The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-17
Mr.. Speaker COIfax and the Next Session
of Congress.

From the Herald.
Before MI. Speaker ColfaX leaves his Western
home to resume his duties at Washington, he
should sit down quietly in front OF the fire and
devote an hour or more 10 serious thought upon
the responsibilities of his position clever
smart, active man, he was a very good printer
and very good editor of little country paper
In a little country town IN Indiana: but as the
Speaker Of the House of Representatives he has
been almost failure. In spite of the compli-
mentary resolutions passed at the close of the
last session Qf Congress, and in spite of the full
some eulogfes of the partisan press, and in spite
OF his election to the next Congress by a very
handsome vote, his comparative failure is a TACT
which cannot be denied. The complimentary
resolutions were matter OF course, the praises
0t the partisan press are bestowed indscrmi-
nateiy, and his reelection was only ripple in
the overwhelming delUge OF Republican maio-
rites; and when ne comes to subject himself to
critical examination by the freight, he must
admit that hitherto he has done a great deal of
mischief AS Speaker OF the House, and that he
has established no solid reputation for ability
and impartia.ity.
The present lamentable contest between the
President and Congress is due in a great mea-
sure to the incapacity and the errors of Mr.
| Speaker Coltax. When the last session COM
menced the President and Congress we're in
practical accord. In his message the President
stated very clearly what he had done towards
Teconstructlng the Union and then turned the
whole subject over to Congress, adding a few
sugR Restions which Congress has since embodied
III its legislation. The ultra radicals or Jacobins
! led by Mr.. Thad. Stevens, at once entered upon
a political crusade against the President but
this amounted to nothing until the President
was provoked into retallatory animadversions.
The origin of the trouble was the use of vulgar
and abusive language towards the President by
Stevens, Ingersoll, and other Jacobins. When
| they called him traitor, Rebel, usurper, and
The man at the other end of the avenue" and
threatened him with the axe and the halter, it
| required more placid temper than the Pres-
ueht possesses TO resist the temptation to reply
| III equally violent terms. But the President
| spoke unomcially at mass meeting, while the
@ @aaulcn congressman spoke officially during the
sSeesohs s OF the House. and with the sanction of
| he ha6 0Peaktr; that sanction Mr.. Speaker ColfaX
mentary word 1t was his duty to cali rhe pdend.
| ing member to order. He knew +bat IL wos
| contrary 10 the rules of the House 70 pariia.
| inehtary law everywhere, and 10 tba ordinary
| etiquette among gentlemen for him to narmit
| the PRESIDENT OF the United States to ha opp,sa5
| slandered, and ridiculed in Congress- and L1
| should have interfered Immediately. Rad the ne
discussions ln Congress been properly cor.
| Quoted, there would have been none Of this ~
sonal feeling in regard to President JnSIper nS per
which has already dssraced us before t6a
world. Blr Speaker Colfax was placed in the
| chair to take care that the debates were nro' e
perly conducted, and none of the present ami
mostly would have existed had he performed
| his duty.
After this brief glance at the faults of his mast
| career, we now invite Mr.. Speaker Colfax to con.
| slider how he is TO behave in the future. When
Congress again assemblies he win find his duty