The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-06
The New Congress,
From The Tribune

The Fortieth Congress organized on Monday
Immediately on the expiration of its prede-
cessor. In the Senate twenty-seven States
were represented, making the total number of
Senators "a. OF these, al may be expected to-
act on all, or most, of the important ques-
tions of reconstruction in conformity with the
principles of the Republican party. Senator
Van Winkle, of West Virginia. who in the
First Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress fire.
quently vacillated, voting sometimes with,
sometimes against, the Republican party,
helped last Saturday to carry both the Re-
construction and the Tenure of Office bills
over the Presidents veto. If he adheres
TO the Republican party, it counts AZ mem
bers, a three-fourths majority. Senators
Dixon, Norton, Patterson, and Doolittle re-
mained to the end of the Thirty Con-
gress the steadfast opponents of the Reconstruc-
tion policy of the Republican party, and must,
therefore, be expected to vote the same way on
the important measures which will soon oc-
cupy the attention of the Fortieth Congress.
As the vote on the Reconstruction bill showed,
we may sooner expect one of the Democratic
Senators to cast by accident right vote than
these apostate sons of the Republican party.
Democracy has only seven representatives, to
whom soon one will be added from Maryland.
Reinforced by the four Republicans, the De-
mocrats will generally control dozen votes.
In view of the impeachment of the Presi-
dent, the Office of President of the Senate is
of special importance. 1t has been filled by
the election of Benjamin f. Wade, of Ohio,
tried leader of the radical wing of the Repub-
lican party, and as such enjoying the conf
dence of the party to a higher degree than his
predecessor, Lafayette S. Foster, who was re-
garded as a very conservative Republican.
Comparing the old and the new Congress, we
lose one Senator in Maryland, but we gain,
besides the two Senators from the new State of
Nebraska, one in California, one in Oregon,
and one in Pennsylvania, being a clear gain of
four. The harmony of the Republican party
will be greater than in the preceding Congress.
OF the new Republican Senators, Morton,
Cameron, Drake, Conkling, and Morrill, will in
particular bring large share of executive and
legislative experience and ability into their
new offices, and take their rank among the
prominent men of their party.
The House has reelected Schuyler COlfaX
Speaker and Edward Mcpherson Clerk. Both
Speaker and Clerk have gained the esteem of
their friends as well as political opponents to-
an almost unparalleled degree. Both are un-
compromising representatives of the Repub-
lican party. AS six States have not yet held
their elections the total number of States re-
presented at present is only q, and the total,
number of representatives is B63 (not inclu-
ding the vacancy which has been caused by
the election of Roscoe Conkling as the Senator
from New York;. The number of Republicans
is 128, and as all of them have been elected as
avowed opponents of the policy of the Presi-
dent, we presume they will vote on most or all
important questions as unit. The Democrats
number "a, including Noell (Mo.) and Phelps
CMd.), who were elected on the Democratic
ticket. By allowing them also Thomas E.
Stewart, of this city, their number increases
to 35, or less than One-fourth of the House.
The States which still have to elect members
of Congress are likely to send delegations Of
the following cOmpleXion:-
IRep Dem Rep. Dem
California3 ONew HampBhire..S
Gonnecticut.,..-...4 Rhode dsano'''''S .