Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-11-24

The curtain will soon rise on the last act
in the great political drama which during
the past four years has held the fixed atten-
ton Of American citizens. It seems incred-
ible that the first Monday in December,
which signalizes the reassemblng of con.
gress, is again near at hand. This event
has been the subject Of much anxious inter
est and speculative discussion. The political
composition Of this congress is an anomaly.
The majority in either branch is composed of
men who, decade and a half ago, were In
armed rebellion against the government of
whose legislative branch they now form ma
jority. This general majority, by the fine
| adjustment of astute managers, has been ex-
tended through every subdivision into which
this great legislative body is divided At the
points most directly affecting the vital func-
tions of the government, and regulating the
succession of the presidency, extraordinary
pains have been taken to place that major.
| ity beyond all doubt or accident This fact,
in connection with the ominous temper and
certain significant utterances of the press
and the leaders of the party temporarily and
incidentally in control Of congress, has been
the source Of much solcitude in connection,
especially, with the counting Of the electoral
votes for the next president. The decisive
majority by which the Republicans have
carried the election removes all active So
licitude on that point. Instead, there is
more Of feeling of interested curiosity to
note what direction the thwarted purpose of
a coterie of malignant obstructionists will
take in the presence of a defeat as over
| awing in It's Significance as IL is over
whelming in its numerical strength. The
| counting Of the electoral vote and the course
Of action of this revolutionary element in
| connection with that act will be the grand
central feature in the closing act of this
great political drama. On this ceremony
| the interested gaze of the nation will be
turned, and the people will little note nor
long remember whatever else this congress
will have unrestricted power to do.
The approaching will be the short ses.
| sion of this congress. 1t will begin Deem
Der 9th and end March Sd, covering period
of about twelve weeks. The customary
holiday vacation being deducted, there will
| remain about ten weeks for active legisla-
tive work. Seven thousand bills and reso-
lutions introduced into the house and now
in the hands of the various committees,
and large additional number in the senate,
will afford ample opportunity for labor, if
congress is industriously disposed, and if it
has any ambition to patch up character
thoroughly wounded in every respect" by
the revolutionary events of the extra session
and the inefiiciency displayed in the long
session. "While yet the lamp holds out to
burn, the vilest sinner may RETURN" is said
to be orthodox doctrine in theology. On
this principle it is barely possible for this
| congress, If it will steadfastly set its face
toward the right instead of laboring to vent
its spite over its many disappointments, to
gid its dying hours with a few rays of
light to relieve the somber background of
its previous record. 1t is possible for it to
pass just aud equitable law regulating the
electoral count. The funding bill aud the
Indian bill are others of a general character
that could proftably engross attention if
| the ten thousand bills now before congress
| and the new thousands that will be intro
duced are exhausted, not to mention the
usual appropriation bills, in the handling of
which hitherto this congress can hardly be
said to have covered itself with glory.
| Though there is business enough to do, it is
quite probable that congress will shift on to
the shoulders Of its successors all response
bility for decisive action on all matters of
general Importance 1t is impossible for
leopard to change its spots, and it may be
equally impossible for this congress to do a
meritorious deed to secure for it a respect
able position in history.
|