Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-02-04
THE CLOUD. ON CONGRESS.

CHOSEN people, says tue Daitimofe 0u@etfe, ana
left them only when they had gained in tri-
umph the promised land, had suddenly
changed into dense, palpable smoke, SO
thick that every one feared his neighbor, and
no one could guess what pitfall was at hand,
it would'not be unlike the present condition
Of the Great Republican party. It's military
"Moses" was not buried outside, in the un>
known valley of Bethpeor, but has comforta>
BILE estates in ''Gilead" and fine houses lin the
city of the palm trees" But he is as much
befogged as are his followers. He cannot see
his hand before him, and does not know whom
to trust. But the densest layer of this in
cumbent January fog rests on Congress-, and
every day it grows darker. The scattered
Republican leaders hardly venture to call to
each other in the gloom. They feel as if they
were on picket duty of dark night, with
not only an avowed and brave enemy in their
front, but treacherous sharpshooter in their
midst. They fear to speak aloud. lest the
ping of the Cakes Ames rife should be heard
close by, and they or some Of their friends be
tive illustration, we must say that the aspect
of the whole affair, the actual attitude of Re.
publicansm in Congress, is hideous and re-
pul>ive.- No one must feel this abnormal con>
dition of things more sensibly than the Press
ident Not that either has habits of life or
thought are such as to make him overseas
sitive to the pecuniary irregularitics-the vii
l'ngness to make penpy-of his friends
In fact. we should infer, from what we see,
that, to the moral aspect of the affair." be is
entirely Indifferent, for we read that W hen the
reporters fastened to the White House to
ascertain whether the President had been shot
or no, he was found closeted with Senator
Harlan. whom, next to Colfsx, Patterson and
Kelley, Credit Mobiier has most damaged.
It is not this that is likely to disturb a stolid
nature. But he finds himself helpless in
Congress, and with an overwhelming majority.
cannot hope to carry single one oc the am
bilious schemes which he announced in his
message. Nay, further-aud this, we see,
the New York Times frantically deplores-
the Administration champions being all, in one
way or another, hors de Combat or conscious
that they may be taken off at any moment, the
actual leaders, especially in the House of Rep.
resentatives, are the Democrats.
This cannot be comfortable. This was
strikin.ly illustrated the other day when. with
a huge flourish Of trumpets, the Executive
scheme of reviviug commerce by Federal
Board of Trade" and steamship subsidies,
was introduced and debated. [. was in the
early days of Credit Mobiier, before the
cloud had passed from the memory of Mas
sachusetts, and the truth had not all been
told. 1t was marshaled magnifceutly, aud,
we must say, rather impressively, by Shella-
barger, and sonorously by Keley-alas un>
conscious of his coming doon-aud of course
backed by Executive influence, and yet, after
debate in which Cox, and Wood, and the
Democratic leaders championed the opposi-
ti"n. it was practically and ANONYMOUSLY de
tented. So will it be, in all human probabii-
ty, with Governmental telegraphy and the
internal Improvement monstrosity-all will
follow the fate of San Domingo. Nor is it
much better for the Administration in the
Senate. The shadow of suspicion rests there,
too. The two Vice Presidents. outgoing and
incoming, are stricken. New Hampshire
bows her head in shame. A soldier. Senator,
fresh in his seat, is tainted, and Harlan has
the consolation of knowing that Allison is as
badly off as he is. The wand of the Massa-
chuset's magician holds the Senate in awe,
and the Reverend Chaplain who electioneere1
for Harlan now prays piteously. Senator
Morton, no longer truculent, discusses alb
stract constitutional law. and with ll>copceal
cd disgust feeds on the Kansas nastiness.-
Sumner is sick, body and spirit; Chandler is
suddenly sobered, and Coltax. smitt.n with
the shame of exposure, wonders silently
whether he may not be made to form an al
lucrative triumvirate with Caldwell and Car
ney. The fact is patent, too, that the Adj
mnistration Navy bill never would have pas
sed, but for the support of the Democratic
Senators from Delaware and New Jersey, who
felt, as Mr.. Webster grandly said, long ago,
"that party differences should end at the
oceans edge"
And what, let us humbly ask, is to be the
end Of all this? Nothing can remove this
fog. Nothing can cure this alment but the
most heroic treatment. Order must be re-
stored to Republicanism at any cost, unless,
indeed. the President, disgusted at the ro-
queries of his own party. should come over to
onrs-his first love. That VIC neither expect
nor wish. Ncthing then remains but to sill
encc Cakes Ames at any cost. The President
has visited tn" Capitol before now to iutercedc
with less inducement. He went in private to
surplicate Mr.. Sumner about San Domingo.
Why not pr"pitiate Oskes Ames before he
further demoralizes his Republican majority?
" lima : e. h, l.s* = 6, i. -