New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-08
THE roRrY-F1Rsr CONGRESS-.

nrSt congress eAplIeu, dAsA "''0 t"o'AJ
succeeded by its legitimate successor. 1t
has performed its mission. Well and
faithfully has it accomplished the eNpec-
tations of the people Of this Union in re-
spect to the work submitted for its con-
sideration. It matters not what sneers
and filings may be cast upon the faithful
body Of Republicans that labored long
and necessarily for the best interests OF
this great and growing republic, the con
st;tuency of these men will give them the
welcome and plaudit Of well done, good
and faithful servant" Let such journals
as the Times throw ridicule and contempt
upon the work of this patriotic Congress;
it is but the doleful Sroan OF constitu-
tional srumDler, who looks upon every
thing and everybody with 4 jaundiced
eye. Letus see what good work has been
done by this Forty-tirst Congress, ofwhieh
the country may be proud. and whether it
has not met the expectations OF the
nation. 1t will be remembered that
its first session began with the out
going administration OF Andrew john
son and the accession OF President
Grant. The leading question before the
public mind at the time Ct its OrganlZa-
ton was the completion Of the solution
Of the great Reconstruction problem
Four Of the lately rebellious States were
still .'out of the Union, as the popular
phrase was. and had not had representa-
tive in Congress since those they had
there in 1861 shook the dust OF he capital
of their stoga boots and departed for the
"sacred soil across the line. By the
passage and subsequent ratification OF the
fifteenth amendment. that new testament
as it were of the constitution, and the
adoption Of just and stringent measures
relative to those States and the newly
entranchsed citizens thereof, Virginia,
Mississippi, Texas and Georgia were re-
stored to their places among their sisters,
it is to be hoped. clothed and in their
right mind. This was one Of the glorious
and noble works performed by our Repub-
Ecan friends Of the Forty-frst Congress
At the close of the puerile Johnson ad-
nipistration our finances were in chaotic
condition. owing in q great measure TO
the ineficiency or dishonesty Of the Off
Gals. Then the public debt was -, 525.-
~, hoy ,o1l
ard our currency was thirtyore per cent.
or. 70 state it more correctly. we were
obliged TO pay one dollar and tLirty-one
cents Of our money for one dollar il gold.
The Democratic and Copperheal platform
was repudiation, TO which our patriotic
Congress. by an ovelwhelmi vote. in
the early par, Of its session. responded
with bill = strengthen the public
credit. which. in the mos. ureCuivocal
terms. declared the purpose Of the gov
eminent to discharge all Just obligations
10 the public credit. Subsequently. by
an almost unanimous vo.e. they de
clared that al propositions % repu-
date any part Of the national debt
were unworthy the honor and good
name Of the nation In addition 20 these
declarations by Congress. and The acts
and measures passed h :. % carry out
these noble intentions. and the iaet thG.
there Was n Office. as Secretary Of the
Treasury. Hon. G. S. Boutwell,. by whose
faithful and economical admins ra.ion
the public debt has been reduced slq-.-
$50 and the price Of gold is now only
$40.
new and improved Indian policy has
been successfully brous1. into being. with
beneficial results TO the Indian tribes IN
der governmental care, and tie avoidance
Of those disturbances which were so tre-
quen, before tie present administration
The enormous election frauds which
have been SO glazing and formidable u
der Democratic rule, by the eractmen, OF
stringent laws were checked. despite the
threats Of resistance ard the open def
ance Of Democratic leaders Many
schemes Of peculation and the assaults Of
designing raiders upon the public treas
ur.' were defeated by the romp, and en-
ergetic action of the Forty-frs,. Congress.
The moral tone OF this body was shown
in the course adopted toward the three
Representatives who were implicated il
unworthy transactions. one Of whom was
expelled without much ceremony. OF the
Representatives who. il great measure.
controlled and guided the course Of lecis-
lation and worthy Of especial mention
are General Schench. appointed Minister
to England, and Mr.. Dawes. and 1t IS
Certainly honorable 70 the House that dis
regarding better orators and more acute
and snowy minds, ii should have preferred
10 be led by men whose chic: qualities
are honesty. directne,s OF speech and
thorough knowledge OF whatever they
undertake to discuss
W;thou. further enumeration Of other
acts and doinGs Of this ever 70 b remem-
bered Congress. its record and history is
worthy nations praise.
4 GLAZING POLITICAL FRAUD
Mr.. Senator Blair entered ;n,o al extra
ordinary argument in his speech on the
htteenth OF February, TO prove that he