Year: 1867

WASHINGTON, April N.-The adJ0urnment OF
the First Session of the FOrtieth Congress- Is q
fitting occasion for a review of the political
situation. Legislative protection has been with
drawn from the country at time when over
the broad surface of eleven States the life of no
Union man and no black man is safe beyond
the shadow of a Federal Oayonet; and also at a
time when one branch of the Govern
ment is actively used in the service of
unrepentant rebellion, aud another branch,
mIldewed with years, clings to the infamous
precedents of a slavehoding dynasty. The For
teth Congress betrayed its trust. Its session
had better never have been begun. The object
for which 1t was convened, the impeachment of
Andrew johnson, was ev8ded in the most
shameful manner. The Judiciary Committee
had been taking evidence Tor three months, but
refused to give the country the result OF its
labors The people wanted no secret investi-
cation of this subject. The open record was
sufficient for conviction. But for the purposes
OF Republican party politics IT was deemed best
TO proceed IN such manner that while the coun-
try might be deceived into the belief that an
honest inquirywas going forward nothing should
in reality be accomplished, and the subject be
smothered IN n commltteeToom for nearly
whole year. The adjournment to July was a
contemptible trick. The most unfavorable
time and date were chosen, so that no quorum
would probably assemble. Who wishes TO visit
Washington in the heat of midsummer, and
the day before the Fourth at that? The Pacific
coast Senators went home when the Senate
adjourned other Senators go to Europe for the
summer. TbeIe is no intention OF having
session until December, and the impeachment
OF Andrew johnson has for the present received
its qUietuS. If the carnival OF blood should
open in the South this summer, as 1t did last,
these recreant public servants may receive
settlement at the hands of an indignant
people.


But there is something behind all this more
startling than any cowardce. or evasion OF plain
duties 1t is the corruption and venaity of the
Republican COngressmen. considerable poT
tion of the party has been debauched by the
offices which Andrew Johnson had TO besto~.
no man NUh mic hunH DnG nINynu m Unt For
adjournment (and consequently to kill i'm
peaChmenO were promised any places they
might wish tor themselves or their friends
The trading of offices for the past two
months has been the most scandalous
exhibition of the kind in the history of
the Government. Does the country realize
that its honor has been sacrificed, and
its safety imperilled by the greed OF emolument
among its trusted representatives. The intrigue,
OF which this was the fruit, commenced with
dinner at a certain club house IN this city. 1t
was there ascertaTned what Republicans we're
pliable, and where pap judiciously administered
would serve to prevent impeachment, and get
rid of Congress. Bingham, Blaine, and Banks
are the most noted names in this business.
Against this influence Stevens, Butler, Logan,
and Boutwell, maintained gallant resistance;
but the river of patronage was too deep and wide
and they we're forced to give way.


These facts should impress upon the people
that lessonso often enforced by the abolltionsts,
Put not your trust in politicians" silly
confidence in the integrity of public men Is





dangers.


There are few men whom we believe would
never "sell the truth to serve the hour" Let
such receive our full support. But trust abso-
lutely to no one. Hold every one who has the
power to mould the future of America up to
the highest standard of political duty, and let
no eminent services in the past, nor the good
intentions of the present, excuse faltering
course.


Apropos of the Connecticut election, cry
comes up from the conservative Republican
press that the radicals are running the party
the New York Times, Providence Journal, and
Springfield Republican join in the demand that
the radicals shall be sloughed off, We wish to
say to these gentlemen that the Republican
party owes its existence, its vitality, and its
success entirely to the fact that IL was the most
available instrument OF doing the work OF the
radicals, whose presence in its ranks is the
breath OF its nostrlls. The moment 1t ceases TO
be of use to them it will be abandoned, and its
corpse will be iouud on the highway, near the
spot where the bones of the old Wing party lie
bleaching.


1t was great misfortune to the country that
vixen the party for the overthrow of slavery was
organizing it should have received into itself
nearly all the old Wbig leaders. 1t was not
matter of choice with them. They had nowhere
else to go. AS class, with few exceptions,
they never had any belief in the principles of
human equality, or any trust in the people.
Every triumph for liberty has been wrung from
their reluctant and often treacherous hands.
Their bowels constantly yearn for the Compro-
mise dirt OF 1850. A conspicuous example
of this class Of politicians is the present Chair
man of the Committee on Finance, aud by
courtesy leader of the Senate, John Sherman,
of Ohio. His course up to the present hour has
been one constant effort to battle and defeat
every measure for the security of human rights
in America. The pro-slaVery virus, which in
his brother the General is not concealed,
works in him, if more secretly, not less surely
He and all his class are continually striving 70
rescue pieces Of the accursed craft they did
their best to save.


II the Democratic party has the sagacty to
discard its CopDerhead leaoers, and raise the
banner Of Universal Suffrage and Universal
Education" 1t might regain power and hold 1t
for another generation. The radical vote com.
bmed with the negro vote will decide the next
Presidential election. Whichever party gets
their suffrages will win. The blacks are not to
be deceived by any intrigues of their old mas
ters at the South, or the Copperheads and Re
publicans at the North. They will vote for their
friends. And Benjamin +. Butler or some man
of equal fidelity viii surely get their vote sooner
than Grant, or Fessendeu, or ColfaX.
In the meantime let us address ourselves to
the work LAID out by our great leader, and
which is the paramount duty of the hour:-"No
admission of rebelious Territories without
Constitutional amen1ment guaranteeing uni
versal education and universal suffrage within
the borders OF every State.n