Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-09
The Confederate Congress.

The disasters of Gettysburg and Vicks-
burg naturally gave pause for some re-
ficctions on the war. From these out
ward events we propose to look IN upon
the internal administrations OF Mr.. Davis,
and 10 describe something of official per-
sons and manners in the Confederate
capital
This view first presents US the Congress,
the last appearance Of which on our pages
was in its ignom.nious eight from Nc.
Clellan's army. 1t had reassembled afew
months after that army had been scattered.
1t entered thereafter upon prolonged
term Of existence; the brief history oi
which is that of dreary servilude to Mr.
Davis, broken only on by intervals oi
weak and spasmodic protest.
For long time the existence of this
Legislative body was almost unnoticed.
except for some occasional foolish and
empirical measure, with which it startled
the public. It transacted all important
business in secret session. 1t was a vlo-
lent affectation Of the concealed habits oi
a despotism, and its insolent ithdrawal
from public body which claimed to repre-
sent the people Of a country, and to he
acting by their authority and in their be-
half, sitting with closed doors, and with
holding all its important transactions
from their knowledge. Such an exhibi-
ton illustrates that curious mixture in
the Southern Confederacy, which made
it such strange and anomalous govern
ment, holding out to the worldrepublican
forms and yet practising in many things
the recluseness and insulation and arro-
gance of the worst despotism.
Occasionally there would issue from
these yelled mysteries Of legislation the
most unexpected and astonishing meas.
ures, some of them expressing the most
puerile conceits, and disarming criticism
by the excess Of their absurdity. Nor
was this secret legislation always without
corrupt advantage to members. An In
stance was commonly relatedin Richmond
on an occasion where q law had been
passed in secret to have future effect TO
repudiate partially Confederate notes
above the denomination Of five dollars, OF
distinguished Senator buying up the
small currency in every brokers' shop in
the capital, and making his millions by
the operations But such corruption was
only days gossip. The Confederate
Congress had long ceased to maintain
anything Of public respect. Its secret
sessions were regarded only with slight
ing or suspicious interest; and when it
did indulge in public some slight discus
sion. those who happened to attend the
exhibition confessed themselves stricken
with shame, and repeated the common bit
of sarcasam in Richmond of 1.-THE college
debating society" on Capitol Hill.
The appearance Of the Congress was
singularly plain and unimposing. twas
mostly composed of men who were as or
binary in appearance as they were dublin
mind. It's surroundings were excessively
democratic, dingy. and dirty. and the
poverty of the Confederacy scarcely af-
forded those conveniences and accessories
il not luxuries, which one is accustomed
to see in the halls of our legislation. The
Congress set in the Estate House," and
such was the want of convenient room'
that the Senate was forced to occupy a
room in the third story separated BY a
simple railing from tha audience The only