Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-04-21
THE FIRST OF THE FORTY FIRST.

THE FIRST OF THE FORTY FIRST.
The FIRST session Of the Forty first Con-
gress closed Saturday.
The most noticeable failure was the bill
providing for the redistribution Of nation
al currency. at re feared, dilatory
tactics killed it. Upon a square vote
large majority in both houses would
favor the proposition. The passage of
billsproviding for redistribution is only
question Of tine. The present method
may not be adhered to, but it is absolute
ly certain that the Western and Southern
demand will be- acceded to at the next
session. We can wait, although We
should have been very much better pleas.
ed had the matter been attended to be-
fore adjournment.
The law relative to the reconstruction
of Texas, Virginia and Mississippi has
occasioned shrieks from the copperheads,
but it is entirely satisfactory to the people
| at large, The responsibility which was
given to General Grant is now laid upon
President Grant. The point that makes
the opposition howl is the clause requir
ing ratification of the Fifteenth, on Suf-
trage, amendment to the Federal Consti-
tutioDs This it is charged, is IN viola
ton Of the original understanding in re-
| gard to reconstruction. 1t Is urged that
other rebel States were restored without
this condition, why make distinction
| The reason IS obvious. The amendment
had not been submitted to the several
States when those States were restored.
The three States named having refused
to aceede to the terms complied with by
Alabama, Louisiana, and the States of
that class, Congress was at perfect liberty
to impose new conditions. Indeed, it was
precisely what the Fortieth Congress did
when the reconstruction policy of the
Thirty ninth Congress had been rejected
by the Southern people. The qualms of
Trumbull, Conkling, and the few Repub-
licans Of their way Of thinking, came rath-
er late in The day. To be logical, they
should have gone with johnson in his OBJ
position to the bill, or bills, under which
the now reconstructed States were read
mitted
The new Indian policy inaugurated
meets with peculiar favor. All classes
are more than satisfied. 1t is only the
corrupt Indian ring that regrets the
change. The President and his Quakers
may not succeed in entirely reform ng the
abuses that low exist in the Indian Bur
eau. We don't expect it; bat it is rea-
| sonabl8 to expect very material improve
ment. There could hardly be worse
condition Of Indian affairs than has exist
ed for many years, and there will proba-
| bly, be very great betterment We may
add IN this connection that, upon the new
plan such territorial officials as Ashley
will have less opportunity to speculate"
out OF what Is known as ''slush money!"
The practical repeal of the Tenure Of
Office act, although delayed beyond all ex-
pectation, was finally effected to the great
relief ofthe public, which had come to look
upon it as measure in the interest OF the
whisky ring. The Administration now has
free course, and the people look for an
honest collection of the revenue. They
will not, We firmly believe, be disappoint-
| ed.
The new Judiciary bill was another i'm
portant measure left IN embryo by the
Fortieth Congress. Its passage promises
relief, IN due time, to the now o7ercrowded
| dockets Of our Federal Courts. The new
Whisky aud Tobacco. bill is referred to
separately elsewhere. Asefor the Pacific
Railroad companies, the yexed question is
settled, and yet not settled The new law
says ''that the common terminus of the
Union Pacific Railroad and the Central
Pacific Railroad shall be at or near Og-
den and the Union Pacific Railroad shall
build, and the Central Pacific Railroad
Company shall pay for and own the rail
road from the terminus aforesaid to Prom
ontory Summit, at which point the rails
shall meet and connect and from one con-
tiLuous line" Yet the amount of subsi-
dies to be issued to the two companies is
left open to the decision of the President
acting under the. advice of the Attorney
General. What may come of this proVi-
sion remains to be seen. a
Taking 1t all in all the work of the first
session OF the present Congress gives
promise o., wise Legislation during the long
session Chicago JoaunG5