New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-03-05
THE ruJRTYyJyTH CONGRESS.

THE THIRTI-NINIH CONGhEoS'
The XXXIXth Congress has passed into
history. Its career has been one of the most
eventful of any in our annals. 1t has had
large duties and responsibilities, and on the
whole has discharged them noblY. It's debates
have been marked by great diversity OF sent-
mont. by every shade of opinion, on the great
nublic topcs upon which it has been compelled
70 review and decide. But when the talk has
been ended the action has been remarkably
harmonious and decisive. 1t has been Won
der often TO see how so many divergent
streams of thought and opinion could be
found at length cOnverging together, ana
finally flowing in the same channel. That
the many have been so generally able
to become one on questions and meas
ures of the most difficult and grave
character. is a credit to representative govern
ment, and testimony of great weight to the
considerate judgment of the American people.
The gravest and highest problems of govern
ment, Involving not only policy but principles
have been treated, and at least temporarily
solved, with an unanimity unparalleled IN 0nr
legislation. No Congress ever had more dItii-
cult work to perform, and none ever dispatched
it with more fidelity and resolution. 1t took up
the affairs of tho nation just rs great war
was closing. Its first duty was to pay and
discharge an army of n million of men This
grateful duty performed, its attention was
turned to the accomplishment OF another and
vet more difficult task This was to protect
LOYALTY i'm the. Rebel States, To prevent the
freedmen from being reduced to scridom, to
undo what the President had done during the
nine dreary months which interviewed between
the adjournment of the XNNNIllth Congress ana
the meeting of the XXXIXth. II found
policy of reconstruction i'll force, IN which II
had not been consulted, and could not sane
ton; it found every Rebel State controlled by
rebels, loyalty pOwcrlcss, and the freedmen
subjected 10 laws expressly framed To
keep them in practical Slavery. On tho first
day Of the first session Rebel Representatives
attempted to take part in its legislation,
and at the doors of the Capitol, for weeks
afterward pardoned Rebels, encouraged
by the Executive, demanded admission
as n right. Its first act was to keep these
gentlemen out; its second, TO frame a
system for the protection of tho freed
men and loyal men. 1t greatly enlarged
the powers of tho Frcedmen's Bureau, and
made the Civil Rights bill a law.
What the country owes to these great measures
it is impossible to estimate but independently
of the protection they afforded they gave to
Congress practical control of the Rebel States,
otherwise removed from Its jurisdiction
by tho State Governments organized
by order of the President. If i'll this session an
Intellectual attempt was made to establish "A
basis of reconstruction by the passage of the
Constitutional Amendment, We need not now
regret the rejection Of that measure by the Rebel
States or its comparative failure III the North.
Sheltered by the Executive backed by his
power, and patronage, and sympathy, the
South chose TO decline with contempt the too
generous offer of Congress. new duty was
thrown upon it, Congress rose with the occa-
sion. Instead of resting on its rejected prOpo-
sition it proposed to deal yet more
efficiently and thoroughly with the remains OF
the great Rebellion. I'm its first session
it proceeded upon grounds of expcdicncy.
II rose in the second to the assertion of a great
principle. The Capital of the Nation was re-
deemed by the law which extended to all ctl-
zcps the right Of suffrage, without respect to
color, and in the Territories all laws which
prescribed citizens on account Ot race or color
were repealed. Dealing justly with loyal
territory under its control, it had doubly moral
right to enforce justice upon States which
had forfeited their rights by Rebellion.
In the Reconstruction act which Congress
triumphantly made law before 1t
ceased TO be, it declared Universal Suffrage
the principle upon which the Union shall be
reorganzed. 1t offers this to the Rebel States
as the condition upon which representation
may be won, and the crimes of treason and
rebellion forgiven. This is its great and
browning work after two years of agitation,
discussion, and dcliberation. Time will dis
close the results of its last and most
important measure. The body expires tender
ing it with the most thorough approval, and
the most resolutc expectation that its success
sOrs will abatc no jOt of its demands.