The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-14

o0pe0 Win MASSACHUSETTS u1rky.
Congress and Our National Finances.
In a few days Congress will meet again, and
viii meet under peculiar circumstances. None
OF its predecessors evor met under such an ex-
iraordinary state Of aff.irs, both politically
and financially, particularly as regards our
national finances. 1t is not o new Congress,
but since itl last session terminated surpris-
ing change has taken place in public senti-
ment The voice OF the people, from one end
OF the country to the other, proclaims loudly
the condemnation of it's measures and weak
ness. The b!ataa. ard violent radicals who
have wasted the time OF Congress in spouting
about and clamoring for impeachment of the
President are themselves impeached by q
higher power. They have been tried before
the bar of public opinion, and . scathing YER
dict has been pronounced against them.
This dominant party was all-p0werful; there
was but the shadow Of opposition; it
was able at all tim,s mot only to silence oppo-
siion, but even to carry its measures over the
veto Of tho President by the constitutional
two-thirds vote. Il had no excuse whatever
for bad legislation or for not doing Its duty to
the country.
Looking at this fact and at the popular judy
ment pronounced against this weak and rock
less Congress, Wa are curious to see what will
be its conduct ON reassembling. In its pride
and modification 1t may become more reckless
still and defy public opinion. Taere are ex-
amples in history where such violent and revo-
luiionary Jacobins have set themselves up
above the people. But il they should dare to
act SO they will only intensity the odium with
which they are now regarded. There may be,
however, sufi len. number Of m,mbers In
both houses conservative and patriotic enough
TO respect the will Of the people ~ expressed
at the late elections. We may see men Of sa-
gacity, prudence and foresight-such mon. per-
haps, as Senator'S Sherman, Trumbull, or Fes-
senden-put themselves in the breach to stem
the torrent Of radlcalism and save the country
from the evils their party has brought upon
us. The conduct Of Congress will be watched
with intense interest, and the people will
surely mark those members who may persist
in their radical and destructive course.
With regard 10 mere political matters or to
me question Of reconstruction. Congress has
done as much mischief rs II well could do.
Much Of this mischief is irreparable, at least
for the present The South, that magni6cen.
and richly productive portion of our country,
has been turned over TO negro domination-to
the government Of semi-barbarians. Lit lie
can be done now TO arrest the disaster II
must run its course for a while. The reaction
in time will sweep away the obnoxious features
of reconstruction. The day is not far of
when the people Of the whole North-this
proud Caucasian white race-wiil demand
the emancipation of their white brethren in
the South from the barbarous rule of the ne
groea In the meantime there are other ques-
tons Of the highest importance looming up and
requiring skilfui management
Laying aside the question Of reconstruction,
the one which overshsdows all others Is that
OF our national fnanccA The expenditure OF
the federal government Is something like five
hundred millions Of dollars year, with the
prospect that, under the disorganIzcd state Of
the South and . costly military dcspotism
there, IL will soon exceed that This, together
with the burden Of State, county and municipal
debts and extravagant local expenditures,
swslls the aggregate amount Of taxation to
\ thousand millions
The local government Of the city Of New
York alone costs over twenty millions Of dol
lars. Reckless extravaganza Is tine curse Of
all parties, for here we are under democratic
rule but IL II Just 10 say that the stupendous
debt and frightful taxation Of the federal gov
eminent ere the result Of radical republican
misrule. A thousand millions OF taxation !
What people ever bore such welghtf How
can we continue 70 bear III We must remeu-
Der, too, that nearly oil This burden falls upon
the North. Under the destructive legislation
Of Congress she South will be less and less
able TO aid In carrying this burden. Twenty
i've millions Of people have 70 bear thousand
millions Of taxation Forty dollars head for
every man, woman aud child Or for ever