The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-23
THE COMING CONGRESS.

10 the untimely taking OF OF great states
man andthe executive head of the Republic.
Ii is natural that some sad memories should
cluster around the halls where the dead
chieltain had so often mingled in combat
and won his renown, and it would be absurd
to suppose that the recollection of his dis
tinguished services and exalted position
and the dastardly means rcsortcd to for
his destruction, will not to an unusual
degree attract the attention and perhaps
engage the earliest notice OF the mem
bers OF the next session. There will be
many matters of extraordinary interest to
be handlcd.m this Congress- some of which
we will briefly refer to in other para.
graphs of this article, but among them
all, none demand specdier or more
enthusiastic regard than those growing out
| of the late assassination. First Of all the
necessary expenses incident to the long
sickness and the final dropping Of the cur
tain on the sad affair should be provided
| for without discussion or discussion and
| then the desolate widow and family of the
deceased head of the Republic, regardless OF
outside contributions, should be comfort
| ably provided for. This is but simple JUS
| tice, q species Of that gratitude that should
ever characterize q government towards a
| faithful servant dying at the post of duty.
This done, Congress may to q certain eI-
| tent feel it has discharged duty to hui
mainly and right, the neglect of which
would be crying shame. After it has
done this something else remains to be
done, and something, too, growing out
of this same dark tragedy, and sug-
gested by the possible complications
arising from its sudden occurrence. We
mean, of course, that it should appoint q
committee composed of the abest and best
men Of both parties and both houses, to
| consider and report on the legislation ne.
c'ssary to prevent and punish the crime Of
President-killing, and to lessen the uncor.
tainties that have prevailed as to the sue
cession to that important post. This is Of
paramount Importance and will no doubt
receive attention, Questions, such MS these
suggested, are some of the sad lcgacics left
to Congress by the brutal murder of the
Executive. But aside from these subjects
which partake to an extent of the poetic
justice character are many others to be pre-
| scented to the Forty-seventh Congress of a
prominently business kind, and d.
rectly and materially affecting the
South and Southwest as no deter
limitations of the general Government
have for many n year. 1t is only necessary
incidentally to refer these matters as our
object is simply to outline as we understand
it the probable subjects of legislation in the
coming Congress. There is first in inipor-
lance to Texas and the South the question
of the revision of the tariff No effort will
be left unused, to control the vote on any
branch of this question: by the lobby in
favor of monopoly, manufacturers and a
high protective impost, But we believe
that the good sense and growing demands
ofall classes of people will prove too strong
for ringsters and corruptionists and give us
| such modification and revision in the
premises as the changed times and cir
cumstances Of the country demand. If not
the Forty-seyenth Congress will prove
grossly derelict in its most imperative du-
ties. And then we want to see
vigorous action taken in reference to
the improvement of the Mississippi and its
tributaries. The convention which re-
Gently met in st. Louis pledged itself to
see that the whole matter was laid before
the appropriate committees, and there will
be no excuse for refusing to accede to the
demand of 100000 people, and placing in
safe and navigable condition the mighty
river, IA it rolls its volume to tho sea
through the garden of the world Negli-
gence here ON the part of our legislators
would be positive injustice, but the indica.
tons are that this momentous and much
mootcd matter will receive prompt consid-
Grafton, and the Mississippi valley soon
reap the reward of patient waiting, long
suffering, and persistent effort OF equal
significance with the improvement of the
great river, to us of its valley, is the question
of frontier defense, and the suppression of
lawlcssness to those further west, and in
the Territories. The Government policy
in this particular has hereto
fore been solemn mockcry.
doleful farce, and this next
Congress ought by all means to takea new
departure" and manage these things with at
least a spark of interest and intelligence.
The material development of many of the
fairest spots covered by our flag has been
retarded by the miserable frontier and In.
dian policy Of the general Government and
il is high time II twas changed. Then there is
the matter of apportionmcnt under the new
census, affecting all sections of the Union.
the Interstate Commerce BILL and Other
great measures, the action upon which will
be watched with uncommon interest. Upon
the whole the Forty-Seventh Congress is
peculiarly situated. 1t has it in its power
to become one Of the most celebrated or
one Of the most derclict that ever assem-.
bled in Washington, and it is to he sin.
ccrely hoped that its meisbcrs viii rise to
the dignity and demands of the hour.
Meeting under the hallowcd political calm
resulting from u national bereavement,
with sectional and personal anmosities
to greater extent than ever, eliminated
from the issues of the day and a new