New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-16

about bs, ahd lettering our LIMBS anu cranp,ns ou,
muscles by retaining the habilmens VI peace Instead
OF that action, action, ACTION required by the tme we
have dc!iberatcd aud made speeches. and we have
made speeches and we have dehberated. vigorous
measures needed. the country cries cnt.
Vigorous measures are needed our legislators repiyi
but instead VI vigorous measures We have bad speeches
and we have bad votes, we have had committees ana
we have have had conference.-the we stand In our
tracks The Winter Is nearly over, the biue.oiiu WIN
herald in Spring; In the enemy camp heard tho
hustle Of the coming campaign ana We are not ,eaHy
voting! We are considering amendments, ana
amendments 20 amendments: while cur afairs ore
threatening disaster. -
Three months ago, and more Congress met What
hos it donor 1t earnestly impored by the Chief OF
the Treasury to pass with tho Ieas possible delay
which 10 proposed for the relief IL the cur.
roncy. Ills has been reported on and debated, aud
adopted by House and modified by the other, and
insisted upon by the first and insisted against by the
other ana has finally lodged in conference committee
We suppose it will soon pass but not untihope deferred
has made the heart sick, ard not until the delay has
greatly bhghed tho promise Of good which IL first held
ont. ,
The Chief OF the War Department earnestly i'm
plored the passage OF measure for the consolidation
and reorganization Of the array. The President urRen
IT, Onr Generals in the field cnrcated II. The action
in Congress has been the exact counterpart Of that
above described as tn the currency bill Ire bi las
played shu.tlecock between The two lion.ss ana Is
now lodged in Conference Committee. We suppose
H. too will soon be reported and passed But since the
meeting Of Congress. November is gone, and Deeein'
her has gone and January has gone ana March Is
Winter for its execution, Is Just coming to nrth Meh
while our high officers ia agony. One oi thcih
writes The campaign mas a noss s" cargi,ss
suppo.e that consolidation take place In midst oil
.,ilof assure you We shall suffer much TOT then de
lay. D. iir them up TO act"
Space wo1 rs to tell how the bill for the rcorea.
Dzeton ~ the cnvary has been delayed also ana now
one thing, 1t Las Indicated for The ap
pointment of Gen. Lee as Commandments Chief. But rs
Ii expected that every thing We desire 10 be accom-
III she'd by tie magic Of his name alone has scar
needed single one Of his anxious requests ana ms
earnest solicitations 1t has debated them ana Tue
embers have praised him and told what history would
saw aiout him bnt they have LEFT linn to struggle hJdel
which he has pointed OUT and nov" alas
tie season for correction Is almost past And still The
wordy torrent flows ont a.,
we have nj least placed restrictions on those who are
disposed upon our cause. We have rit Dad men
free We have hot Organized go1d men 20 lo pes. au
IN prov od for for just such tune US thislas n,eh IN
employee True IL has been debated diligently debated;
but the Immunity OF bad men has been more tehusiy
thar the safety Of good men and this day
which finds Gen. Lee, though he has eptrcaed H. not
allow cd organize Bis army as his ski ana experience
at foil liberty In very midst to employ tho agency
and the influence OF tho pesstiking at our cause IN
ing sediton Ia fowening distraction and in lib3r
ing undermine the hopes, and the fottnde ana TIE
virtue people, aud to procure their SUBMISSION 10
tie enemy.
