The national Republican., 1866-12-06

9. p. HANSCOM, EDITOR. .-raa
THURSDAY ,MoRNINa:a:.D DECEMBRR Q. 1885.
THE SPIRIT OF CONGRESS-. = +,
We confess to considerable disappointment
at the spirit manifested by Congress at,the
opening of its present session. Although
TEE PRESIDENT informed that body that he
had perceived no reason for changing his
opinion thst the ten unrepresented States
we're entitled 70 be represented BY loyal SEN
aton and Representatives,, he concluded by
expressing the hope--to which we have be-
fore alluded editorially--that the coordinate
departments Of the Government, each in its
proper sphere, "migM cordially cooperate
,ritk the other in securing the maintenance
Of he Constitution, the preserpa.fon Of the
Union and the perpetuity Of our free insti-
tutions.hi This, under the circumstances, was
such tender Of an olive branch TO Congress
as we thought should and would be accepted
in the spirit in which 1t was offered, II for no
other reason than to facilitate the transaction
Of the public business, and for the common
benefit Of our whole country.
Let us look at this difference Of opinion
calmly. What is II aboutY Why, II is about
the restoration of the political relations
broken by the war. Last year both Congress
and The President professed to desire the
restoration, but differed as to the way and
manner Of doing il. Was that difference
proper subject Of a personal or even politi-
cal quarrel among statesmen With all
proper difference to all the parties concerned
we submit that it was not. .
Such differences among friends occur every
day in State Legislatures, in the directories
Of railroad, banking, and even in literary and
religious corporations, where all are aiming
at the common good, but differ respecting
the way and means Of promoting it; and yet
they produce no quarrel. Governors OF
States and Mayors Of cities veto bills every
day passed by bodies Of their political friends;
and yet such vetoes produce no quarrel
Clergymen protesting the same general faith
differ as to the means Of promoting the best
interests of their church; and yet they have
no quarrel. Why then should the Congress
Of the United States, which or hit to be the
most dignifed legislative body in the world,
persist in quarreling with The PREDrDEsr :
Can anybody answerf .HE"
The truth is that there never has been, up
to this hour, any sufficient excuse for it. And
had it not unfortunately happened that there
are few high-tempered, dogmatic and
unduly sensitive men in both Houses Of Con.
gress no quarrel with The President about
representation in Congress ,Dould or could
have happened. II IfCongress could not fully
concur in TIE PRESIDENTS recommendations
it was entirely out Of character for any Sen
ator or Representative to rise in his plac
and heap upon him, as some Of them did q
the last session, opprobrious epithets. w
know very well that it was only few
them who did so; but there were enough
them who manifested, by their silence an
their concurring votes, their approval
such conduct to make the whole body Of Ii
radicals in Congress responsible for it, Ga
this be denied?
We say this as reminder-not to woun,
not to widen the breach between Congre.
and The PREsIDESr-least of all to inham
passions already too much excited. We So
this as the predicate Of the remark that i
the very nature Of things no possible goo
can come, and much evil may come, from
persistence in that line of conduct Whi
candid, impartial man or woman can fail I
perceive that much of the remarks made o
the first and second days Of this session
respect to THE PRESIDENT were not onl
wholly uncslled for, but entirely below th
standard Of courtesy which belongs to of
cial positions
IL both Houses Of Congress have fnall
determined to follow the lead Of Mr.. SUMNER
which was declined on Monday on anothe
subject-in declaring all the State govern
ments Of the ten unrepresented States illegi
and void, and thereby stultify themselves
order to shut out representation in Congres
and the voices Of those States at the ne,
Presidential election, it seems to us that the
ought to be content with shouldering such
fearful responsibility without heapng ar
further abuse upon TIE president. Ar
even if they desire to invade the province
the Executive, and to take to themselv
powers which he has hitherto exercised,
seems to us that they might do it with SON
degree Of legislative decorum. The Who
civilized world is looking on; and surely il
good opinion Of this Republic cannot be e.
alted by a repetition of the scenes Of II
long session, nor by affecting suspicion
every time resolution Of inquiry is intr
duced, that TIE PRECEDENT has been guilt
OF some high misdemeanor.
We put it to the good sense of Congre,
whether these suggestions are not warrante
by the manner Of the opening of the preseI
session, and whether our advice is not SCUM,
NOSES Bates, the Vallandigham Of Mass,
chusetts, has recently been removed us Chai
man Of the Democratic State Central Con
mittee of Massachusetts,, and Judge ABBol
has been elected to that position. We CO
gratulate the committee that ii has TO tb