Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-03-13
COYGRESS-

About six months ago, President Madison has
tiy summoned this august body to meet to take into
their wise consideration great and weighty mat
ters.n
During this long session at this momentous peri
3D. it is natural the People should have some curios-
ty to learn what wise laws they have enacted, and
what important measures they have adopted.
In the first place, many tedious weeks were vast
ed in discussing the question, whether Congress
should Keep ats sitting in the Patent Office at the
Ruins of the Capitol, or should wander into the
interior, and beg shelter from the hospitality of
the humane land compassionate.
The Executive measures of CoNscRIPTIoN and
IMPRssIENT, which Madison desired to adopt and
enforce in this country next occupied the attentioN
Of Congress. These m0nstrous and outrageous at
tempts at usurpation-these shameless violations of
the Constitution and Of all the principles Of civil
iiherty-receved the zea Ous and cordial approba-
ton and support Of that unprncipled faction who
claim the name of Republicans. Thanks to the tall
ents and exertions of the Federal Minority we
were saved from those despotic measures, which
would have involved US in civil war.
The various crude and wild projects for Ma
tional Bank have served to wipe away and waste
the time that hung heavily on the hands of our six
dolIar-a-day men the majority fairly confessed
they knew nothing of the subject of Banking but
the long bates-the passing 10 first readng--to
second readng-to be engrosSed-to be enacted
in the House-in committee of the WhOle-lost in
the Senate--1on concurred in the House--,3O mil
lion and so milion-War stock y Treasury notes,
Dallas and Calhoun-enacted by both branches
returned by the committed-amended
and ecommitted-postponed till next session -
with all these and many other legislative manGuy-
res, the Bank answered the purpose of its proec-
tors-it wasted time, for Congress was " waiting
for eventsn
Idleness and eunui would still have besct our
legislators, if they had not resored to tha ola CUT
and-come-again standing dsll--the stud horse Ro-
mulus. About forty years ago, it seems some of
oar military officers on an important emergency
impressed into the public service horse belong
ing to one David Dardin of Virginia while he
lived, he " ever the year came round " present
ed his petition for ndemnfcatiol the Yirginian
member from his district was compelled to serve az
his Equerry. and to support his cause. Siany
years since, David Dardin died without having OBJ
tanned the prayer Of his petition Amy Darjin,
the widow, ever afterward, faithful to the memory
Of her departed lord, persisted in similar petitions
until death at this day their descendants, walk
ing in the steps OF their ancestors, annually impor
me Congress for indemnity for the stud horse Ro-
SiuLtS--as renowned Bucephahs. ] he Hon,
Mr.. GhOlson now serves as the groom, and has pre-
sented the petitions since the demise Of Gel. i.
cond reading but at the third heat the stud horse
Romulus bOlted, not however until he had afforded
much sport to the buckskins and jockies, who had
spent many Iistless days and weary nights after the
christmas holiday races.
Well then, what has Congress done, that is
q great and weighty" 4? You will soon know ana
feet-you will soon hear the rap Of the TAX
CATERERS like death-watches-you VIII soon
feel TAXES " great and weighty''-you can now
daily behold the hired meniaIs of government stick
ing like leeches at the peoples juguar, swoln cven
to bursting with our best blood -Sdienl CGs.
As Peace & coyErercial intercourse isagain
restored by the fall of Bonaparte and lie an
inhalation of the restrictive system in Europe
and this Country, we may calculate on regular
communications Of European Intelligence, al
short intervals, more pleasing, acceptable
and profitable to the Merchant, Mariner, BE
chanick and Farmer, than the details of that
" human butchery'' which the ambition and
wickedness OF bad men in power has involved
the whole civilized world ln ior many years
past.