The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-25
Tho Democrat ization OF tho Present Con
gress-A Change Dema nded.


Barebones Parliament" of the old English
Roundheads, is destined, we fear, to leave be-
hind it anything but good reputation. Ithas
given us all the professions and pretences of
piety and patriotism of the old remorseless
Puritan fanatic; but it has also betrayed his
signs. The crop-haired Massachusetts, conven-
ticle, with that peculiar and cody nasal twang
of the Pilgrim Fathers, which resolved "First,
that the earth is the Lords, and the fulness
thereof; secondly, that the saints shall inherit
the earth; and, thirdly and lastly, that we are
the saints" appear to have laid down the
platform which the dominant party of this
Congress adopted with their first preliminary
caucus in December last aud seem determined
to die by.
Thus, in the caucus organization of the two
houses, pretty broad issue was raised against
President Johnson and bis Southern restora-
ton policy before anything was known of the
particular views, measures and recommends
tons embodied in his annual message. When
the message appeared it commanded universal
respect, at home and abroad Not even the
most implacable radicals could find anything in
1t upon which to hang an accusation Of treach-
cry or bad faith against its author While or
ganized against him at first, and in perfect.con-
tempt of his labors in the way of Southern
reconstruction, the radical majority still fat
tered themselves that with skilful handling,
this apparently selt-willed Tennessee tailor
could be more easily managed than the mild
but resolute Illinois rail-splitter But some
negro suffrage movement first set rough
edge on the teeth of the radicals; and then the
veto Of that Freedmen's Bureau bill Of abomi.
nations swept away their shallow pretences Of
Cancellation and harmony. From that day to
this the wrath of the radicals against Mr.. John
son has been manifested on every available
occasion and with still increasing bitterness,
until at length, as in the late Maine Repnbli-
can State Convention, as if the vocabulary of
denunciations were exhausted we end Presi-
dent Johnson and his policy as completely ig-
nored as the administration of John Tyler.
The pretence Of supporting Johnson and Con-
gress at the same time has simply been
dropped as game which has been played out
The violent denuncations Of the radicals Of
this Congress, however, have done q world Of
mischief in the decentralization Of the repubii-
can party in both houses. What else could be
expected, when men become sufficiently demo-
rallied themselves as representatives of the
American people, to Willy and denounce the
President in the style Of I" old Thad Stevens"
as o usurper who, IL he had fourished in the
place of Charles the First, Of England, would
have met the same fate; or who can deliberate
ly abuse him by the hour, after the style Of In
gersoll, Of Illinois, as "a traitor" "a miser.
able pretender,r "a renegade" "a deserter to
the enemy" &c.s Nor is it surprising that from
their abuse Of the President (and all of 1t under
the Speakers indulgence) they should turn
to abusing each other, or the opposition men,
bers around them, or any one else happening
to come in their way. Nor is 1t to be wondered
House should lead to such disgraceful scenes
Of personal violence outside as the affair be-
tween Rousseau and Grinnell. The "barbarism
Of slavery" before the rebellion was the scape-
goat upon which we're packed all the vicious
habits, scenes and characters turning up In
Congress. But now that slavery Is gone and
the "slave power Is unrepresented, how are
we to account for these scandalous doings
which now so frequently occur In both houses.
We can furnish only this explanation: that
the dominant party in. Congress, like the old
democratic party in the epoch Of its extreme
corrupti on and decline anil fall haa hccon,a
80 far demoralized by the spoils and public
plumber and the lust for power as 10 be indi:-
frrent to the rules Of Official decorum, AMI reck.
less Of the consequences Of the means employed
TO obtain its ends. IL such Congress as this
TO be respected Are such disgraceful scenes
pccially in the House Of Representative, 70
pass unrebukcd by the people, II is for the
people now TO consider, and IL will DO for them
10 determine in the coming Northern State elcc-
lions. A new House Of Representatives, Of
new men fresh from the people, is greatly
needed 10 check the excuses and revolution.
AIRY tendencies Of the radicals II we can have
no change In the prevailing radical IDEAS Of
Congress in the interval to the mex, PresiIen.
'lal election, i isvery probable that af,sr !.
the people VII! not ss much k0ablsg di6
els lions IeQaring thci; juighisn. ID fsferen.c
to The policy Of The soveramoa! or The heIr 70
the Succession. We must hss, revolution q.
the polls or Va may look for revolution in
our system Of government, removing I. beyond
The reach Of tho people. ave at thu poin. Of tbs