The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-29
What Congress has Eonp, and what il
Might Have Done.


Night Have DOHe.
Congress has been in session since
the frat Alonday ia December, a period
of neatly seven months and il becomes
Us to inquire what has seen done
Laying aside ell other questions, there
was one to which that body should
have devoted itself, with vigor, energy,
and a determination to know no other
motive, than the good Of the country
We need scarcely state, that we refer to
the furnishing Of means with which to
carry on the war, so that a speedy, and
honorable peace can be attained
peace based upon suppression Of the
rebellion.
In this was involved thewhole cues
ton Of our national finances taxes di-
rect, and indirect, currency and loans
and i. was clearly the duty ofCongress
toadjust these matters, at the earliest
practical moment Oar currency was,
when Congress assembled, deprecated,
and depreciating; the cause vas clear
to the most unskilled observer, and is
summed up ia TIE single word--infa-
ton. Our national issue had exceeded
the demands Of commerce, and, oonse.
qaently, was below par; and what was
more, the volune Of currency was con
tinually increasing, in an accelerating
ratio by the issue Of interest bearing
legal tenders and theze things were as
we'll known to Congress on the first day
Of the session, as today; and members
we're aware that. if they did not pro
vide means for checking imitation, gold
would speedily be scarcely purchase
Bic, and the prices Of every commodity
would befabuAous
l. did not require any extraordinary
degree Of knowledge, to understand
that but two things could be done, to
emedy the evil consequences Of inaa-.
lion impose taxes, and authorize loans;
yet nearly seyen months have inter
gened, and the loan and tax bills have
not been matuTed. What might have
been done in seven weeks, is left
undone, at the end Of IS many months
Are members aware of the evil they
have inflicted upon the country, by
this outrageous, unparalleled delay
In ordinary times, members being paid
by the year, the people viii overlook a
little delay, that Congressmen may
distinguish themselves, by little u5e- /
less talk but windy speeches, at the
present time, are as uDjustifable as the
addling Of EEno, when his capitol was
on Ere,
Congress commenced its session with |
gold at L50; it is dragging its unfinished /
lsbors along, with the same metal |
worth 2 40; and yet there is little pros |
peet ofany agreement, upon question !
connected with eur very |
as 8 nation.
We are aware Of the delicacy with
which representative touch the ques-
ton Of taxes bat in this instance they
the intelligence of the PEG
pie, who are well aware ofthe fact that
they are daily losing more by the de
preciation Of government paper, than
BY tax of double the amount asked
by the Secretary of the treasury; and (
t win DO to account for this, and not
7or the levying Of duties, that members
will be called.
But suppose here and there s member I
night be shelved from doing his duty
o his country, though we do not be-
ieve such q contingency would occur;
s not the public welfare Of more i'm
than that of any individual?
The man who would shrink from his
iuties TO his country, at this crisis,
through fear his popularity might be
injured by doing it, is unworthy public
and should receive the exc
ration of all mankind.