River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-04
coNFEDERArEs IN CONGRESS.

If anything were wanting to show
that the Democrats of the North are
entirely subservient to the interests of
the ex-rebels of the South, or to con-
vince the most skepticai that the con-
trolling power OF both Houses of the
legislative branch of the National gov
eminent is now in the hands of those
who in 1851 sought to disrupt the
Union it will be discovered by casual
glance at the makeup of Congress
and of the several congressional COM
mittees. In the Senate the Democrats
count forty-two votes, thirty of which
come from the South and but twelve
from the North; in the House they
have one hundred and fifty-fve votes,
one hundred of which are from the
South. With this decisive majority
of the opposition to the Republican
party in Congress the ex-Confederatss
are in position to dictate legislation
and they have already manifested a
disposition to make the most of their
opportunities. without the aid of the
Democrats of the Nsrth the Democrats
of the South are powerless, and Vice
versa, buta the preponderating weight
of that party belongs to the South the
| representative of the Northern wing
of the party must of necessity yield to
| the dictation of the southern body
that is, to use popular similitude,
1.-THE dog wags the tall An instruc.
tive lesson is found in an analysis OF
the formation OF the more important
committees. In the Senate the com
mittee on privileges and elections i:
composed of nine members-six Dem
ocrats and three Republicans; and five
of the six Democrats are ex-Confed
crates. The Senate committee on Fl
nance has nine members--five Demo
Gratis and four Republicans; and -four
of the five Democrats are ex-Confeder
tates. The Senate committee on posi-
offices is made up of nine members
six Democrats and three Republicans
and five of the six Democrats are ex
Confederates. The Senate committee
or claims has nine members--foul
Republicans and FIVE ex-Confederates
The balance of the Senate committees
are made up after the style we have
ILLUSTRATED. In the House, as well al
in the Senate, the Confederate is at ;
!premium. Of the forty-two standing
committees of the House twenty-five
of the more important ones have Con
federate chairmen. The House com
mittee on elections is composed o
Fifteen members-nine Democrats AM
six Republicans; and six of the min
Democrats are ex-Confederates. TIL
House committee on ways and mean
has thirteen members-eight Demo
Gratis and FIVE Republicans; and five o
the eight Democrats are ex-Confeder
ates. The House committee on wa
claims has eleven MEMBERSHIP Dem
Iocrats and FIVE Republicans; and fou
of the six Democrats are ex-Confeder
ates. The House committee on com
meree is composed of fifteen member
Item Democrats and FIVE Republicans
and seven of the ten Democrats are ex
Confederates. The other House com
| mittees are similarly constituted, prse
ideally giving the ex-Confederates cor
troll of them. We make these observe
tions to illustrate the fact that so IA
as Congress is concerned each e1-Cor
, federate who occupies seat therei
is not only "a bigger man than oil
Grant, but that he sits in judgmen
! | upon the destinies of the Nation. |
controlling congressional Legislation