The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-20
The Secret Mid nigh Conclnves OF Congress.
From the National Inteliigeneer, July 14.I

FROM thc NdHondt lHtetttgeHeer, Al
All classical readers are familiar with the
| graphic description which sallust gives Of the
| meetings Of Cataline and the instruments of his
unholy ambition, when they gathered in secret
concaVe to plot the destruction Of the Republic.
And another, even greater one than the
| famous historian. Of the conspiracy Of Cataiine,
has, with few touches OF his magic pen, painted
the memorable scene when the Triumvirs, tho
central directory" OF their day, deliberated in
secret what disposition they should make Of the
spoiis Of the Roman Empire, aud what fate they
ous purposes. We quote portion of this re-
markabfe scene:
[Anteny. octavius. and Lepidus seated at table,
Ant These many then, shall die; their names are
oetu. Your brother. too. must die; consent you,
Lep do consent.
0etp. Prick down, Antony.
Lep Upon condition Publius shall not live, who ia
yonr sisters son. Mark Antony. -
Ant He shall not live; look, with spot damn him.
1t is ever thus, ambition, tyranny and treason
work out their proud purposes in secret. Con-
| spiracy 10 born in secresy
With these remembrances and considerations
before us, we have never had aught but hate Of
secret conclayes. Hence it is with fixed feeling
| of sorrow We have heard of the nightly assem-,
blages Of the majority OF Congress in the capitol
with closed and guarded doors, under the injunc.
| tion of profound secrecy,
This is the inauguration of new era in our
history and it is one to which the attention of the
American people should be called. 1t must be re-
| membered these are not the meetings of persons
without authority, about whose movements the
public are no way concerned, but it is the domi-
| nant party or both Houses Of Congress-; it is the
Senate and the House in secret conclave; it is the
| legislative power OF forty millions Of people in
| concealed deliberaton.
| What does it mean? iii is legitimate business
they are after, why is not that business transact
| ed with open doors, in the light OF day. and un-
der the eyes of the American people2 1t looks as
ii it was something they were ashamed Of or fear
| ed to have known. Have they 30 lost confidence
in the intelligence Of the people, that they fear to
| trust that people with a knowledge OF public
| affairs? Do they fear that their power is giving
| way, and that the ground is crumbling beneath
them, and some secret scheme must be con-
cocted to arrest the disastrous turn events
are taking? Or do their purposes 70 beyond
| this do they mediate new violation OF the Con-
stitution to secure their hold on power Do they
fOrego mysterious thunderbolt to hurl at the
breast OF the noble patriot in the Executive chair,
who has stood as unyielding as de- tiny in oppo.
sition to their wicked and insensate purposes
| Are they preparing themselves for one last des-
perate onslaught upon the Executive power? Do
they mediate contscations and proscriptione or
impeachments? Their attitude Is Calculated to
| alarm tho public confidence Some thipl, thew
mediate coup fetdt, but we acauIt them of this
| folly Certain it is they do not nightly assemble
like conspirators in the capitol with closed doors
to gaze at each others faces or to indulge in th,
luxury Of public speaking. No they mean buui-
ness as they slip up with stealthy steps by night
| to the capitol.
| We have not learned whether, like Guy Fawkes
| they move with their dark lanterns But whether
they do or not, we protest against their longer
profsuing The sacred capitol with their midnieht
conolaYes.