, 1869-04-12
THE CL0SE OF CONGRESS.

1he ht1ef session Of Congress- which
has Just closed has accomplished but
little Legislation, though that Ettle is
Of importance in itself, and as an
index OF its future course It has Settled
the question Of the point Of junction be
tween the Central Pacific and Union Pacific
Railways at Prutnontasy Point-a result
which has ennbled OF induced those two
companies to consolidate their stock. and to
form themselves into one company, which,
with its connections, must rapidly rise into
the most powerful railway corporation in
the world. It has passed m amendment to
the acts tanng spirits and tobacco, the fu1l
text Of which We published yesterday. It
has passed the act requested by the Psesi-
dent, authorizing him to submit. the corsti-
tntions heretofore framed by the conven-
hons Of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas to
the people Of those States respectively, to
be voted on either as whole OF in separate
parts, RS he may direct. Should these Con-
st'tutions be adopted, the several State
Governments VIII be elected under them.
and their representatives will come
prepared to take their seats in Con-
gfess next winter. Most Of the
time Q. the session has been al
moSt fruitlessly expended in a wrangls over
the Tensre-of-O Office bill, resulting in a
compronaise which has been aply charao-
tcrized by Senator Morton as " a bad photo.
graph ofa dead body" which, by the way,
is the most memorable speech, except those
Of Senator Sprague, made during the ees-
sion
Perhaps the close Of session Of Congress
naturally suggests in 1lauy minds a not
altogether dAttering comparison Of our
modem Legislaturcs with tlose which sat in
the olddayB Of the nnft 6tAumpesiod Then
Senators spent weeks Of labor in preparation
Of a grana}y -wo1ded Grafton, and nu tho
country listened in awe as il de1ni-god in
stead Of detnagogue, wero speaking,
Weighed by what they have done, by the
importance and fAz-reaching consequences
Of their legislation, the sessions Of Congress
which have sat since ltG1 have not been
surpassed By any sesssonsef any parliarnenta-
y Isdy known in history. But estimated
i,v What they have said, none have been 30
Little worthy Of notice or Tccollcc-
ton. Esenta have crowded upon
Congress with such overwhelming rapiaity
MS TO leaye no time for words. Action WAS
the thing demanded, and even among
speechmaIe1s by profession, the art Of
making speeches worthy Of the name has
passed into disrse, aud almost into con-
tempt. Very few really elaquent speeches,
save those called forth On the impeachment
trinl, have been u,ade since the winter Of
6ecession-none, prob ably, that fairly CON-
pare with G1aistore*s on the Irish Church
Disestahi:shment bill We have elect
Cd to the Chief Alagistracy a
man whose fame Rs the conquaror
Of the rebellion wns heightened By the re-
make speech. To an audience Of lawyers
g: Delmonieo's in New York, he expressed
hunorously, but with a spice Of sincerity,
his contempt of orAtory rs t'an art not
Forth learning, and which did very litte
good at any time" All this Is chasacteristic
# period Of intense, uIl-eugrossing, rcro~
ntiona1y action. This, however, VII
lot lvays last Calmcr TIM q
ue approaching, when reason = IN.
csper.ede force, and our Log
el4tures shall have time for discr .ssio
[ley Will perhaps bring moro wisdoq !, to tl
,crformance Of less vnEk- Upon 6nancl
questions Congress has simply I 1iftei.
sreat many hidden rocks hav', been mi
4ken bs some for deep wa:f +, but lcgisl