The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-06-18


to find stand-room on the same floor,
with the slight separation we have de-
scribcd. The House had better
chamber; but the bare walls, where
there were no paintings, tie uncusl.ioned
chairs, the dingy desks sloshcd with
pockot-knivcs, and the attitudes Of
ncmbcrs, with their heels IN ar, or
their bodies sprawlcd over two Or three
chairs, gave one butlittle idea Of legis-
atiye dignity or dceorum.
There were not moro than "a dozen
men in both Houses who were before
known to the country, or had enjoyed a,
reputation hundred miles from Iiome
There were congressman from districts
oycrrun 10y the enemy, who had been
elected by a few dozens of soldiers
votes cast in camp. 1t was absurd to
find Senators and Representatives from
Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, ETC.,
holding their seats by virtue of a hand
full :of votes cast by soldiers from
their respective States in the camps
of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Among these unworthy members Of
Congress were some ridiculous fig
urcs. and not O few rustic curlosltlos
| who suggested the backwoods and the
scdgc-fclds. The men who relieved
something Of the rude and ludicrous as
pcct of the body had generally served
before in tho old Congress at Washing
ton; buf it was often remarked that
even these appeared to have lost their
former force and dignity, and to have
been boittlcd by the company III which
they were misplaced.
..Wc have noticed, as a remarkable
anomaly of the Confederate Government,
the secrecy with which it invcstedhts OPP
cra'ions, not only including the conduct
of the military field but extended to the
administration Of every public interest
and concern. Here was a government
protesting to be one Of the people Great
Cd under the inspiration Of an extreme
rcpublicanism, and yet preaching all the
insulation, cxclusiycncss and mystery OF
an oriental Cespoiisnl. This rule Of Sc
crccy was first commenced on the pre-
tencc, lust enough to certain extent,
to exclude the enemy from information
Of Confederate affairs; but this pretcnco
was capable Of Il very Indefinite extern
sion. and the authorities of Richmond
carried it to the most pucrilc and trivial
/ lengths. II was not only to condemn
! information generally esteemed contra
band in a state of war, but to silence the
! discussion Of almost every public topic
/ by an absurd stretch Of the plea that ii
might inure or disparaSc the Confcder-
acy abroad. Criticism was not to be
tolerated Of Mr. Davis administration,
not because it might indicate rs faults
to the people of the South, but because
il would exhibit its weakness TO the
enemy and improve his confidence
This absurd and unworthy argument
was carried in the South to cxtrava-
ganccs which viii scarcely now be be-
lievcd. The government was shrouded
with u close and imposing mystery the
sessions Of Congress even in debate OF
the commoncst civil matter, were
habitually secret; and the press was
silencod more cncctuaIIy than by the
worst gag law Of dcspolism. Nearly
every article OF criticism in the news
papers might by an arful or violent
construction be construed as giving in
formation to the enemy, and might be
condemned as unpatriotic, if not contra
band, under the rule that no evil was Ia
be spoken of the Confcderacy, and all
its affairs were to be written Of in color
of the rose
"Tho effect Of this rule upon the
newspapers was to silence the plant
and to embarrass tho boldost Of them
One Of them had spirit enough thus to
comment md explain: Nations viii
suffer Just punishment Whenever they
intrust power to puny hands. puff up
the conccit and encourage the passions
of their rulers by ful5onc battery OF
silent submission. We have done so.--
The folies of the government arc mani
fest to all, but if any ono who pays their
cost proposes opposition, or even a re-
, rnonstrance, the amiable majority cry,
Hush. oh, hush, hush wo can't got
rid of him; and no will do thus and SO,
all tho more if no is opposed, Don't
say anything. We must have concord
-unaninity-and thoro must be no OPP
position TO government Therefore the
only voice which is heard at all is the
voice of fattorers -thc voice Of those
who have neither head nor heart, ncith-
er knowledge nor principle. Hence The
Executive is encouraged to pursue its
fanccs; and although every military
misfortune Of the country is palpably
and contcsscly due to the personal in
reference of Mr., Davis, the Congress
continues at each session to be his sub
scryicnt tool and to furnish new incen-
tivcs to perycrsity, new means of mis-
chief
WELcoME.-We were pleased to see
in our city on yesterday, several gentle
men from the State Of New York, who are