The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-07
Las, OF the Thirty-ninsh Congress.

The Thirty-ninth Congress, which
has just expired, will occupy con-
splcIous place in the political history
of our country. Coming into power
after the work of war had been finish
ed, the duty devolving upon it was
the restoration of peace, harmony
and concord between the discovered
sections of the Union. To it the
people looked for wise and judicious
policy, that should preclude the pos
slbllty of future rebellion, and at
the same time be so tempered with
leniency as to win back the goodwill
rs well MS the political allegiance
of the South. This course was ex-
pectrd, not only at home but abroad.
The people of Europe, remembering
our sympathy with Poland. Hungary
nnd Ire and, mindful of our profes-
$i"na about political equality. liberty
and freedom, naturally looked for
the practices of what we had SO long
pruioa>cd. II any one had ut that
time predicted what has since come
, I" pass. he would have been regarded
n" u lii subject for 4 lunatic ASYLUM.
Nearly two wears have passed since
tn" rebellion ended, and to-day we
nrr apparently as far from political
restoration rs We were on the memo
rahlr day OF Lees surrender. And
with regard to harmony between the
North and South, it is Il question
whether the feeling is not more bitter
now than it was when the war termi-
mated. The Thirty ninth Congress
has disappointed the expectation of
the people; it has surprised European
spectators. and there will be but few
to regret its end. Yet we have rarely
had q Congress embodying more
craftsmanship and general talent than
the one which is now going out OF
power.
1t is common for the political op-
ponents of a Congress to attribute all
Its shortcomings to a want Of ability,
but we cannot account for the failure
OF this one upon such grounds. Its
average talent rates unusually high.
and its faults must be attributed to
some other cause than that Of incon1-
potency. The failure OF Congress
can probably be traced to undue
tirmness, inheXibility ana positive
ness, rather than anything else.
When the first disagreement occur
red between the President and Con-
gress, harmony might have been
restored and maintained if either
party had evinced disposition 10
concede little for the sake of amitv.
But neither would yield al inch, aud
hence the breach became wider and
wider, until it reached the present
proportions. To that point al the
trouble between the President and
Congress, and all the delay about re-
construction, can be directly traced.
If the executive and the Legislative
powers had continued to work toge-
ther III harmony, we doubt not that
complete recon struction OF the Union
would long ere this have been attain
cd. The Thirty ninth Congress, how
ever, must be Judged by its works,
and upon that basis responsibility
must be fastened upon it. 1t has not
only failed to DO its work, but it has
complicated the trouble and rendered
the consummation Of that work q
difficult thing for the succeeding Con-
gress. Not only that, but it is ac-
countable, in some measure. for the
business prostration that is now felt
throughout the country-at least so
fan as business troubles have resulted
from political causes. 1t had an op-
portunity to win the gratitude of the
country and the admiration of Eu-
rope; but instead Of that it has Won
the censure OF our own people and
the dlsapprobation Of those abroad.
The immediate partisans Of Congress
will pretend to endorse its course,
but unprejudiced and fair-mindeu
people Of all classes must necessarily
condemn it, and history will award it
anything but an enviable distinction.
Netr York Su,s.