The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-04
CONGRESS-.

nset, to-day at noon in the National CAPT
tol A, Washington. The Senate is already
organized for business. The House Is call
ed upon to elect a Speaker to fill the
vacancy in that Office created by the death
Of tho Hon. Michael G. Kerr, the late
presiding officer. The Democrats nomin'
a,ed as their candidate to fill this vacan'
cy, at their caucus Saturday night the
Hon. Samuel Randall, Of Pennsylvania,
who will be chosen without delay to-day,
as his party friends have large ma
iori,y 10 the present House. All the
other Offices arc already filled, and as
,oop, therefore, as the speakership is
provided for the two Houses WILDE ready
10 receive the Presidents message.
We notice that the Democratic caucus
informally discussed the Southern Situa.
ton, Saturday night, and the prospects
are that committees will DO sent South at
once, These committees will OF course
bs organised so as to give the Democrats
a majority on each committee, but each
will nevertheless contain Republican
representation. These committees will
at once proceed to Florida, South Carroll
ma and Louisiana, and enter upon a
months work Of investigation, at the end
otwhich time We will have, as is the Gus
tom, two reports, q majority and minority
report. The majority reports will show
that the letters that have been writ
ten about outrages, intimidation and
violence in the South during the
late canvass, have been overdrawn
and exaggerated; that said outrageS
wOro not political to general ex.
tent; that so far as they were political
they were as much Republican as Demo-
cratic outrages; that therefore rlden
ought 10 DO counted IN in each Of the dis
puted States; and that 1.-The is not counted
in the House should proceed to eject a
Ptcsiden. under the 18th article Of the
Constitution Of the United States.
WO can safely assume in advance 1ha
this will DO the substance Of the Eepor'
Of tho Democratic majority. Mr.. San
Randall is bitter partisan and he viii
not neglect TO send men alter his owr
heart to the South. -..9 2.
Some persons will ask why committees
should be sent, at SO much expense to the
country, 10 simplygether together parti
san stories and weave them into partisan
reports to Congress. The answer is thai
between the two kind of reports to bt
made large amount of'truth will be de
veloped. We do not take for granted
that the Republican reports will be neceS
sarily partisan. Randall will naturally
select such Republicans as are not nOteC
for their partisansbip. He will do thi:
in the supposed interest OF tho Demo
cratic party. We may also have one or two
o! the independents" like Gen. Banks
Ssndwiched in bciwcan.tho Republican
and Democratic members OF the Commit
tees, and thus get at that medium where
the provsrb tells us truth is generally Il
DO found.
As matters now look, We are to have
an exciting session Of Congress. Thu
issues of the campaign will be gone ovel
again and ALI subsequent Developments
discussed. Those members Of Congress
who have been South to witness the coun
will no doubt DO heard from, and all tht
lnasrof testimony that has thus far beer
taken will DO printed and spread befor'
the country in the debates from day tt
day. The state Of society in the South
bids fair to be understood at last. There
is consolation and compensation in thi.
probability. 1t is perhaps worth on'
whole session Of Congress to get at The
bottom facts OF politics in the South, and
thus enable the country to pass judgment
in way that will lead to new era in
that section. The loss TO the United
States, directly and indirectly, in the
way of non.produCtion in the South on
account Of political turmoil Is immense
If all the Southern land was as quiet
as the North, the wealth OF the whole
country would be incredibly augmented
in a. few years. As long as revolution
and anarchy impend over that section, so
long will the productive capacity Of the
South DO crippled.
We say, therefore. if nothing else is
accomplished at this session Of Congress,
other than to bring out the facts touch
ing the political situation OF that section
In way that will leave the country at
no loss how to apply the proper remedy,
it will prove one Of the most profitable
sessions Of our history.