Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-26
A SENATORIAL CONTRAST.

During the decade which preceded the wal
of the rebellion, in visiting the Senate of the
United States, one would have heard as the
constant topic Of debate, the constitutional
prerogatives Of American slavery and inces-
SAINT harangues against "abolitionists.' -
Few members from the south side Of MASON
a DIxoN's" line would have risen at their
desks, save to defend Southern honor and
rights" and none would retake his seat
without airing Southern chivalry, or vaunt.
Ing Southern superiority.
CALHOUN would have been heard advo.
eating the fatal horesy Of secession. TooMBs
would have foretold the hour when the ''roll
Of the slave" would be called on "Bunkor's
sacred heights" HAMMOND would have
mathematical the Northern race as mud
stills" MASON, with the hauteur of the old
Virginian, would have shown his aristocratic
contempt of free civilization. DAVIS would
have threatened, as the consequence Of oppo-
sition to Southern demands, the disruption
Of governme BENJAMIN would, in the
fertile imagery Of the Israelite, have painted
the sacking of Northern cities by the con.
quering cohorts Of the South, and our com.
mcrce swept from tho ocean by the Southern
militia Of tho seas" Even CLAY and WEB.
srER, doubling and respondent, would have
been heard in eloquent warning over the i'm
pending ruin of the nation; and the voices
that for quarter Of n century had Numbered
in the ears of the people would have sub
sided to n wall Of despair.
The trial of war has passed. We have
crossed our Red Sea. Armies outnumberin
: the tabled hosts of Persia have fought and
conquered. The country is saved in honor,
In empire, in international standing. South.
ern legionS have been routed, Southern States
disorganized, Southern wealth annihlated
Step into the Senate Chamber now and listen
A Senator rises who has given his first born
to his country, and he pleads for the i'm
mediate acknowledgment Of the rights of the
revolving States Another Senator, whose
only son entered in his youth the service,
zealously battles for equal and impartial
rights. Another, with two sons in the army
during the contest, both crowned with rec.
ord of heroism, and one crippled for life by
honorable wounds, defends the charity of the
Government in the care of freedmen and ref.
ugoes. Others have held high commissions
in the army, and another has given name
to a regiment Of horse, whose gallant con-
duct will DO the theme of praise as long las
the troubadour sings of the war"
What is tho theme of debate now 1t is
in what way the vacant seats can be filled
again with safety to the land. You hear
freedom on every lip, and "human rights
is the watohword of legislation. The races
have been tested In the ordeal of war, and
the "mud.sill" Is triumphant. But there is
no inordinate boastingi no vain array Of vic
torious banners no taunt over the van
pushed; no title to superiority advanced
but with the calm dignity Of statesmen they
seek to make the American statutes common
surats with universal justice. And if we
seek an explanation of this contrast, we find
1t In the fact that the Boosting and beaten
race bowed to the Baal and worshipped the
idol of human slavery, while those who star.
tied the world by their courage and capacity
in the era Of carnage, and are now adjoining
civilization by their clemency, were nurtured
and reared amid free institutions, and knelt
to affairs dedicated to the God of liberty.