Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-29
IFrom the New York Herald. Dec. co.
h the Present Congress - Iruly
Bgepresemunttve One?

M0tRFG8UmNANANO NaA0
Most Of the members Of che present Cons
Qress were elected before the war was closed,
.hid under very different state OF clfc9n-
stances from those which nov exist. Iney
were fDr the most part Candidates Of the
contractDrs and others Interested In the
war. They were chosen to represent the
great interests created by the war and the
aggressive spirit of the war. Since the
time of their election wonderful change
has taken place. The war has been closed
M so completely that were it not tor the
debris of that stupendous conflict we should
hardly realize there has been one so recent
ly. There Is not the breath, semblance or
possibility of hostility any more over tins
broad land. The sword Is turned into the
ploughshare. The aconquerorss and the
conquered alike, have rapidly fallen onck
TO the peaceful pursuits of lie. The de7
sire eyerywhere, and on, both sides, Is
to ohliterate all bitter remembrance OF the
struggle as soon and as far as possibleTto
restore harmony, equality, and the oenen1
cent action of our Republican institutions
throughout the whole country at the ear
liest period. This, too, hepeople are hap
PLY realizing under the wise admlnlstra-
lion of President johnson. Even the most
nltra Radicals, those who pursue tile fallen
Southerners with retributive vengeance,
admit that we have no fear OF future Sec
tional hostilities;, that we have, In fact, es-
tablished solid peace. The very magnl7
tude of the war; and the herculean efforts
put forth to sustain it, are guarantees, now
that it is closed, that nc. attempts can be
made hereafter to renew it. The progress
toward restoration and harmony has been
as astonishing as the conflict was desperate.
The revolution both In affairs and In public
sentiment has been very surprising since
most of the members of the present Con-
gress were elected, ...;s..g. hc..srad fJ1a
7 IL can hardly be expected that these mem
bers should represent the sentiment OF the
country under the changed circumstances.
III they wore statesmen, men ofcomprehen-
siye views. who could understand the pres
ent and penetrate the future, whose minos
and patriotism should rise above the pasT
sions of the war and party politics, we
might have some hope Of them: Uniortu7
nately they are not such. Ordinary men,
they come from their country villages 10
the seat of Government with all the pas
sions, prejudices and narrow views Of
local politicians. They are full OF the IDEAS
and feelings of the war after 1t Is over and
fast becoming matter of history
Events with mighty strides rush on
like railroad cars, and leave them
gazing in -wonderment behind. They
are bewildered, and founder about, in
uncertainty, first one way and then another,
not knowing rightly where they are The
proceedings in Congress during the few
days they were assembled show the state
they are in, and their inability TO adapt
their views to the present order of things.
In reality they are no longer true repre-
sentatives. They do not represent the ex-
isting sentiment of the country. The con-
tractors and others interested in the war,
whom they more particularly represented
at the time of their election, are disappoint-
ed with the prospect of permanent peace,
and they spur them on to agitation when
there is no longer any cause Tor it. This is
really the secret of the opposition in Con-
gress to the harmonizing measures OF the
President. 1t is pity they cannot be sent
back to their constituencies to find out the
change that has taken place. A year or so.
however, is not long in the life of nation,
and the time will soon come round when
they " i'll be taught an impressive lesson.
In the meantime we do not despair OF the
progress of the country; for President
johnson has the wisdom, power and firm
ness to carry us safely through, in spite OF
the unrepresentative Congress with which
he may have to contend. ....