The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-11-18
The Next Congress.

Although General Grants to be the next President
Of the United States the Democracy have some little
cause to feel gratiGed the result of the election for
members Of the lower House Of Congress. The over
whelmnz majority which they had in the Tortieth Con-
gress is cut down to barely a working majority The
following from the New York ord, Of the 9th, on
this subject is not without interest at this time;
The Fortieth Congress- including the Southern car
et-baggers, was thus politically divided:
Radicals =. io2
Raaica, majority 40
5.5 Two thirds..-. :. az
According the latest returns at hand, the political
complexion of the next House of Representatives will
be as follows: -
Radicals. -. .1ge
Radical majority. ..........b Oh
TWothlrds -. = - ): =.
In this calculation it is assumed that the Radicals
will elect three congressman in New Hampshire next
March and of the four be chosen in Connecticut
in April though in the latter State they may not Sc
but one was the case at the eec
ton Of ls67 Thus, it will be seen that the Radicals
will not have two-thirds vote in the Forty as they
have in the present Congress Not only will the Dem
oerats have an effective working minority, but among
them will be men who will make their mark on the
floor. Their influence is sure to be felt. Among those
who are likely be especially prominent are y 5. Cox
and James Brooks of this city-the former the most
efficient parlarnentarian who has been in the House
during the last years with the possible exception
of Alexander e. Stephens and the late Ihad. Stevens
and the latter very useful member by reason OF his
abilities as speaker and his JOURNALISTIC facility IN
handling statistics s. s. Marshall OF Illinois, and
Michael g. Kerr of Indiana, both singnlar!y efficient
men, in any deliberative body and doubly 50 in the
House, because of their long experience in the Capitol
Daniel W. VOORHEES, of Indiana, ready speaker and
debater, and more than a match for any opponents
whom he is likely to meet at Washington; Judge
Woodward and Henry D. Foster Of Pennsylvania, both
men of more than ordinary ability; and Joseph IT,
Smith, of Oregon, of whom report speaks IN very lauda
tory terms In all these gentlemen and Others who
might be mentioned the Radicals in the House will
find foemen worthy of their STEEL and we more than
suspect adversaries with whom they will be reluctant
to cross swords.
The Radicals have reelected numger of their
brightest lights, the head of which is Benjamin F.
Butler of Massachusetts, by all Odds the sharpes man
in debate on their side Of the House Among their
other champions who have been reelected Robert
C. Schenck John A. Bingham. George s. Boutwell,,
James G. Blaine, William D. Kelley, Z. B. Waslburne,
John 4. Logan and James a Garfield, all men who
have attained prominence in the present Congress by
reason of the poor stuff of which the Radical portion
of it is composed. The Radicals however, will miss
the counsels Thaddeus Stevens end James NJ Ashley
of whom the ermer has gone to his last account, aud
the latter to settle certain accounts the mere mention
of which never reflected much credit upon him.
The country will be the gamer By the increase OF
Democratic Representatives and Democratic brains in
the next Congress The experience Of the last two
Congresses has shown how disastrous thing it for
one party to have an overwhelming majority in the
National Legislature and though the Democrats in the
Forty-frst Congress will be too few to cheek all Rad
cal legislation, they will still be strong enough in num-
bers and brains TO prevents repetition Of much of the
ill-adEisad and hasty acton which has wenigh made
the of Congress by-W ord and a reproach
in the opinion of all honest men. =z-zzz=