Year: 1877

The Meeting Of Congress.


The extra session of the Forty-fifth Con-
gress commences to-day in accordance with
the proclamation of the President. The
Senate enters upon its work with q small
Republican majority, providing there is a
full attendance of all who are not detained
from their seats by illness. The House of
Representatives will present a strong Demo-
cratic front, which clearly establishes the
power of that party to control the action of
that body upon all questions that may
come under consideration. So far as the
popular branch is concerned, the Democrats
have all the responsibility. 1t cannot be
divided, for they are Omnipotent for good OF
evil, and it is to be hoped that in all mat
will be inspired by patriotic motives and
purposes-lay aside bitter preiudces and
animosities and proceed to the discharge of
their duties rs statesmen and not as mere
politicians and partsans.


But the Republican members of the
House of Representatives have plain duty
before them. At their caucus, to be held
this morning they should agree definitely
on line of policy and pursue it unfhlter-
ingly. They will not be held responsible
for the legislation, but there is a vast re-
sponsibility on them requiring that they
should use every effort to mould legislation
in the right direction. The small majority
the Democrats have in the Forty fifth Con-
gress prccludes the idea of their being able
to rush through any measure, no matter
how obnoxious, under the party lash 1t
will not do for the Republicans to permit
legislation injurious to the interest of the
country with the hope that political capital
can he made from the blunders of the Dem
ocrats. The country, knowing the superior
ability of the Republican members-their
better knowledge of parliamentary law
will say, and justly, that odious legislation
could have been checked, changed or de-
feated by them. Every effort should he
made in every case of this kind that may
arise, and thus if laws obnoxious to the
people are passed, the sole responsibility
will rest, where it should, upon the Demo-
Gratis.


All manner of visionary schemes for the
ameliomtion of the country will lie intro
duced by some of the amateur statesmen
whom chance has for a@jme placed in
power Any of these schemes would de-
plete the Treasury under the guse of benc-
fitting the people. Whenever one is pro-
posed it should at once be analysed, and its
future, as well rs its present, effect he
clearly shown. In this way the good can
be sifted from the bad, for it is fair to pre-
sume that there will be merit in some of
the proposed legislation, and where this is
found the Republicans should unite in its
support.


The caucus should compliment some good
Republican member with the votes of all
the Republicans of the House, and il would
not he amiss for 1t to select good men for
the minor positions and give them an in
dorsement.


The organization of the House was deter
mined upon ut the caucus on Saturday
evening. II will find no alternative but to
confirm the action Of that body, for the ma
iority is so decided and caucus rule so arhi-
trary that its fiat will be recognized as law
vi tnt lull IHTSOHHH OF IHc organization we
shall not speak at present beyond the fact
that ,as we have predicted from the outset, Mr.
RANDALL has been hOnorcd with the Speak
enship, Mr. ADAMS has been retained rs
Clerk, and Mr.. THOMPSON as Sergcant-at,
Arms. These selections are no doubt the
very best that the party could have made
under the circumstances In the struggle
for Doorkeepcr Mr. POLK, who has been
nominated broke the ring and is the only
new name that has been crowned with sue
cess. OF his fitness the future must decide
Mr. STEWART succeeds himself as Post.
mastsr, and 50 far as we know he has dis
charged his duties in n very acceptable
manner


The Republican caucus meets this morn
ing to select nominees to be supported by
the minority of the House. What it will
do we have no means of knowing, but we
have heard the following names mentioned
In connection with caucus action: Mcssrs
KELLEY, OF Pennsylvania; BANKS, of Massn-
chusetts, and GARFIELD and FOSTER, OF
Ohio, are suggested for the speakership