New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-31
CONGRESSNEN At HOME.

The holiday season, full of bounties and en-
jOyment for The most of us, is rich with golden
opportunities for Senators and Representatives
in Congress, which we trust may not pass I'M
noticed. Released for a few days from the
cares of legislation, the average member is now
spending his time in the equally laboriOus
duty of cultivating his constituents. Social
festivity conceals for him an Interior purpose,
neighborly visits have a secret import, and dim
ner parties are not all they seem. Whether the
Congressman stay at home on New Years day
to accept the homage of his political friends,
or, with better appreciation of a gentleman's
duty, devote himself to the martyrdom of
making calls, he will still have the uneasy
consciousness that he is expected to give an
account Of his stewardship and take instruc-
tions for his future conduct. The Congress
whose end is now in sight has been fruitful in
bitter memories and its closing days may bring
many bitter reckoning. The glory Of the
late political victory has already worn of.
den about to retire 70 private life are Won
dering what kind of a reputation they will
carry home with them on the 4th of March;
and men who have secured their places for
another term are scheming to keep enough
character during the next two months to make
q respectable appearance when the Forty third
Congress is called together.
If our Legislators viii take pains this week to
get at the real feelings of their constituents
they will probably find that the people are
just as uneasy about these things as they are
themselves Presidential campaigns are always
severe trials for the regulations of public
men, but the campaign which has just closed
IL, Aorr.i Ilx thop
we can remember. The Credit Mobi}ier scan
dial, far from vanishing after the election, as
SANDER of the canvass, has assumed more
and more threatening proportions as time
has gone on; and the first attempts to
inquire into it have let loose such
a cloud of ugly rum0rs and damaging
admissions, that we all look around in amaze
ment, and wonder whose good name is safe.
The people everywhere are calling for q
searching investigation of this story. Honest
voters are determined to know whether they
have honest representatives. Farcicai exam
nations and partial reports by secret commit
tees, which were tolerated some months ago,
under the pressure of partisan necessities, are
looked upon now with uncOncealed irritation.
The case has even got beyond the point where
Ames's letters and McCOmbs testimony left
it and the country requires an open exam
nation of the whole history of legislation for
the Union Pacific Railroad, and the influences
by which it has been secured. This is one of
the points upon which the Congressman at
home will do well to consult his constituents.
Another point is the Louisiana affair. The
Federal Government has upset one State Gov
eminent at New Orleans and installed another
has virtually created Legislature has over
ridden the voters has made the entire ma
chinery of the State administration depend
upon the arbitrary action of judge OF one OF
the lower United States Courts. AS conse-
ouence of the unnatural condition of affairs
brought about in a great measure by the armed
interference of the General Government, bust
ness in New-Orleans has come to a stand,
values are unsettled, agriculture is neglected,
and important works OF improvement are sus-
pended to wait for better times. The defend
ers of the Administration declare that the
President has done nothing except with the
sanction of the law. Very well,-if that is SO,
let us revise the law. The whole North feels
the wrongs Of Louisiana, and insists that Con-
gress shall try to redress them,--insists that
she shall have the privilege of choosing her
own Governor her own Legislature, her own
Senators and Representatives and If the Con-
gressmap at home take pains to test the
temper Of the public mind, we shall expect to