to ffty-six. The
bill may need, and, in the Senate will doubt
less receive, important notifications, but it
mas been carefully drawn and patiently elab
grated, and when matnred into law, willewe
may hope meet want now become impera-
i've. ssgot oiaess i4ssj le9NSH 74e
The sittings of the Senate have been thus
iar, very short, aud its Legislative proceedings
aot very important. Mr.. Davis of Kentucky
IS once more busy with his patriotic en6eavors
'osave the country by resolutions. The pana-
cea this time is to be convention for amend
ing the Constitution, so that the States Of
Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire shall
Tor federal purposes, be consolidated into one
state; a similar doom shall be visited upon
Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and Connecticut
and upon Maryland, Delaware and West Vir
| ginia,-lhe President to be chosen by the Su.
preme Court, from candidates proposed by the
several States; no person whose mother OF
! grandmother is or was negro shall be a citi-
zen of the United States, and several other
things TO be so arranged and settled thatth
evil spirits shall straightway depart from the
minds of our rebelious brethren, and placid
peace, love and good viii brood all over the
land. Pacifcatory and soothing propositions,
!. trulyl sssss ). al,.i' 3 l'-s-.1 lasIies 8 J
I Notwithstanding the predictions of some
saugaine gentlemen, I am able to see but few
and faint indications that the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution, aboIishing and pro
hibiting slavery throughout the country, will
be submitted tothe States by this Congress.
The present House, elected during the great
revulsion of two years since, still retains too
much of the spirit Of that evil time to give to
the measure the requisite two-thirds vote.
TheInternal Revenue law will be revised
but how soon Congress will take this disa.
greeable matter in hand and how largely TAX
alton will be increased remains yet to be seen
The supersedure of Mr.. Hale as Chairman
of the Senate Naval committee by Mr.. Grimes
may have been alike unexpected and mac.
| ceptable to the friends of the former Senator,
1t may be said in explanation that very de-
cided differences Of opinion have long been
understood to exist between the Chairman
and Mr.. Grimes, the second member OF the
committee, together with state Of feeling
quite other than friendly. Once at least du-
ring the last session Mr.. Hale formally tender
ed his resignation, and more than once ex-
pressed his readiness to withdraw from po-
sition which could not have been other than
embarrassing and unpleasant. I. BY way OF
'ffet Mr.. Hale supersedes Mr.. Grimes as
Chairman Of the committee on the District Of
Columbia. h TSP.
A Beautiful Picture. rF8 no
We noticed hanging in Fl. L. Davis & Co.'s
Book Store a steel Dgraying-'WAsHING