New-York tribune., 1873-03-04
END OF THE XLIId CONGRESS.

At 10 o'clock, noon, to-day, the XLlld Con-
gress dissolves with the end of its Third Ses-
sion. Its First Session began on noon on the
4th March, 1871, and ended on the Goth April
following. The Second Session began Dec.
4th, 1871, and closed June 10th, 1872. The Ses-
sion now closing began Dec. 2, 1872. The
whole Congress has been characterized by an
unprecedented neglect of the public business
in the early stages of the sessions, and con-
fusion at the close. Much of the time of the
last two sessions was consumed with investi-
cations which q lax conduct of the Govern
ment had made necessary. These investiga
tions have melted much acrimonious
and heated debate. The principal ones
were as follows: An inquiry into the
loss of certain records in the War De-
partment; the New ork Custom-hOuse inves
tigation; New Orleans CustOm-hOuse inquiry
Louisiana political affairs sales of United
States arms to the French; Navy Department
contracts; inquiries into the circumstances
concerning the election of Senators POmeroy
and Caldwell of Kansas, and Clayton of Ar
kansas and lastly, the Credit Mobilier inves-
tigations, conducted by three separate Com
mittees. The discussion of these subjects has
agitated Congress and shaken popular conf
dence in the National Legislature.
OF the political laws which were enacted by
this Congress, the famous Enforcement acts
are most conspicuous. The original law was
passed at the First Session; the Supple
mentary bill was fastened on an Appropriation
bill during the last night of the Second Ses-
sion, and were so passed, in violation
of the rules of the Senate. The country
will not soon forget that this unrighteous
measure, whose chief work has been to facili-
tate the usurpation in Louisiana, was the
offspring of the XLIId Congress. Attempts to
secure additional civil rights for the enfran-
chised blacks have been frequently made, but
the Senate has steadfasty refused any such
concession. In Difference to an imperative
popular demand, this Congress gave us
Amnesty ia a modified form complete OBJ
liviOn of political ofenses yet fingers. The
Apportionment of Representation under the
Ninth Census fell to the lot of the XLIld
Congress and the work was well and salts
factorily done. The revision of the Tax and
Tariff laws was another good bit Of
work done by the Congress which is
about dissolving; it removed many of
the stock points of attack of the
Free Traders by reducing the duties on Goals,
iron, lumber, salt, and ship-building materials.
Some reduction in the force of employees IN the
Internal Revenue Service has been made, but
nothing has been done to strengthen the Civil
Service or extend its reform. The abolition
of the Franking Privilege, promised long and
defeated oft, will stand out prominently
among the acts of this Congress. 1t was
measure demanded by the people, and so per-
sistently forced on the attention of Congress
by the Postmaster General, that absolutely
nothing but its passage was finally possible.
1t required almost as much pressure, aided by
the Presidents influence, to induce Congress
to pass the bill to carry into effect the Fisheries
clause of the Treaty of Washington.
OF the work left undone we cannot now
speak with certainty; some of the appropria-
tons will be rushed through this morning,
and it is possible that other important meas
ures may be dragged along with them. We
are certain, however, that nothing has been
or will be done by this Congress for
bringing order out of the Louisiana chaos
nothing for the solution Of the Mormon
troubles; nothing TO provide for the distribu-