The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-08-14
Continued from first page.

10 modify the test oatn. congress- ho"e'O';
earnestly desirous of coming to better un-
derstanding with Mr.. johnson, did not IN any
way attempt to force unnecessary trouoles,
and the Senate, May II, rejected moderate
bin of Mr.. Trumbulls, restraining Tue aP-
pointing power Of the President
The history of the Tariff bill in this session
ia one of neglect and disappointment. As
early as January petitions in favor of Pro-
tactive Tariff were poured into Congress. In
lime and July it was debated in The House,
and July 10, passed by vote Of "a to So
Though not perfect, it wos a decided improve
ment upon the tariff in existence We would
GLADLY have accepted it with all its faults, put
had little hope of its passage in the senate
July II that body postponed the bill TIL De-
cember, and next day the friends OF protection
introduced a revised bill into the house.
Gradually the excellent measures when the
Committee had originally reported were HIT
tered away. The Senate accepted the revised
bill July "a with amendments, IN Whlch the
Honse refused to concur. Committee OF
Conference was appointed, and on the last
dav of the session this enfeebled and inelhc-
lent measure was finally adopted by both
Uonses We have no desire, at present, to
criticise further the action Of Congress, es-
n,cially of the Senate, in this unpardonable
failure to do something decisive for the en-
courapement Of American manufactures, and
the general financial interests. In policy
which began by raising the tax upon Coal,
and increasing it upon Iron, 1t was Impossible
TO place much confidence. A separate bill to
increase the duty upon imported Wool passed
the House. Just before adjournment, but the
Senate wasted no time in laying 1t on the table.
Congress has made little change IN the tarIit
it found imposed, and we suppose we should
be grateful for even this small measure OF
wisdom.
Other financial legislation of importance
was too much neglected. The Loan bill was
considered in the House, and in It's original
shape defeated March l6. On the Z3d 1t
passed by 80 to 3d. and April was adopted
in the Senate by a large majority. 1he Com
mittee of Ways and Means, February /, re-
ported a bill to Fund the National Debt, which
was subsequently, cut down and changed so
that it was necessary to chance the very title.
The Bankrupt bill, a very important measure,
which, if passed, would have been Of immeas-
urable benefit to the country, was approved
by the House as early as May, but the Senate
obiecting 10 the entire principle of the bill,
postponed it till December. A more crafty
ing feature of the financial action of Congress
was the passage of the Internal Revenue bill
in June, By which at least Sl00,000,000 OF
of taxes per annum were repealed. Astronger
evidence of the wealth and resources of the
country could not be given than thai this was
ACCOMPLISHED q little more than year after
the end of the war, and with debt of thou
sands of millions unpaid. Had this removal
of direct taxes been accompanied with more
stringent protective tariff we should have been
better satisfied But Congress proceeded
from mistake to mistake. July Is, the Sen
ate resolved to increase the pay OF its officers
ard employees, while, May %, the dangerous
bill to equalize soldiers bounties passed the
House by nearly unanimous vote. These
two measures, were, destined to serve each
other we'll. The Senate defeated the Bounty
bill, July "a, and the House. two days after,
refused to concur in the bill to increase sala-
ries On the last day of the Session, Con-
ference Com mittee tackled both of these prop
aositions to the Civil Appropriation bill and
the House, protesting against increasing ITS
wages, voted for the bill for the sake OF the
soldiers bountles, while the Senate, protest
ing against the bounties, approved the Dill for
the sake of its salaries. This pleasant little
arrangement, which was carried out lrrespect-
i've of party, was signed by the President, and
is now another proof that two wrongs, so far
from making OuG ulShAC S1Sh SNhSA hAS
more monstrous. r.g.sG ii .r 81. .g.-.r.-
Congress, MAY 80, finally passed the bill to
facilitate commercial, postal, and military
communication between the several States
a wise and important measure, which ought
to do much TO destroy the monopolies that
rob the people y A bill to reorganize the Ju-
dietary of the United States was adopted
The Army bill, giving us large military
force, was adopted at the end OF the session
River and Harbor Improvements were author
lied but much needed measure to protect
the banks of the Mississippi from inundatiou
was defeated. The Neutrality bill, which re-
pealed the old laws by which the United
States bound herself to an extreme neutrality
which no rival nation observed, was passed
in the House, but in the Senate consigned tC
a Committee, and sent over till December
The spiritrof thisbilt was carr ed out in Other
resolutions by Congress, requesting the Pres.
dent to report if any American citizens il
Ireland were held Illegally imprisoned, asking
him to interfere in behalf of the Fenians IL
canada, and recommending that all prosecu-
tions in the United States Courts against Fen
iaus should be stopped.
What may be called the personal buSines:
Of Congress has several interesting Points
When the session began both Houses unani
mouSly passed resolutions OF THANKS 10 III
Army and Navy, which at the close wcr
practically carried out in the bill creating tn
titles of General in the Army, and Admra
in the Navy-honors intended by Congres
for Grant and Fawag agut-who were sool
afterward nominated by the President, ant
confirmed by the Senate. The right of JohI
P. Stockton of New Jersey to a seat in tn
Senate was disputed in March, and on tn
23d he was declared entitled to his place, b
a close vote of % to 81, MIR. Stockton votin
for himself This led to a very exciting de
bate, and Mr. Stockton finally yielded to th
arguments against his right tovote in his ow
case, when he was unseated, March 81, By .
to 81 1t was supposed that New Jersey, whic
had so thoroughly indorsedth the Union policy
would send Radical Senator at once. =
election was prevented by the treachery {
james N. Scorel Speaker Of the New Jerse
Sanate who elected As a Radical and diStin