Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-12-06
THE PROSPECT IN CONGRESS-.


From the arrivals of Senators and Members,
during the twenty, four hours previous. there
is no doubt that quorum was present in both
Houses of Congress yesterday. The message
Of the President was expected to have been
in the hands of the public by 2 o'clock, P. NJ,
yesterday.
Speaking of the prospects in Congress. the
Baltimore Sun says :-Experience has shown
that comparatively little legislation of an im>
portaut character is to be expected from the
short or last session of Congress. This was
always more or less the case, and now that
provision is made by law for the assembling
and organization of the new Congress in
March, Immediately upon the dissolution of
the present body, instead of in December fol-
lowing there is less real necessity than former
" for the expiring Congress to anticipate the
work of Its successor. 1t is said indeed that
an effort will be made this session to repeal
the law requiring the next Congress to meet
and organize in March, and that the effort
will receive the countenance of the admins
tration. IF thisshould be done. however. it
will be rather for tho purpose of delaying than
of precipitating congressional action. In the
next Congress it is claimed that the revenue
reformers democrats and republicans together,
will have majority. The friends of monop-
olies and the high protective tariff men, while
they do not concede this to be the case, are
sufficiently apprehensivc it is said, of the fact,
TO favor pretty generally the project ofrePeal,
in order to gain time.
Unless, therefore, some unforeseen emcr-
eency should create necessity for some spe-
cial action on the part of Congress, we do not
look for any marked change in the existing leg
islation of the country this winter. 1t does
not appear that the administration is prepared
with any new recommendations for the pur-
pose.
The two main subjects of public interest at
this day-revenue reform and civil service
reform-though they may be preached by
earnest advocates, will hardly make much
progress, the former for reasons we have al
ready indicated, and the latter because the
time is not yet ripe for it.
The circumstances attending the withdraw
al of Ex-Secretary Cox from the cabinet show
that the civil service reform, like revenue re-
form. is likely to receive little countenance in
some influential quarters. Indeed, some of
those who are now understood 10 stand highest
in influence and favor at Washington openly
denounce any idea of such reform as ''pueri!c
stuff" "mawkish sentimentaiity," and as
neutrality-suspicious." 1t need hardly be said
that these gentry belong to the good old Penn,
sylvania spols school. One comfort there is
connected with the approach hing session, and
that is, that reconstruction" in any guise,
under any phase, or for any purpose, is dead
cock in the pit-though here experience
would again admonish not to be too sans
cuine. As advised, however, we believe that
nil the Southern States are in the Union. in
Guiding Georgia, aud that there is no present
plan on foot to turn any of them out. If any
schemes of fire brand legislation are intro>
duced, let us hope that the moral effect of the
la:e elections will have a conservative and tran
QUILTING influence, and that with tho record
of the result in North Carolina, West Virginia,
Maryland and Missouri before their eyes, the
extremists will doubt the policy hereafter of
being SO very extreme.