Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-11
The Control Of the Next House
81 Representatives.

The Control Of the Next House
81 Representatives.
The very suggestive statement,
says the Albany Journal, is made
that eigty-fve members of the next
Forty-fourth Congress either served
In the rebel army or held civil pos
itions under the rebel government"
We suppose this number embraces
those In the senate rs well as those
in the House. And yet there can
only be very few In the senate. We
do not know the exact number, but
an examination Of tho list shows
that II probably does not eNceede
five at the most. The remainder are
in the House.
What does this statement mean"
1t means that the control Of rhe next
House Of Representatives il in the
hands Of those who were personally,
and actively engaged in carrying on
the rebellion and seeking to destroy
the government. 1t means that the
mastery of legislation and Of the
pnrse Of the nation has been acquired
fby those who were lately seeking to
break up the Union. For consider
the facts. The democrats have l63
members Of the next House, being
II majority of60 over the Republicans.
OF this whole Democratic strength.
90 Is a clear majority. or this 81 the
actual fighters or officers under the
rebel flag have ut last so, possible tho
full S2-certainly enough, with the
thelp OF one or two Northern dough-
faces where score could easily lie
had, to give them an unquestioned
majority or the Democratic side.
Now what follows? The House
Of Representatives, with Its power
lover legislation and all the appro-
priatiops, Is under the control Of the
Democratic members; the Demo-
cratic members are under the control
lpi biit tHhNuS WHICH htE'itHii'5 lIt
policy Of the party (; the caucus is
t:under the control Of a majority 0f it,
members and that minority AZ we
have seen, Is made up OF those whe
served ia the rebel army or under
the rebel government. Thus IL comes
TO pass that those who were only the
other day fighting to destroy the
government have now, through the
Democratic party, secured possession
OF the popular branch Of Congress,
and have the power to say what it
shall and what il shall not do.
This Is certainly significant and
startling result. IL shows first of all
thaithe government whose Legislation
permits such possibility has been
anything but Oppressive" and
tyrannical in its treatment Of the
defeated rebel foe. Ii shows In the
mere possibility Of such result
magnanimity unparalleled In the his
tory OF the world. But IL raises other
questions Of the most suggestive
character. Whether the appropri-
a tions for carrying on the govrnment
shall be made will depend upon
those who are just fresh from the
attempt to overthrow the govern
ment. Whether the principal and
interest of the debt incurred in saw
| ing the Union shall be paid will de-
| pend upon those who fought to break
up the Union. Whether the pen
sions of the manned and crippled
| Union soldiers shall be continued
will depend upon their bitter foes.
Already the threat has been made
that the appropriation for the army
and other vital national purposes
shall be cut off. And whether they
shall or not il for those who fought
under the rebel tlag to say.
Isn't this n most extra0r tinary
state Of things: Isn't II anis-tonish-
! ing result? 1t seems, but the other
day that after four years of bloody
war, costing millions Of lives ard
I billions Of treasure, the rebellion v rs
/ finally sublued. Had any one. on
that great day OF Appomattox Court
/ House predicted that In less than ten
years the American people would
j put the control of the House of Rep
rpsepiatives In the hansls of the reh-
els there defeated, would he net
have bacn pronounced a n.adulan :
And yet That Is precisely the result
4 we now ss,e. IA the result of the.
Democ. atic success. Many whs,
share6 in bringing 1t about douhtles
had 40 thnught Gf snch a r,pciusior
/ And how do they like their work::
(. Inter OsYd,l.