Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-22

pirate lie made direc, and immediate response to his
friend from Augusta-And the Debate passed on between
the other members OF The House.
To the Editor "WasuIScroS, 10Th Feb 1888
sAly neglect 10 address y0n for week past has been
amply compensated for by the Zeal Of other Corresponds
ents public and confidential Since you heard from me
last there has been scene in the House, IN which the
principal actors feel that they have been made to
play very ridiculous part. day noorcly has been
given by it to that most respectable gentleman the errand
man of the infamous Burr, and the posthumous calum
nator of the il!uslrious Jefferson envy not the ee.
ings of gentlemen who permitted themselves 10 become
the instruments Of such degraded specua.o upon the
public Creduy One of them went so lar, TO talk in
very sublime strain about Liberty Death apropos of
patent lock Really, such grand and swelling scnti.
ments should be reserved for more solemn occasions:
they do not become such miserable wooden nutmeg
affair There must be what Horace calls m0duS dignus
cndice" That the gods should not be hroug ht in
lrilling occasions, is 4 maxim old as criticism This
ponpous display of patriotism upon such pallry
sion, puts in mind Of incident which is said to
have occurred in Pennsy lvania sued another
before magistrate for So. One of the village lawyers
employed, made pompous speech about "ouf ReVnlu-
tonury Fathers, and the slime that tried mems SOULS
and all that very much in the style Of the hundred petty
praters in Congress- whom the Federass exlo above oil
Grecan and Roman fume. The worthy magistrate lis
tened very patiently, until he could Stand II no longer,
when he exclaimed "AIl that you say about the Revo.
luton, Mr. bubble, is doubtless very ine bot pray what
has il 10 do with the So in dispute - All this cutlery
about bribery and corruption might be pardoned in The
aspirans for short lived, vulgar notorety were 1t not
that it may have the effect OF rendering the public incre
dulous should such things really take place We have
heard the cry Of Wolf often, and uselessly that
will TO have any effect upon There are
gentlemen in the House, who seem to have as nice
INSTINCT aud strong appetite for corrupon asa
buzzard. They always the scent after it, with
eager beak and itching talons Poor MIR. Wise is no. So
much 10 blame in this matter others. He cannot
lelpit 1t is his monOmunia-" Of lis nigh and
IA Iln ,ir,toc waI hn nj tIIIs
as any thing else, provided il amuses him. Every man
has his hobby. Great too The modification of the
Opposition at finding that the nculp a,ed Senator had
ceased 10 be cordial supporter Of the Administrations
Since this is generally known, he is dealt with more
gently.
'u', seriously, something must be done to put stop
10 the intrusion of these lncement topics into the House,
and the nlammatory but tedious discussions which
they invariably lead There few, and chiefly young
men, in Congress, who annually cost The country hun.
deds of thousands, in the waste OF time occaslontd by
apsodca speeches, which only TO defeat the pub.
lie business while they disgrace and deprave the national
taste. OF the whom aIIude, is there to
whom be applied in It's true sense the title OF orator
statesman; How great must be the vanity which
thrlsts them forward all occasions, at such lavish
sacrifice OF the public time and treasure II enquiry
were instituted the people would be startled to learn the
immense cost at which few Hippant prelcnders gray
vulgar ambition, not for fame, uut for nooriety The
proceedings Of the House, thus rendered libel upon
legislation. The most important measures postponed
turey the fay end Of exhausted session. Take for
example The Army Increase Bill the want Of which has
U.s. and is at present costing u.s. such immense
crceS 1t has been repeatedly passed by the Senate
and not discussed if my memory does not belray
me, by the House. cite this example Of many,
because it is which circumstances 10 be felt at
this moment. The witnessed at the close Of
session Of five six months devoted to lasleess ha
| ranguing are absolutely scandaous. The whole bust
of the nation is crudey despatched if reached al all
in the dingy cuncave of two three turbulent night
siItings. All this is TO CRAFTY the vanity Of few
edged praters who look upon Congress sort of De-
batting Society, in which they can win The applause of
'some quantity Of barren Spectators, (Which shows
pu ambition in the fool that it,. It not
in the early days Of The Republic. 1t so at
later perlad, when Calhoun, Lowades, Clay, Webster,
and Custom the leaders of the House. Those
far other and other times II then required talent
knowledge, dignity, character, the bearing and depor
ment OF gentleman. to acquire distinction. What
the requisites now Fppanl pctenson, bold ignorance,
brazen presumption.
"Much has been said lately about the right of in.
srucllon. 1t seems 10 be acquiring greater popularity
than ever, and that chiefly among its proclaimed ene
mics. am neither commencing or blaming now the
purpose for which it has been recently exercised in
voked wish merely 10 poin, out the unblushlng poll
teal immortality Of the Federal party with regard to this
much mooted right. They have always denied it, and
yet they the first 10 exercise it when it advance
their own interests. They do more; they exercise it
when in power, with the avowed object Of dIsPlacing
their turn comes. Was there more aagl.lous
course: Was there exhibited policy which evnces
more profound contempt for popular ghts and docrInes
They are sporled WITH adopted day and discarded
The next as 1t suits the purposes OF the moment, as
things with which it is not imperative 10 keep faith.
But will not the general mind revolt at such political
profgacy' Will not such cynical disregard for pub.
lie honor and morals awaken the Indignation of out
ragged people?
'Mr Grundys able report upon the subject Of the re.
surrecon notes, issued by the United States Bank merits
| unusual attention. II exposes in bold and masterly
manner, the cupdity, the grasping spirit the open def.
ance Of law, of this tyrannical corporation Are
free people, ask, living under system Of equal laws?
II poor man, mpelled perhaps, by starvation violates
the slightest enactment, he is mulcted or cast into
oahsolne prison. But the lchitc fingered diseounters,
who commit the most stupendous frauds, in marble pa.
lace, above all law and responsibility. conspira-
cy of directors may sit in mysterious conclare like the
Venetian Council of Ten, and issue DEGREES secret
| the grave and resstess DEATH A power unknown
10 the Constitution; nay prescribed by it, has grown up,
beneath whose oversudowng influence, the Of the
law wbers and falls poweress But the worst feature
in this is, the apathy with which the public mind
conlemplates these high-handed entertainments upon
the sacred guarantees OF popular rights There is not
man 10 be found, who will pretend 10 justify in law or
in morals paons gross and conduct atrocous;
yet, how few those who fl up their voices against
| them! Nay, gentlemen and men Of honor, will so far
forget the sound rules which govern their private actions
openly 10 paate and not advocate, deeds which,
committed ny the", ~ouio inevitably cons'gh lheIl
TO hopeless disgrace If the country be lost to no.
nor and Duty Mr. Grundys bill will be passed. and faith
fully executed, though il should shock the delicate
Of merchant princes, alias eherniers dindusric
under The guisc of brokers, miscaed bankers. The
first guarantee the most sacred privilege of liberty ia
The same law, executed alike, for all men, Who will
doubt, after reading Mr. Grundys report that the Bank
of the United States, when ii prohibited the resumption
Of specie payments felt its power to control the other
Banks, since its illegal retention Of millions of the un-
redeemed nOleS OF Its parent, Will enable
to strike down. by buying up its bills, any institution