The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-05-01
Congress Only a Radical Execu-
tive Committee.

The Rump Congress, at Washing.
ton, u, little more than a continued SOS.
sion of the Republican Executive Com
mittes. For one hour Of thought for the
welfare Of the country they devote days
and nights and weeks to laboring for their
party. The only business of the mem.
bars of this Congress seems to be to de-
wise ways and means to get into the next.
IF we can forget for amomentt that they
are keeping the Union divided ,o~utraging
the Constitution and disgracing the coun-
try, their proceedings are supremely ri
diculous.
They set apart a great many days to
general speech making, when they aston
ish the open-mouthed Negroes in the gal
leries with their yehemence. Clerks from
the Departments are detailed regularly to
mix with the Negroes and lead off in the
tremendous applause" with which these
speeches are uniformly greeted. The Ne
groes have already learned to applaud
whenever a speaker calls the Democrats
TRAITORS" "Copperheads,"" or "%allies OF
JEFF. Davis" This encourages members
OF the calibre of Mr.. Plants to repeat
such epithets quite frequently, casting
their eyes at each repetition around the
darkened gallery to see that the worries
are duly exposed, and that the long heels
do not neglect their lessons in stamping.
Bat the clerks do not get off as easily
as the Negroes. After being forced tc
stay awake to see that the applause is
regularly and appropriately introduced,
they are compelled to subscribe literally
to have these speeches printed in pam
phlet form, and ranked to Buncombe dis,
trict. They are made solely for reading
in the '%'rooral deestrics,h aud the sire
mendous applause" makes the rural read
er think there has been something very
stunning said, although he can't exactly
see it. True, the applause could be, and
often is, interpolated by the reporter, or
by the speaker himself in revising his
speech; but that commodity can be man
ufactured free of expense, and as it helps
keep the hearers awake, they generally
require it to be furnished.
These speeches, or rather this speech,
is substantially the same by whomsoevcr
delivered. Each member in turn puts
his name to it. puts a suit of his old
clothes on it, makes the clerks foot the
bill. and sends it to his constituents as
his bantling-his whitewashed picaninny.
1t is solely for the purpose of securing
the power and plumber of the Government
to the radical party that these speeches
are made, and franked to the country by
the swill-tub full. 1t is chiefly for this
purpose hat the Constitution is being
violated and the rights Of the States trod:
den under foot. tits chiefly for this pur-
pose that eleven States are kept out of the
Union in defiance of justice aud the Con,
stitution. 1t is chiefly for this purpose
that tho whites of the South are to be
disfranchised by test oaths, and suffrage
conferred on Negroes. 1t is chiefly for
this purpose that swarms of new officers
are being made, whose duty and interest
it will be to labor for the radical ticket.
1t is chiefly for this purpose that wealthy
and Influential men are exempted from
taxation. In short, this rump Congress
does nothing which has not for its chief
object asceudency Of the radicals, and the
security Of their hold on power and plum
der.