The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-04
The Thirtv-ninth Congress.

OF a loyal DbOplb uhAANB NiAV Aoob godl vi luo
late great war, it has been obliged to face the
most momentous and difficult questions ever
committed to the settlement of legislative
body. Elected upon the same ticket with our
late beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, it
found, when it assembled in 1865, strange
and unparalleled state of affairs. Mr.. Lincoln
had been sent to his grave by the bullet of an
assassin nearly seven months before. In the
interim his successor, discarding the princi-
pies of the martyred leader, and without con-
sulting the Representatives of the people, had
undertaken to reconstruct the Southern States
according to his own crude notions, and by his
own puny fiat to settle the mighty questions
growing out of the great struggle and revolu-
ton through which the nation had passed.
The Congress of the United States, for the
first time in our history, found its constitu-
tional authority as the law-making branch of
the Government denied, and the Executive
claiming to settle the most momentous national
issues by his own mere will. And it found
this extraordinary claim made to support a
plan of reconstruction which placed the Gov
ernments of the Rebel States in the hands of
the very men who had just been defeated in
their attempts to overthrow the Government,
and which deprived the nation of the just
fruits of its dearly bought victories over the
enemies Of the country. The claim was one
which involved the destruction of the Consti-
tuition by virtually changing the form of our
Government; the policy in behalf of which this
claim was made, was one that would have
made the nations vast expenditures of life and
resources so much blood and money wasted
in vain and fruitless endeavor.
Congress met the usurpations of the Execu-
tive in a spirit worthy of the Representatives
of a free people. Its first great work was to
Vindioate its own authority as the only consti-
tutional law-making power in the Govern
ment. At every step it met the determined
hostility of the usurping Executive. Every
measure it devised for the protection of the
people and for the proper government of the
country was met by veto. All the apph-
ances of power and place were lavishly used
to seduce members from their integrity. Not
withstanding all this, Congress, besides the
ordinary legislation, passed at its first session
those two great measures of public freedom
and order-the Civil Rights bill and the Freed
mems Bureau bill, besides submitting to the
several States an amendment to the Constitu-
tiOn covering proper plan of reconstruction.
The approaching elections furnished an
occasion for once more appealing to the
people. How magnifcently that appeal was
responded to has already Become a part of
our history. Reinforced by this direct popu-
lar Endorsement, Congress returned to its
labOrs last December, and Immediately COM
menced preparations for more thorough
work of reconstruction, should the Constitu-
tional amendment be rejected. 1t also began
to prepare for those measures of protection
to the country which the threatening atti-
tude of the Executive had rendered neces-
sary. Meanwhile the Southern communities
having contemptuously rejected the generous
terms of reconstruction offered by Congress,
new and more complete measure was
matured, passed by both Houses, and on
Saturday last triumphantly repassed over the
Presidents veto, so that it is now the law o.
the land. Thus the power and authority of Con
gress over this great question were at last
fully vindicated.
The passage of the Tenure of Office bill, and
of the bill establishing impartial suffrage IL
the District of Columbia, both over the veto o
the President, were additional popular tri
umphs which will lend lustre to the Thirty
ninth Congress In regard to all the grea
issues upon which it was elected it proved
itself faithful, incorruptible, and successful.
We are not unaware that the failure of tn,
Tariff bill is highly deplored by large por
ton of the community. This we mus
ascribe however, to the tremendous stres
mt upon Congress in its contest with tn
Executive upon the all-absorbing politica
issues of the hour, rather than to any want
regard for the interests Of our national il
dnstry. The constant necessity of having
two-thirds majority upon all important que
tions necessarily delayed legislation and pr
longed discussion. A large majority OF 20
eress was in favor of increased protection, o.
the diversity of interests to be oonsult'
finally threw the bill into position where
minority could and did defeat it, We do n
doubt, however, that out of this Temporal
defeat will grow wiser and juster tariii'
Taking an impartial and cOmprehensi
survey of the momentOus questions which I
Thirty-ninth Congress had to deal with, I
tremendous difficulties it had to encount'
and the grand victory it finally achieved