Year: 1870

July. IL Will just run into the dog days, but


has wholesome dread Of sitting longer in


the oppressive heat at Washington. The ses-


sion will have been long enough, no doabt,


when the day of adjournment comes Indeed,
| II has bee.. long enough now If the time had


been spent in practical and necessary lcgisla-


ton. 1t il now moro than (vc months since
! the session commenced, and it viii extend to


over seven months on ths 18th OF July :.
| There was no delay in December in The organi-


zation Of the houses; the Presidents Message
and all the official documents from the depart
ments were sent in at once; there was nothing
| to hinder the important and necessary work


being commenced right away But much valua-
BILE time was wasted, as has been the case usa-


ally before, in the early part of the session. The


most important work will again be left till the


last few days, and, perhaps, to the last hours.
Then, judging from what has occurred before,
| measures will be rushed through, probably, at


railroad speed, and number of jobs will be
ingeniously tackled on or worked in of which
the people will have no knowledge nor time to
think about till all is over. That is the way
the business Of legislation is carried on in
Washington. 1t is said we are aware, that
the preliminary work OF preparing, maturing


and discussing measures is done during
the early part of the session, 80
that Congress is prepared for decisive action


at the end but this is only partly true. The
fact is, Congress is so occupied with mere poll
tical matters, and has such bad system Of
doing its business, that most of the necessary
legislation is crowded into the last days, and,
even then, much of it has to be passed over.
Let us look at what Congress has done, or,


rather, what it has not done during the five


months and upwards that it has been in. What


important measures have been passed? Has


anything really important been done, Or likely


TO be, relative to the domestic affairs Of the


republic, to the national finances, to taxation


to our foreign relations, to commerce, to restor-


ing our shipping interests or to give direction


to the astonishing progress and development


of the country? Nothing of the SORT Recon-


struction or restoration of the South is not yet
finished even. All this might have baen ac-
complished in one year or less, yet it is five
years since the war ended A great part Of
the present session has been occupied with
that miserable Georgia busincss-that quarrel
between Governor Bullock and the Lsgisla-
ture-with reconstructing q reconstructed
Siate-and now the end seems as far off as
ever. The welfare of the country, the in
terests OF the South and Southern people,
maintaining peace or the execution Of the laws
have had little or nothing to do with this long
agony of reconstruction. Party politics have
shown no elevated patriotism or statesman
ship in the whole matter. 1t continues still to
fritter away precious time on this question,
though the people everywhere are weary and
disgusted with it and have earnestly desired
the settlement Of it long since.


With regard to establishing q sound and en-
during financial system 80 as to reduce the
rate of interest on the public debt, to cheaper
money, to lessen the burden Of taxation, and,
a consequence, to give impetus to the indus
trial pursuits of tie country, Congress has done
nothing. The proposed modification of the
tariff and taxation to bring down the revenue
thirty, forty or fifty millions would scarcely be
felt. 1t would not touch the great and vital
interests of industry. Congress is legisating
in small way and chiefly for little local in
terests. There is no conception of compre
hensive plan Of raising revenue from few
articles of luxury in general use, which would
simplify the system and cut down the expen-
sive and complicated one now existing. The
Funding BILL which has been before Congr ess
for months, is cumbrous and impracticable
measure. 1t has no foundation in established
principles and is a mere experiment. Nor is
dominant party in Congress or between that
and the administration on this measure. 1t is
doubtful if it can be passed, and, if passed,
whether it will not fail in operation. In all
the measures relating to the national finances,
revenue, the tariff and taxation legislation is
clogged by sectional and special interests.
These prove superior to the general welfare.
The party in power has no defined policy or
unity of action, and there are no statesmen to
take the lead in or TO impress their views upon
Congress.


If we cast our eyes over what is transplring
in the world we see the most asst onishing pro-


gress. All the great commercial nations are


making extraordinary strides in developing


their trade, wealth and power; but we, who


have the best opportunities and greatest re-


sources, lag behind. We ought to occupy the


first position as a commercial nation, but rela


lively we are losing ground all the time. Yet


what is Congress doing or likely to do to re-


vive our shipping interests and to enlarge our


commerce? Tho members, for the most part,
are small local politicians whose vision does


not extend beyond their own districts or Sec
ton. They do not comprehend in the least the
wants or the mighty future of the nation.
OF all the examples of weakness, yacilla-