The work for the Northern Congress.
The Northern press is now turning its attention to the work of the extra session of Congress, and furnish programme's of business to be done.
The following is the plan of one of them.
The first thing Congress must do is to pass an indemnity bill in favor of the
President, to protect him against the legal consequences of those unconstitutional acts which necessity has compelled him to adopt for the preservation of the
Government.
In the next place Congress ought to provide for the expenses of the war. To do this effectually instead of borrowing from merchants, it ought to establish a National Bank.
with a capital of one hundred and fifty million, whence the
Government would be enabled to obtain a loan of fifty millions immediately upon the security of the deposits and the incoming revenue-- The next thing to be attended to is the incurrence of the Navy and the efficiency of the War Department.
Lastly, a general bankrupt law must be passed to relieve merchants from their liabilities, and to enable them to commence a now career under brighter auspices.
The
Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun writes:
The
Secretary of the Treasury, in preparing his budget for the coming Congress, his, it is said, brought to his aid the knowledge and experience of a number of New York and other financial and commercial men. It is intended to remodel the tariff of the last session so as to obtain from it the largest amount of revenue that may be practicable.
For this object some duties ought to be reduced, and the free fist must be suspended.
The duties on sugar will be increased, and by specific duties on and coffee ten or twelve millions could be raised.
Nothing is yet said concerning internal taxation, but that will doubtless be resorted to if the war is to continue.
The taxes for State and municipal purposes cannot be continued, and State and city expenditures must be reduced while the war exists, and thus the country will be the better enabled to support the expenses of the war, which no reasonable estimate makes less than three hundred millions a year.
The burden of this debt ought not to be thrown on the present generation, who suffer enough from the privations and calamities of the war; but upon posterity, who are to enjoy the calm that will follow this tempest.
Nothing will probably be proposed in the coming Congress with a view to the restoration of peace.
There are several members elect, however, who are avowed advocates of peace and Union.
The plan of effecting a pacification by amendments to the
Constitution has been put out of the question by the withdrawal of so many States that the amendments cannot be ratified.
Congress will propose no truce with a view to negotiation, and
President Davis says in his letter the Maryland committee, that though desirous of peace, he cannot renew an offer of negotiation.
