Year: 1870

From the New York Times.


| When Congress assembled, on the
9th OF December, it seemed to be i'm


pressed with a sense Of the necessity o.


prompt legislative action upon the ques
tons before the country. Itmade many
demonstrations of hearty willingness
to dispose of business, and for short
time it seemed probable that it was
really in earnest. The financial, the
manufacturing, the commercial and the
agricultural energies OF the whole coun-
try were depressed, and business enter
prise Of all kinds was eagerly waiting
for the establishment Of a permaneIA
policy which could be made the basis
of safe action in the future. The peo-
pie were inclined to be hopeful and con-
ilding. They had patiently waited for
the final completion of the measures
which the war had rendered necessary,
and which the resistance OF the Demo
cratic party had so long postponed: and
they confidently looked to the Forty
first Congress TO complete the work
without further delay.


They believed, and with justice, that
there were no longer any serious ohsta-
cles in the way, and that Congress could
easily accomplish It's work in time to
allow the enterprise of the country to
flow in its natural channels With n
controlling majority in both houses,
and with a political reputation almost
unequalled, the Republican party had
what may be Justly termed splendid
opportunity. 1t had only TO address
itself to the work before il with energy
and wisdom, and to make 4 practical
response to the wishes Of the country,
to attract to the party even greater
strength than was displayed in the cam
paign Of 1865. We are sorry to add
that the result thus far has been but
little better than a general disap-
poinumcnt OF the hopes which were
INDUCED. For nearly six months
Congress has triiIed with the
people, until there is danger that
the party itself will he made to
suffer for the dilatoriness OF lis repre-
scntativcs. Instead Of adopting a wise
and wcll-considcrcd course of action,
Congress has irittcrcd away month after
month Of precious time iIr dreary and
proiitlcss debate; it has allowed itself
to be diverted from the essential work
before il to the consideration of a thou
sand paltry schemes Of legislation it
has spent weeks upon 4 struggle be-
tween local interests over tariff bill
a bill which ought not to have been in
troducel, and which there was never
any prospect Of passing from the begin
ming it has paltcrcd with an over
whelming popular demand for relief
from excessive burdens of taxation, and
has almost entirely failed 10 suggest any
well digestcd and symmetrical financial
policy.


Meanwhile, the time has passed by
for the inauguration Of new enterprises
for the current year; labor i sOrcIv de
pressed; trade is paralyzci; capital Is
idle, and stagnation prevails in almost
every branch Of business. Those who
are accustomed to feel the political
pulse of the people detect nmnistakablc
signs of dissatisfaction There is crave
danger that the Republican party, six
months ago strong and full of vigor,
will find itself materially weakened by
the incilicicncy of Congress. 1t i mn
accountable that our representatives do
not see the mischief which must incv-
itably accrue from their dO-mothing tac-
tics. The people are fast losing pa
ticncc and, unless Congress makes haste
to retrieve lis error, they will hc likely
to visit the Republican Legislatures up
on the party itself.