The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-06
The struggle for Power.

Power lntoxlcates its possessors. 1t flies to
their heads like so much Burgundy, and un-
settles brains sooner than unqualified usque-
baugh. Especially is this true of large bo-
dies, mobs and Congresses, for example. In
these tumultuous assemblies the responsible
ty is diluted.
Men concur in ordering that from the per-
sonal doing of which they would shrink APP
palled. They are atoms in the mass, and
when assailed for their incorporate actions
they palter with their consciences by the com.
forting belief that the responsibility attaching
to them is fractional
This is bad logic and worse ethics.
Right and wrong are set before Them and no
infrmity can palliate the course of those who
pursue the latter. But unhappily this just
view has little weight of which truth we have
a conspicuous illustration in the course of the
present Congress 1t has deliberately conse-
Grated itself to vengeance; it has of malice
aforethought devoted its energies to sever
ance Of the Union which it stood committed
to restore, it has exhibited the bitterness,
without the passionate energy, of the French
Assembly; and it will stand convicted before
posterity of the most unblushing scramble for
party spoils, at a moment of supreme interest
to the fortunes of this so-called Republic
Mountebanks aud fanatics, political thimble-
ringers and rope-walkers, men of the heads
l-win-tails-you-lose party are in the ascend
ant; and the two chambers of Congress are
filled with masqueraders, who, in the domin-
oes Of so-called Unionism, plot the destruc-
ton of the material interests of this country
perity Of the United States in the future must
be determined by her productive ability
her export values must of necessity be relied
on to sustain her; and it is precisely at these
resources that Radicalism is now striking
With these sinister incidents to its grasping
effort to hold the power it enjoys, the Ameri-
can Cong ress of to-day may justly be regard
ed as the very worst enemy the Republic has
ever had. It's peculiar organ is the Washing
ton Chronicle, which is very good barometer
to show the changes of the Radical atmos-
phere. 1t is used by the leaders of the great
mutual-destruction party very much as Ma
poleoa does the Moniteur, to "feel" the pub
lie.
The present temper of the great Lunatic
Asylum of which we speak, can be gathered
from the audacious call made by the Ohron-
acle for the removal of Mr.. MoCULLocH on
the ground that Mr. JEFFERSON in 1902 re-
moved General Sr. CLAIR, Governor of the
Northwest territory, for speaking in terms
Of disrespect of the Congress of that date
What claim the present body can advance
to anything like public respect We are at
loss to conjecture; and the people we believe
concur with us in our judgment. ~.
This demand was followed by the action
Of the caucus, which we published on yestel-
day, and if any additional evidence was con-
sidered necessary to support our views, that
evidence can be found in the malignant propo-
sition to repeal, by an ec post facto and I'M
constitutional amendment the pardons granted
But there is one comfort we enjoy, which
is found in our confident belief, that the next
elections will show these madmen that they
can no longer retain the power which they
have thus prostituted
In default Of this rebukc, we know that we
can stand uptnnder the financial ruin which
will follow, as we'll as our neighbors; and
hen the Samson of fanaticism finally bulls
own the pillars ii this should happen. we
confess to belief that we shall be able to
behold the wreck with equanmity. But,
with half chance, we will make our waste
places blossom like the rose, and prove equal
to anything but fanatical legislation.
We can find time to observe the consterna-
ton of those who will be covered with us in
the general wreck. We would vastly prefer
a reasonable chance to recruit our fortunes
but, if this should be denied us, we con-
fess that "misery loves company
The Warlike News from Europe.
The CITY of London and the Noya Scotia