Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-11-14
NUMBER 20.
The Next Session Of Congress.

| Two weeks from next Monday the Forty
sixth Congress will begin its second session.
At the close of the first, last July, after vain
attempt to ''starvc OUT the Executive and
over-awe the Republican minority, the DEM
Ocrats declared that they wodld appeal to the
country and submit the issues to the people.
The appeal has been taken, and the popular
| judgment given with no uncertain sound.
The question has been decided by the court
of last resort. 1t is safe to say that atthe COM
ing session there will be no attempt to repeal
the Federal election laws and no threats OF
starving out the Administration. As these
questions are settled, SO are those Of currency
and finance, and these issues, in previous
sessions SO fruitful of debate, will not be
seriously considered. The growth of trade
and the improvement of business in all parts
of the country, and the condition Of the Ma
tlonal treasury are such as to quiet for this
generation, probably, all attempts at tinker
ing with the currency. These great issues
disposed of, there would seem but little for
Congress to do, save to pass the necessary
appropriations for the support of the Govern
ment and adjourn.
But there is one important matter which
must soon to be legislated upon. Never
again should the country be exposed to the
terrible strain of March, 1877. A peaceful
solution of the trouble was then found and
acquiesced in; but repetition would be full
of danger for the republic. Yet, with anoth-
er Presidential election almost upon us and
with the history of the las! one in vivid re-
membrance, Congress has done nothing to
prevent possible recurrence of the former
entanglement Certainly something ought to
be done to secure fair and practicable
method of coutning the electoral vote so as to
avoid uncertainty and dispute. Senator
Edmunds's bill, for the final determination of
all such questions hy the States themselves.
leaving to Congress only those which the
State has neglected to decide, was a reason
able measure, but unacceptable to the Demo
Gratis as they were not certain that the States
having majority Of the electoral votes would
decide for their party. a bill was intro
duced last Spring and is now pending, max
ing the decision Of the State authorities as to
the appointment of Presidential electors Goa
elusive unless the majority in each branch
of Congress decides otherwiSe-thus giving
partisan ma iority in House or Senate, or both,
power to override the vote of a State. And
it is entirely within the possibilities that such
abill may be passed by the party which is the
especial champion OF State rights.
A question which may assume prominence
at this session is that of the revision Of the
tariff. 1t is asserted that the leaders At
Washington Of the Democratic party intend |
to so arrange this question that it will form
1850, and, by its prominence, overshadaw
and put ont Of sight the sectional errors and
currency weaknesses that have embarrassed
the action of that party in the past. But we
fail to see how this could he accomplished. |
In the first place, the Democracy is by no |
means Il unit on this question any more than |
are their opponents; and in the secondplace,
in the present state If affairs and in thcprcs-
ent mood Of the public mind, it could hardly |
be made popular rallying cry, important as
the matter is. Again, Fernando Wool vino |
last year prepared a most preposterJus tariil |
in bill which was speedily rendered the |
deadest of all dead embryotic legislative |
measures, is still at the head of the commit
tee on ways and means, and neither his ca
pacitY nor his character are such rs to inspire
the slightest confidence in any such impor-
iant piece of work coming from his hands.
But, after all, the principal business ofthe
session, aside from the appropriation bills,
will be the manufacture Of iaSucs for the
next campaign-as is usually the case at this
period of the Presidential term. What these
are to be, the Democrats will decide in their
,aucus-and whatever they may Ec, the Re
publieans will be ready to meet them The
after, indeed, have every reason 10 be salts
fed with the issues thus far presented them
" their opponents, for on them they have
'arried every Northern State which has held
IN election. But issues and huncomb are
nexhaustible and, beaten on the old points
he moribund Democracy will raise new ones
and will he again and more Gisastrously
lcfeatcu