Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-28
The rhlrlx.Ninth Congress.

the first term of the Thirty-ninth Con-
gress. The questions which will come be-
fore this body for decision and action upon
are at once the most momentous and the
most complicated that have occupied the
attention of our national legislature since
its existence. The great work will be that
of reconstruction, in all its phases, rela-
tions and complications. Rightly to solve
this vast and difficult problem would be of
itself a task sufficient to occupy the entire
time and the concentrated wisdom of a
single Congress; but other questions,
which, were they not dwarfed into com-
parative insignifcance by the colossal
magnitude of the issues involved in recon-
struction, would be deemed of the utmost
moment and the greatest delicacy, demand
attention-questions of taxation and f.
nance, of relations with foreign countries,
and of protection to internal industry.
The coming Congress has before it a very
extraordinary work, and should bring I'M
usual ability to the task which it must
perform.
We are pleased to believe that in re
spect not only of sound patriotism, but of
legislative experience and ability, the
Congress which meets en- Monday next
excels all its recent predecessors. 1t is GER
tainly a great Improvement on the last,
which was composed of entirely too large
a proportion of new men. Many of
these men, to be sure, have been re-
elected, but they are no longer
new, and the experience of two sessions of
Congress will have taught them not only
to talk less but how to work more rapidly
and efficiently. Among the old members
of the old House, of character, influence
and value as leaders, should be mentioned
such men as Morrill, of Vermont, Hooper,
Boutwell, and Dawes of Massachuset IS,
Judge Kelley and old Thad. Stevens of
Pennsylvania, Speaker Colfax and George
| w. Julian Of Indiana, Washburne and
Farnsworth of Illinois, kasson of Iowa,
and Green Clay Smith of Kentucky. 1t
is a matter of special congratulation that
every one of the little band who
represented the Union men of Ohio
Eckley, Spalding and Garfeld-has been
reelected. The Union party in the next
House lose from their ranks the eloquent
and brilliant Henry Winter Davis, the
| polished and subtle Arnold of Illinois,
and the sagacious and influential
Fenton of New York; but, to balance
this loss, they gain such skillful parliament
tarians and practiced Legislators as N. P.
Banks and Henry j. Raymond, such elo-
quent and powerful debaters as John A.
Bingham, such veteran politicians as John
Wentworth, such inanciers as Charles V.
| Culver, such able thinkers and sound
statesmen as William A. Newell, Roscoe
| Conkling, Reader w. Clark, and Column
bus Delano, and such distinguished SOL
diers as Rousseau, Paine, Hays and Buck
land. The Democrats in this body amount
ed to little or nothing, either in numbers
or ability, last year, and to ever less this
year. Absolutely their onlyleaders. in tai
ent and reputation are james Brooks, of
New York, and D. W. VOORHEES,, of Indi-
ana, and the seats o. both these gentlemen
are contested.
In the Senate there are but few changes,
but these few are Improvements. To be
sure, Mr.. Stockton Dem will occupy the
seat from New jersey formerly filled by
John c. Ten Eyck (Union) but the cleo
ton will be contested for illegality, and
the newly-elected Union Legislature OF
New Jersey will send a good Union man
to claim the seat. To balance this loss,
the Union party count a gain in the per-
son of Richard Yates of Illinois, who
succeedst to the seat of William \. Richard
son, whose political and personal character
are alike 5;sreputable. The other changes
do not effect the political status Of the
Senate. James Guthrie succeeds to the
seat from Kentucky held by Lazarus W.
Powell. Both are Democrats, but the
former is an immense improvement on
the latter in ability and character
Fessenden returns to his old seat
Cragin, of New Hampshire, sue
ceeds to that of Hale, Norton, of Minneso-
ia, to that of Wilkinson, and Williams, of
Oregon, to that of Harding. All these
gentlemen are Unionistz. The Union
party will also be reinforced by two new
members from Colorado, who are yet to
be elected.
Personally, then, as VIC have seen, the
next Congress will be stronger than the
last. Politically, also, it viii show a I'm
ion gain. The Thirty-cighth Congress
stood: Senate, Unionists 81, Democrats
II; House, Unionists 1O3, Democrats, SO,
The T%hirty-ninth Cincludingal all the men,
bers from the Northern States, counting
Colorado, and those from Maryland, Della
ware, West Virginia, Kentucky and Mis-
souri) will stand: Senate, Unionists Al,
Democrats IL; House, Unionists 1879; De-
mocrats 80. The whole power of both
Houses is thus placed in the hands of an
overwhelming Union majority. The
House will be organized at once by
the election of the Union nominee for
Speaker, who will doubtless be Schuyler
Colfax. The committees will be placed
in the control of the earnest Union men,
and the work of reconstruction will be in
good hands.
We had intended in this connection
to say something of the character of the
delegations from the States lately in rebel
ion who will apply for admission as SEN
ators and Representatives. But this arti-
Gle already exceeds its proper limit, and
we shall be forced to postpone the consid-
Grafton of this topic until another occasion.
1t is of less immediate importance as none
of them will be at once admitted, and, ex-
cept those from Tennessee, probably none
of them viii gain admission at all.
The New enatO from Vermont.
Judge Poland, the new Senator from
Vermont, was born at Westford, Vermont,
in November, 1915. His advantages for
education were unusually limited, yet he