Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-30
From the National Journal, March %.
THE. LAST SESSION.

From The National Journal, March %.
THE LAST SESSION.
II would be perhaps easier To characterize the
last session of Congress by what was lett I'm.
done than by what was done. The amount oil
evil, in this world, usually Overbalanees that OF
the good. The most important measures, ma
tured and digested by committees distinguish
ed for their political wisdom and sagacity, were
thrown aside after brief and sometimes tur-
bulent discussion, and left to slumber in the
" tomb Of the Capulets.". The bankru2t-the
West India-,he tariff biIls-the naval acade-
my-the bill relating to the revolutionary OH
GERS, and several other equally important mea.
sures, were passed over, as il to make way Tor
alterations of a mere party or personal nature.
| Every proposition, however trivial, was made
10 have bearing on the next Presidential cleo
ton, and instead Of those enlarged and extend
ed views which one might expect, and which
all looked for in the Legislators Of great ma
ton, scarcely any thing was exhibited, but the
bitter reyilings OF party lancour and animosity.
1t was not contest for principle-not an op.
position founded on consciousness OF mo-
raj rectitude-not a resistance made against
the encroachments Of despotism or the oppres.
sions of tyranny and injustce-but violent eff
fort to render obnoxious and unpopular those
who had been entrusted with the administra.
ton Of the government, and by thus rendering
them unpopular, 10 effect their removal and sue
coed to their places. The language Of the OPP
position seemed to be like that Of Cato in rela-
ton 10 Carthage" the Administration must
be destroyed--right OF wrong, 1t shall not stand,
and all the wisdom Of its measures will not save
it from our assaults and our denunciations -
But ambition often overshoots its mark. The
inGiscriminate censure and undisguised and o.
pen hostility to all that was proposed, whatever
might be the evidence Of its wisdom and utility,
reacted upon those who employed the one or dis
played the other, and served to exhibit the char
acter of The Opposition in its native and hide
Gus deformity. The man who had a just de-
mand against the government Of his country,
often trembIed for the fate Of his claim, and be-
came sick Of hope deferred" He lounged
in the lobby, or sumbered in the gallery, from
day to day, in expectation of its passage, and
was at last astonshed to find, that as il might
possibly increase the Executive patronage, or
contribute to the popularity the Administra-
ton, it could not be allowed; or if this were
not the consequence, he was equally astonished
to learn, perhaps on the very eve of the passage
Of his bill, that resolution had been proposed,
calculated to call out all the fury Of party feel
ing, and to suspend for a time all the business
of the nation. Who could look upon such
state OF things without regret? Even the re-
Aecting and dispassionate opponents OF the Ad.
ministration, throughout the country, were
shocked at this lamentable waste of time; and
indignant at the puerile and disreputable con.
tests which they saw carried on in a hall they
considered as exclusively dedicated to legisla-
ton. The lover Of his country witnesse With
pain, the unwarrantable and useless proceed
ings Of men whom he wished to regard as pat
riots, and to respect as statesmen, and from
whom all expected at least conscientious and
digni6ed discharge Of the important duties they
had assembled to perform. The philosophical
historian, in recounting the events Of this epoch
of our history, must feel the painful nature of
the task he has undertaken, and regret, for the
reputation Of his country, that he is compelled
to record events which rebound so little to the
glory Of the nation. But were this contest to
end with the session, 1t might be susceptible Of
palliation, or regarded with an indulgence due
to the frail:y Of our nature-the phrenzy Of mo.
mentary excitement or he transient ebullitions
Of party rancour. Would that Il might so end
and that this stain would sink no deeper in our
furnished escutcheon. But we cannot confine
our intellectual vision to the "ignoraht pres.
ent time" Like our fcllow-men, we wish to
remove the veil which shrouds the future. and
by pursuing the chain Of causes and effects, to
contemplate the ultimate destiny Of our coun.
try. What that destiny will be, this line Of
conduct be pursued, it is not difficult to antici.
pate: The history Of republics is filled with ex-
amples, and on this we shall hereafter enlarge.
but must conclude our present desultory re.
marks with the observation Of the oracular Ia.
eitus-Fr""o a.psefa kcia, sed erqueis mqgnarum
saps Terum naotus ezeriu1fur.