The Portland daily press., 1868-07-29

Congress has taken recess, and We're it not
for the unseasonableness of the request we
should seriously propose to Governor Cham
berlain to issue his proclamation for day of
Thanksgiving to Almighty God that the ma
ton had escaped the unutterable humiliation
and the unparalleled disaster of being commit
ted to any phase of hydra-headed reputation.
Now that Congress has adjourned there is little
danger to be apprehended from this source, for
the longer such matter is discussed, the sur
or it is of being consigned to oblivion. iA
In the passage of the funding bill the Repub
lican policy triumphed. The government will
save BY exchanging the five-twenties for the
new bonds, more than $25,OOO,OOO per annum,
If half of the five-twenties are exchanged for
thirty years IL per cent. bonds and half for
the forty years four per cent. bonds. Let it not
be forgotten that this measure for sa0ing mil
lions for the "piosoholder" resisted in euery
conceivable soay by the Democrats Of the House
Of Representatives. They resorted to the pecu
liar species of parliamentary tactics known as
dllibustering to prevent its passage, and up to
the time of this writing the Democratic Presi.
dent has not signed it. If he does not sign it
let no Democrat hereafter during the campaign
have the presumption to commend his party
to the poor man! n1'
The members of the Fortieth Congress have
done good work. Let us see what has been
done in the way of relieving the people from,
taxation, and what course the Democracy have
taken on most of the measures designed to eff
feet that purpose. First the tax on manufac-
lures and on raw cotton have been repealed
These taxes amOuufad To q oh oh,
OF hundred million dollars. Then comes the
funding bill, opposed by the Democrats which.
If successful will save twenty-five millions.
Then the bill for the discontinuance of the
Freedman's Bureau, also opposed by the Dem
ocrats and vetoed by Democratic President.
This will save other thousands to the tax-pay-
ers For the postyonensent of the bill for the re.
ductson Of the army the Democratic party is sole
" responsible. That bill would have passed
Doth branches of Congress beyond a doubt had
IL not been for the revolutionary attitude of
the southern States. Frank Blair gave the
signal, the New York convention echoed it. the
South took fire at the sound as it did at the
sound of Beauregards's guns and it thence.
forth became impossible to reduce the army
without imperiling everything of value that
the victory over Davis and Lee gave to the
country. 1t was at one time proposed to issue
arms to the State militia and thus save tue me-
cesslty OF keeping up the army to its present
force, but on the whole the wisest course was
undoubtedly taken. "ei -'a
The thirty ninth Congress did great deal
of noble work and the forteth is its worthy
successor. Under its direction seven States
that participated in the rebellion have been re-
stored to the Union and military has given
place to civil government therein. To this
restoration of civil authority every Democrat
in the country from Andrew johnson down to
Democratic Congressman and Democratic
ward politicians have offered an Intellectual re-
sistance. The fortieth Congress has provided
that the distinctive rebel element shall have
no voice in electing' the next President but
that only the Union men and repenta,,t rebels
shall participate in the November election. 1t
has provided for the payment of the sum due
Russia for Alaska; filed the Austrian and
Mexican missions; ratified treaties with Chi
ma, Mexico and the Indians; passed bill for
the protection Of ndturdlized citizens more eff
Gent than any euer conceded by the Democrats
during all the years of their eossfs,sua,see IL,
poUer.
That the revenue system was not thorough
~ revised, that Jenckes' civil service and Pat
terson's foreign service bills were not passed,
thatino action was taken on Mr.. Lynch's bill
for the gradual resumption of specie payments
and that the measures faithfully upheld by Mr..
Lynch and all his Maine associates for the re-
lief OF shipbuilding were postponed, will be
sincerely regretted, but SO much of Importance
has been actually accomplished that the YER
dict of this generation as well as of history win
be, God bless the fortieth Congress