New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-07
RAnKRnNE.


earth from having so stiff backbone has
managed to swing in her orbit and hold
together ever so many millions of years.
The spinal column has been called the
backbone Of man, and man, through count
less ages from having so good a spinal
column, has managed to stand erect and
lord it over all the beasts of the earth. The
human will has been cs.,ed the backbone
of the mind and man from having so deter
mined and resolute will has been able to
cleave his way through opposing forces
until he has attained to some dignity of
stature in the history of living beings. All
success depends more or less upon the
health, firmness, and durability of the
backbone. A feeble and diseased backbone
soon drags all around it into decay and
death a strong and healthy one keeps
everything around it alive and moving.
The thirty-ninth congress possessed a
remarkable backbone. 1t stretched from
the east TO the west wing of the capitol, and
held The senate and the house Of repre-
sentatives firmly together. 1t maintained
control of all its functions with wonderful
tcnacity. 1t deied assault from the White
house again and again, and when it closed
its labors, victory sat upon its brow, and
vetoes, proclamations, and encouragement
| opinions lay crushed beneath its feet. The
lortieth congress commenced its session.
At first it seemed TO have some of the old
backbone Of the thirty-ninth in its body.
For awhile it stood up erect and lowered
| leagues above Fernando Wood and James
Brooks, who tried in vain to pierce it with
their feeble lances. But prolonged power
and prosperity was too much for it. In an
evil moment it yielded to unwise counsel
ors, it dallied with impeachment, it put
it off month after month, and when
the country, in tones not to be misunder-
stood, told it to settle the question one way
or another and have done with it, it settled
it in way that revived the hopes of every
rebel and copperhead in the land. It's failure
to impeach Andrew johnson brought on the
fortieth congress the dreaded spinal disease
that saps the pluck, nerve, and life of parties
as well as individuals. But disease is not al
ways DEATH Nature in tempting man with
poisons also points to the antidote. The
poison of timidity entered the veins of the
leaders of the house of Representatives, and
a paleness Of countenance and trembling at
the knees Immediately commenced. And
the tortieth congress is still shaking. One
branch of it, the house of representatives,
has risen in lis might and declared that the
Southern states shall be reconstructed upon
the platform laid down by the thlrty-ninth
congress, and to make that declaration good
has done all it can to pass law securing that
end beyond all doubt. But the senate is
seized with the spinal disease the moment the
bill is presented to it. 1t hesitates and STAN
mers, when it knows that the life of the
party, and perhaps of the nation, depends
upon it. The Southern states are making
their constitutions as fast as the dignity
and importance Of the matter will permit.
In few weeks they will all be before the
people, in spite of the false kilograms sent
by the Associated press to the contrary.
Nothing is wanted but little backbone
and nerve on the part of congress. The
Southern states 10 the Union, the Repub-
lican party need have no fears for its fu-
ture, at least until after it has elected its
presidential candidate; and the nation need
have no fears for its perpetuity, at least so
long as pure Republican principles survive.
Weakness and timidity in Washington
spreads the contagion Of weakness and
timidity all ever the land Republicans
here who are carrying on the strug-
gle with all their vigor watch
the dispatches from the North with breath
less anxiety. There is no lack of hope, no
lack of pluck, no sinking of the heart in
the Gulf states. From Texas to Virginia
the Republican party is thoroughly organ
lied, and upon the passage of the bill now
before the senate will carry every Southern
state into the Union. But If the senate fails
to pass that bill every rebel in the South
will spring to work, and copperheads in the
North will come down by hundreds to aid
them. And with the Southern states
counted out in the next election
where will Grant, or Chase, or Colfax
stand before the people? If congress
fails to back up the reconstruction laws
with all the supplementary Legislation that
is required to bring the Southern states into
the Union at the earliest possible moment,
Pendleton or Vallandigham will as surely
be the next president Of this nation as the
4th of March, 1868, is to come. We hope
the senate Of the United States will demon
strate to the world its possession of back
bone in making the bill Of Mr.. Stevens a
law of the land
THE CAMP STREET soAvEEGER,
1t has become the fashion Of the scaY-