I would say D. It seemed to be the only consequential power the new congress was given.
Answer:
MECHEEEEERREEEEeEEW ode I do not understand your question
I think the tone of the passage is: Mocking
Pay attention to the words <span><em>by some fatal disagreement or laziness were either starved or cut to pieces</em>.
From those words, we can conclude that The narrator conveys the 'wretches' died because of their own recklessness and stupidity.</span>