The national Republican., 1869-01-22
Our Washington CorrespondeAec Aec.

everybody knows everything, and yet oompar-
atively few know who they are, seem to have
disappeared suddenly from Washington. At
least, II present, they have essayed nothing
upon Congress since the holidays. Appear
anees indicate that they have given up the
struggle for the balance OF the present session,
eontenting themselves with their other EN-.
ployment Of aiding and abetting parties OF
note, (af1liated with them) indicted for frauds
on the revenue, to escape the meshes Of the
law. Their quiet at this time does not indi-
cate the purpose OF abandoning the attempt TO
have the s2-per-sallon tax renewed, but simply
the fact Of their knowledge that Congress is in
no humor to listen to their persuasions. II
the current condition Of Congressional mind,
with reference to their 'httle bills" or amend
ments, will only continue until March 4 next,
the country may have little fear Of the sue.
cess Of any Of their schemes, as Grant will
surely find q way to prevent legislation In
their interest that will be sure to decrease the
national revenue while It demoraiires the
public, being q positive bonus to thieving on
an extensive scale.
ECONOMY IN THE AscESDENT.
Iquestion whether at any session Of Con.
gress during the last thirty years there has
existed as general and as well orga nized de-
tetminhtiou among tne mtmptrt Oi pOth
Houses to economire the means OF the Gov
eminent n at this time. The country will
surely realize this fact In Its results, which
will be plain TO all when the aggregate Of the
| sessions appropriations shall be visible to
! all. This aggregate will be comparatively
small-beyond general expectation Just now.
Grant and wsshburne, together, are to be
thanked for this admirable state Of Congres-
sional appreciation OF the situation. So far
not dollar has been appropriated for aught
against which Grant has expressed himself
Nor does It seem likely that any real scheme
on the Treasury will triumph this winter.
There 10 no telling for how little the Govern.
ment can be carried on; though 1t 10 unde-
nisbly true that the less spent In carrying II
on the more honest will all Government
transactions be, great or small. Economy
| will necessarily have honesty as Its hand
maid In public affairs. The nrst assured, the
second follows As a natural sequence.
| ooRRurTIoS's DAYS NUMBERED.
] Hourly public confidence here Increases In
Gen. Grants capacity to weed corruption out
OF the Government. The apparent firm deter
mination Of Congress to eeonomiEe to the
uttermost farthing ls one reason why so gen.
eral faith is manifested In Grants power on
this important point. To his emphatic oppo.
sition to national extravaganza Is attributed
the so commendAble change that has taken
place in Congress In this matter.
RECONSTRUCTION IN VIRGINIA.
No more important question will be settled
| by this Congress than the one before them
| concerning Virginia reconstruction. 1t In.
| wolves points really OF more national interest
| and import than any other subject they will be
called on TO dispose Of In national point OF
view the great question Isl Shall the restors.
tion OF harmony between the North and South
be speedy and thorough, or shall 1t be post.
poned indefinitely leaving force as the only
reliance for years for the maintenance OF ma.
| tional authority over the States lately In
rebellioni
II a majority Of the whites OF Virginia
frankly accept reeonstruotion under the policy
Of Congress and the fourteenth amendment to
the Constitution, and cheerfully reorganire
their State government In the spirit OF that
policy and that amendment, all fsctious oppo-
sition to 1t anywhere at the South will die
out In as many weeks as, otherwise, 1t will
require years to extirpate It finally.
A false step or the part Of Congress in this
matter will prolong the sectional controversy
for years, at an aggregate cost Of millions on
millions Of money to be paid out OF taxes col.
lected, and many more millions to be lost
through stagnation of industry, commerce, SC.
resulting from the continuance OF the conflict
Solved In the interest OF sound liberalism
the solution OF this Virginia problem viii
cause the nation at large at once to accept
the policy Of manhood suffrage as the irrevo
cably ixed policy OF the nation, not to be dis
turbed or thwarted by any efforts that any
politicians can resort to. with ffty to seventy
thousand majority for 1t In yirginia-em
bracing all her whites, who before the war were
opponents OF the Democratic party, three
fourths Of the young men OF the State who
are anxious to cut her loose from her tradi,
dional ideas of the last century, and the
entire colored vote-the adoption of the new
constitution, as proposed!to be modified by
| Congress, starts Virginia out as q Republican
party State, to remain of that politics for
| twenty Ave years to come. Her interest, her
| hope, her salvation Is progress. Her Immense
undeveloped resources and her deep and uni
versal appreciation of the necessity for their
prompt development, are guarantees that she
| will be In the van Of progress in all matters,
material and political. The increase Of man.
ufactures, the Improvement OF agriculture e,
the diffusion of education, the advent OF di-
versihed immigration bringing extensive oapi.
| tai to her, all mean increased assurance that
she will be Republican In politics. Your read.
ers will not wonder, therefore, that earnestly
urge a Congressional policy towards her
| which will launch her at once on this path. l
want her Republican by the hearty approval
OF an immense majority OF her peoples not by
the colored vote and Ave or ten per centum OF
the white vote, with her affairs almost wholly
In the hands of comparative strangers to her
people, whose authority must necessarily be
maintained by bayonets paid for by the taxa.
tion OF the nation at large.
The question was virtually closed before
the appropriate committees Of the House and
Senate. To-day Gov. Wells, on behalf OF the
Richmond Grant and Colfax committee, made
an argument In favor OF imposing lin the pro
posed new constitution) on the whites Of the
State other disabilities besides those provided
In the reconstruction laws and the lith amend
ment of the Constitution. The entire hght 10
on this point. think both the House Recon
struction Committee and the SenAte's Judi.
eiary Committee will report the amendments
to the proposed new constitution asked, taking
the ground that 1t is impolitic to leave the
question OF disabilities for participation Ia
the rebellion to be regulated by any State
Legislature, or any others, save and except
Congress itself
THE DISTRICT RAILROADS QUESTION.
To-day the "lesgers" for the railroad mo-
nopoly combustion around the halls OF Con
gress are In great tribulation over the pros
peot of the speedy success OF the measure
having ascertsined that at least seven Sena
tors who voted against taking the bill up
day or two since design voting for II on th'
question of Its passage. Who these sensibl,
seven Senators are, l know not, as yet