The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-22


Csngrsss-whst the Two Houses nave
Done. Are Doing. and Oaghs 90 DO.
We are now upon the verge Of the last
quarter Of the fifth month OF the present session
! of Congress, and to the question what has been
done the general reader. from day to day of
the proceedings of the two houses, would be
very apt TO answer, nothing. But, scanty as is
the record Of the two houses Of practical
| measures OF legislation. they have yet in vari-
Gus proceedings come up to the wants of the
crisis and the expectations of the country.
First, in the joint resolution which has re-
suited in the promotion Of General Grant to
the active command Of all the armies Of the
Union the two houses have gracefully re-
sponded to the universal desire of the loyal
States, and have, too, as we fully believe, put
"the right man in the right place" for a deci-
sive campaign against the rebellion. Secondly.
the Senate, in the decisive vote Of more than
two-thirds BY which Il has passed bin pro-
viding for the total abolition Of slavery through
an amendment of the federal constitution, has
hit upon the only proper method for the re-
moval of this stumbling block Of slavery from
the length and breadth Of the land. Satis-
ded. too. that this great measure OF political
wisdom, IL put to the test, would be now APP
proved by the loyal States. slave States In
cluded, with hardly an exception, We hope to
record before the end of the session that the
House has concurred, by Q two-thrds vote,
with the Senate, and that the important propo-
sition involved is before the States for their
action upon il.
In the next place, the House, in its unani-
mously adopted resolution in reference to
Mexico, has, with proper emphasis, spoken
the universal opinion of the American people
in denouncing the Napoleonic usurpation as a
movement of European Power which cannot
be recognized by the government of the United
States. This resolution has been hung up
to dry in the Senate; but we presume that
Mr.. Sumner, Chairman on Foreign Affairs OF
that body, in Difference to the Secretary Of
State, is only waiting to see il the significant
vote of the House will not suffice as a warning
to the French Emperor, aud his sub Emperor
Macmillan, to prepare for timely abandon
ment of their Mexican Utopia.
Then, again, the House, in every possible
shape and form, and in any number of resolu-
tons, has declared that this war shall 60 on till
the rebellion is put down, aud that there shall
be no negotiations for peace on any terms with
armed traitors. We have, perhaps, had a
little too much Of this, unless it be true that
we cannot have too much Of a good thing
Some Of our republican journals, and earnest
advocates Of Fort Lafayette, too, have vigor-.
ousiy denounced the late House proceedings
upon the quasi treason cases Of Mr.. Copperhead
Long, of Ohio, and Mr.. Secesh Harris, of
Maryland, as covering q movement against
freedom OF debate and so on, and as Involving
shameful waste of time; but we are inclined
to think that in the test vote which has devci-
oped the fact that there are only eighteen out
and out peace-at-any-price copperheads in the
House, the country is compensated for the long
speeches Of Long. Harris and all others con-
cerned in the tedious discussion.
But in taking up, and in proceeding to work
day and night, upon the new Internal Revenue
or Tax bill, the House is most admirably facing
the music. If we dance we must pay the
piper; and this is now the great question Of the
day. Already the confidence Of the country in
the stability Of the national Treasury is vastly
strengthened, from tho belief that Congress
will provide the ways and means to sustain the
public credit and to finish up the war; Let the
two houses, therefore, devote the remainder of
this session to the business Of the ways and
means for such things as negro suffrage, fugi-
tive slave laws and bills providing republican
governments for the rebeliious States may be
judiciously postponed to more convenient
season.