Year: 1860

If Congress, at the late session, accomplished |
very lttle-which is the truth about tive have
the consolation Of knowing that by its inaction We
escaped evils, even if we did net reap benehts' y
has been said by some political philosopher that
the world is governed TOO much, but the charge
cannot be- laid iustly at the door Of the governing
mower Of Tits country. Except in the way OF q
y;porous and energetic disposal of all the money
tbat can bo raised, either from legitimate sources
Or hy borrowing, our national Legislature displays
! chronic indisposition to do any act OF positive
significance.


Congress has been in session very nearly seven
Ynonths-tiIne enough to do thc necessary iogisla-
ton for the ceuntry for five years to come, if the
members had addressed themselves TO their work
with proper spirit ana industry But they lost two
months in the beginning, wgangling over the cleo
ton Of Speaker; and they have since, as is usual
npon the eve of every Presidential election wasted
a great deal OF precious time in bnncombc speech-
es and political disputation. Ifhonorable men1-
bers cond only be convinced that their constituents
send thom to Washington to make laws, instead Of
capital for their respective parties, it would be
great point gained for the good OF the country.


Beyond the Appropriation bills, and a few pri-
yate bills, it Is difficult 10 discover the practical
measures of legislation for which the late session
is responsible. The Homestead bill was passed,
it traebut Mr.. Buchanan as il determined not to
go out of Office without having done one good deed,
fell upon ii with his veto, with savage and deadly
intent, and efeetually 'ssquclched" that most
iniquitous proposition. Not so, however, with the
TwentYone Million Loan bill Old Buck affixed his
signature to that, We suspect, with several extra
fiourishes Of his pen. Even as machinery cannot
run well without the lubrieating assistance of oil,
so it is ineonsenient to run q modern Administra-
ton without a plentiful supply of what kossnth
used to call "material aid" And as it has been
the invariable rude, ever since the present Admins
traton came into power, fer the national expendi-
lures to exceed largely the national income, Loan
Bill, or Treasury Bill, at every session of
Congress. has come to be as regular thing as the
customary annual fights upon the floor Of the
House. Old Buck will 60 out Of the White-house
on the 4th of March next (leaving the succeeding
Administration to pay of the debts Of his ownl
with as calm and as cheerful visage as if he had
been the most faithful steward in thc world As
the Wing Administration of Taylor and Fillmore
had to pay of the debts Of the Democratic Admin.
istration which preceded it, 50 also Old Buck no
doubt thinks it correct thing, and in the line of


safo preeedcnts'' for the Bell and Everett Admin
stfaten TO settle all the httis unadinsted balances
that his own prodigalities may leave behind him.


The Pacific Railroad bill was postponed to the
next session, and for this there no sort Of as
cuse. The next is the short session, vixen every
thing is necessarily hurried, and very little is done.
Il viii be difficult to procure q proper consdera-
ton of the measure ana stl mere so, we fear, to
bring IL to d vote. The chairman Of the special
COMMITTEES having this matter in charge must see
to it that nothing is lost at the next session. BY de-
lay, hut that the bill be brought to vote in the
beginning of The session.


The new Tariff bill vas lost and We think very
properly. Itwas objectionable, in many respects,
to the Tariff men themselves. The French Spolia-
ton claims and the Oregon War Debt bill were
postponed to Haxt session; the former being
far just and meritorious proposition than the
latter. The bill fcr the admission of Kansas was
defeated in the Senate, and all tho bills for or
ganizng new Territories went by the board. The
Covode Committee in the House, and the Harper's
Ferry Committee in the Senate, were important
concomitants of the late session. and their reports
will furnish good light summer reading for people
Of all parties and sections.


Such is a brief resumG Of the aetisn OF Congress
OF the late session. 1t might have been worse,
and it might have been better; but as it is impos
sible to help ourselves we must accept the results
of the session, such they are, with phosophic,
if not cheerful, resignation.