The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-12
The Riot In Congress

We suppose the word riot will apply te
the scene of disorder which occurred in the
Joint session of the two Houses of Congress
held to count the vote for President and
Vice President on Wednesday last.
Ii disclosed much Of that Jealousy DC
tween the two Houses which we alIudcd 10
in the Dispatch of yesterday morning
But il disclosed more-it developed inc o'S-
nstrous effects of the disregard OF Const,tu-
tom law. and custom, and the setting up
IT mere marty interests as the ruling prln-
cinle in the administration Of the govern
,,ent of the nation. OF course nothing but
disorder and passion, clamor and vindlc-
tiveness, can be expected when such
rrinciple is placed in the ascendant IN
the Government. Nothing is more I'M
stable. tickle, and changeahle, than
party interests, party views and policies.
They are go completely at the mercy OF
personal aspirations and strategies that the
rivalries of few men may in as many
months bring confusion upon the purposes
Of party. 1t is obvious that policy
based on so uncertain foundation must be
as tickle and false as the foundation itself.
So that on Wednesday, in the grave as
semblage Of the representatives OF the
nation, the rivalries and jealousies of men,
and the more dignifed jealousy of the one
House towards the other, were shamelessly
exhibited in a scene of disorder which beg
CARS description, and which rivalled the
multitudinous and vulgar uproar of mass
meeting in the lowest quarters of the great
metropolis.
What scene, indeed, for the Congress of
the United States Shades Of HANCOCK,
JEFFERSON, MADISON, CLAY, CALHOUN, aud
WEBsrER, How if it be permitted to
you to review the doings of this world, you
must have been shocked on Wednesday by
what you beheld in that gorgeous capitol of
the great American Republic, How like
rabble had grown the great Congress which
in your day was the example of gentilitv,
grace, order, ard decorum What a horrid
metamorphosis' You must have shaded
your eyes from it, and rushed back to your
nbodes, lamenting the privilege yon had
enjoyed of seeing what your country had
come to,
We repeat, the scene was legitimate re-
suit Of the Reputation Of the Constitution
md the customs Of our fathers hY the rcvo-
lutionary party now in possession Of the
Government. 1t was display CT that fatal
departure from the chart Of the civil liber-
ties Of the country which not only invites,
hut renders necessary, the interposition Of
arbitrary authority.
If it had been n providential design TO
show to the world the unftness OF the
American Congress to take care Of the
affairs of the naton-its uniitness because
of it's violent passions and habits so entirely
inconsistent with deliberation, wisdom, and
iustice-this design was fully carried out
on Wednesday and were there man of
capacity and boldness on the stage who
had determined to seize the reins of govern
ment, we ask whether the scene Of We'd
nesday would not be n very good pretext
for his expelling Congress and taking the
Govern ment into his own hands +? 1t may
he fortunate for the nation that no such
man is upon the stage TO take part in the
drama now being played out. This is
matter we must leave to time and the will
Of Power higher than any on this earth.
But it is clear that Just now the chief
obstacle in the way of the realization Of
the earnest invocation of General GRANT
" let us have peace lis Congress-its
policy, its jealousies, and rivalries. The
war still RACES in Congress. If he
can compose the violent passions of that
body, subdue its merely partisan rancor,
and infuse into it that patriotic spirit
which looks alone to the public good and
general welfare Of the nation, he may have
peace but not till then.
General GRANTS labors grow in dignity
and magnitude as time brings on the hour
OF his appearance on the stage. No man
ever had so solemn responsibility in this
country. If he is equal to the emergency
his name at once Will be inscribed on the
roll with the greatest who have lived. If
he fails, there remain yet unimaginable
misery and woe for the nation until the
time and the man indeed arrive that are to
bring deliverance from misgovernment.