The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-03
THE MEETING OF coneanss.


THE MEETING OF C0MGRHss.
A recent writer refers to two memorabl
meetings of Congress in our history. TIL
first Congress convened after the adoption O
the Federal Constitution, when the untrie,
machinery of the Union was to be put il
motion, and tone and character and direction
given to the new Government; and the Con
gress of 1901 when the question and labo
before our Legislators were the preservation o
that Government from destruction by interna
strife. 1t has been further said that neither
of those memorable Congresses were "bril
liant" In each case even genius was chastenet
and subdued to earnest effort by the magni
tude of the work to be done. There was
required the mighty workings of creative in
one, and preservstive forces in the other case,
tha, come after the strong wind, aud the fire
and the earthquake, and usually come in
silence.
To the two, is now to be added a third
memorable session. The Thirty Ninth Con
gress meets in Washington to- morrow. 1t
may not be brilliant. SCHUYLER CoIFAx refers
to it as ''the ablest' that has met in, his
knowledge ofpublic affairs. That knowledge
covers the time when the great American
trinmvirate rnled in ournatioa nal upeis, and
attracted popular attention to the deliberations
by their towering genius and colossal abili-
ties. In the days of peace, before the crisis
was yet come, and the contest thought not to
be 'irrepressible,' it was the province of
oratory to smooth sectional asperties, and
gathering its material from the honored graves
OF the past and the bright promise of the
future, TO enliven patriotism and foster love
for the whole Union. Then Clay. and WEB
sTER. and EVERETT, and john Q. ADAxs, filled
fulithe measure of their eloquent fame. The
grand pieces Of BEETHOVEN and HADYS are
httest where the passions are at rest, Or
swayed only by the sweils of the music When
the passions are excited by extrinsc causes.
and there is the mastering of squadrons, the
marshalling of arms. and "battle's magnifi.
Gently stern array, then actions become
orchestras, and the finest oratorios are set
aside for the simplest and cradest martial airs.
The ''d'md rirumQae cano' comes before or
after the strife. not during it, At present. it
Is not needed that any of the members Of
either House should come into the popular
presence with the silver tongued oratory.
adequate to clothe in the elegant draperv of
fit words the emergencies of the hour, the
immense proportions of existing issues. We
have before avowed our faith that the men of
an age are equal to its requirements During
the contest just closed, the executive, Our
present military chieftains and the Congress,
have passed the ordeal of great demands and
came out with mems strength and stature
the demands fully met. Whether or not il
develops "brillianee,' we do expect this
coming Congress to develop the practical
sagacity, patriotism, and craftsmanship. which
shall perfect the unity of restored Govern
ment, and secure the fruits of victory of a
contest wherein liberty, justice, loyalty and
human rights were victors >
The labor before Congress will be greatly
increased if its members, or any portion of |
them. go to Washington with set plans of re
construction of their own, upon the adoption |
of which by Congress those members deem |
the continued existence of the nation de. !
pends. ABRAHAM LINCOLN was governed by !
wise forecast and consummate sagacity, when.
determining at all events to preserve the
Union, he let his action and policy be shaped |
and controlled by events. Our national leg
isators will do well if they shall similarity |
act; if. determining to do Justice to white
and black, ''to form more perfect Union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility.
provide for the common defense, promote the |
general welfare and secure the blessings Of
liberty to the nation, they shall merge per-
sonal ambitions into that loyal labor, be mu-
tually conce,sive, and adopt those measures
which the condition of the country and far
reaching patriotism shall demand for the pub
lie good now and hereafter The people care
nothing for the plans of individuals they are |,
anxious that the collective action of the First
Session of the Thirty Ninth Congress shall init
igate existing evils and draw from the crimson
soil Of the last five years justice to ell men
and perpetnity to the Republic
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