no less unsa!sfac.0ry Two mouths ago ara more II
met. IL has debated resolutions and debated phis
Hesoiuons OF Inquiry have been daily oncred' con-
ceining almost eyersihing-the heaysns above ,ne
Garth bcneath or the waters under The earth mere
have been speeches about railroads and speeches ABOUT
salt and speeches ahoGt patriotism There have been
speeches In open session aud speeches in secret session
speeches by dnyhghi ard speeches by gssIig,t. But
hat has all this diligcnc. brought iorht nat mas
IL done for the country The answer Is found IN the
late motion Of Iearg moinbcr for an early adjourn
mont on the crprrfs rud tLat nothing OF III tame"
Ia. been done aud that tcrc was 10 hope that any
I Hing of importance would be done'
These nrc sad facts that we have recorded And yet
We do not consider them furnishing jnst basis for
personal elimination. Tho evil has not been found ID
the disposition OF the members, bat In the system on
which they have acted-admrsbly In peace tines fatal
In war There IL not member In either OF The bodies
Of which have spoken who Is no' IN favor OF Pronp,
and energetic action, much Ms the writer and rcao.
OF these lines. There many men ui large abity I'D
both. They MI deplor- the results We have stated but
al feel poverless 10 niGdef them.
And t.cy are indeed thus poWeross unless they VIII
change their system OF legislation. IL IL Impossible 10
discuss measures in large hodies without great ceoy
Members feel IL duty to propose such sinendIhehis
notifications or objections ms occur 10 their minds
these are eoinbattd and, II the subject Is vide one
! The debate becomes intermDabe. Let US follow a
measure: 1t IS fir. discussed In committee. Aiter
tbe committee has agreed or divided u comes say, 10
| the House There IL Is ponnced mon by more than
hundred men, aud II is lucky be not pulled TO Ps,c
when IL Iassrs this ordeal II goes 10 tho Sehaic lbeh
!, que, tn committcetleb IL comes back 10 TIE senate
lax debate II the measure be important. II IL hard a.
get In lhe FIRST instance through the committee. IL j.
harder get is through the House. Is DalGcr 10 kcl
the concurrence II two Housfs ana All TINS despite the
desires ard anxicties Of membeTs for prompt action.
In ordinary legislation. these difficulties are sanitary
Tor the great evil OF peaceful times - excessive kgsIa-
lion But the case II very dIherent IN tunes sucn a.
tcse How severely the oontty now suffers from tbs
NV mi circnmlocuiion is Illustrated In the first Of this
article Our Congressmen and Legislators ~ st give
Us relief die. How are they 10 20 IN Ihe! inust
Change their system. They must avoid NO Innch oe-
cosion for discussion When prompt action is neecs-
gary they must exercise moro trust In The trst place
thry shonld conhde In their committees Where cner'
vetic action j. required committee Is better fhan the
whole House not that u Is wiser than the whole
House bnt lust so for action Lee Johnston or Bean
regard is better than Lee and Johnston and eauregard
Iut rs far ffuin coniding in them, the Committees
only employed to pS, up the pms 10, ,,s sns ,Isc 10
miec Military Affairs bring In BILL after anxious
computations With tho military chiefs. only Ia have IL
lawked ut BY every who lad theory or ccnceit
10 indulge So of the rest 10 Is impossible for House
To act promptly without trusting very largely 10 its
Committees.
In the second place they mnst not attempt too much
minute In their laws. hrt must leave large meas.
uc Of discretion and liberty Of adaptation To those who
arc 10 execute them. The wisdom of Solomon coald
moi ldus, details that would b. the best for year or
Fix months or three months In s1ch times az these ln.
Gniely better than long BILL infinitely prescribing the
machinery Of army organization would be single
line leaving al these details 10 the discretion Of the
Commando TN Chief To be determined and modified nc
coidiDg to Lis Judgment. body ~ men like Congress-
Ignorant OF the field and legiratng In advance cannot
by sny possibility decide these matters 30 wisely ss
nan like Gen. Lee bred 20 arms. and personally coghi
rant OF the necessities OF the service
In short, our legislative bodies must trust more
They must trust more TO tLcir committees, and they
must trust more to tho executive and ministerial Oh
1oors. They cannot without great dctriment to the
public cause. either attempt executive functions or 10
any minute extent direct hamper executive discre'
ton Let them prescribe general bounds. but not IN
dertake TO I'LL mp the picture. They cnn never act
uf.fty 4 md cau