The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-23

give general support 10 the measures Oh the
their more influential adherents, SIT on the bench
nearest the floor, which is called the Treasury
Bench. The opposition sit on the left hand,
their leaders also on the front bench, directly OPP
posite to the ministers. The speaker is a very
majestic parsonage. He enters the house at
each sitting, IN great state-arrayed IN richly
embroidered silk gown, and full-bottomed wig
preceded by an officer carrying the mace, and
followed by train bearer. When he enters
the lobby, where there are usually many persons
waiting for orders of admission and on other bu-
sness, one Of the door-keepers announces him
by calling out in loud voice, Mr.. Speaker
and Immediately afterwards exclaims, 'Gentle-
men, take off your hats = OF course every cha
peau is dotted instantly. The members receive
him, standing and uncovered, and he returns
their courtesy by bowling towards both sides OF
the house. As soon as he takes the chair, the
folding doors, which were thrown open at his
approach, are closed the door keeper cries out,
Mr.. Speaker is in the chair and rings small
bell for the purpose of announcing that event to
the members who may be lounging in the lob
bies, coffee, and dining, and smoking rooms, in
other parts Of the building. Forty members form
aquorum and il that number is present, BUSH
ness is Immediately commenced. Formerly the
house sat in the evening only; but for the last
ten years they have been accustomed to assem-
recess till fve-and after that, remain in delibe-
ration to very late hour. The object of this
new arrangement was TO set apart the whole
three hours of the morning for the presentation
of petitions. and such short explanations and
discussions, as might naturally grow out Of them;
and thus to leave the whole of the evening clear
for debates on such motions as might be sub
mitted, and for the prosecution of measures
which had already been sanctioned by some ac-
ton of the house, and were advancing to final
passage. This plan, however has not been
successful. And Tor our own part, we are con-
WINGED by what we have seen in both houses Of
Congress, and of parliament, it is altogether vain
to expect that any addition TO the time of sitting
will expedite the progress of public business. Its
only effect is TO make the members prolong their
speeches. Those who only talked sense before,
begin to talk metaphor Whoever has been in
the habit Of attending any of our legislatures,
knows very well that the more time there is, the
greater is the number of takers. And the evil
must go on increasing-every speaker on one
side calling up one, and sometimes two or three
on the opposite side. Just so in the house of
commons. single petition sometimes gives
rise to debate that occupies exclusively the
whole OF three mornings. We have known such
a case, and another which produced discus
sion, occupying the whole of two mornings
What was worse-both debates terminated
without the submission of any proposition grow
ing out Of them-the petitions having been laid
on the table, there TO sleep forever. 1t is cacu-
lated, that not less than fifteen or twenty petit
tons arrive in London every day; and there is
| as little chance of presenting them now as ever
there was
Here, by the way, we may remark, that II is
sheer nonsense to ascribe the prolixity, in which
SO many Of the speakers in Congress indulge, to
any national characteristics. Foreigners have
frequently noticed the declamatory and verbose
style Of eloquence prevalent in our legislatures,
and some have set down love of speechifying,
as one Of the peculiarities Of Americans. Now
the fact is, these long speeches only prove that
| our Legislators have time enough and to spare
Go into the supreme court, or into any other
court, when there is pressure Of business, and
despatch is required-or even into the halls of
Congress al such times, and you hear little or
none Of this pseudo-oratory-t talking for
mere talking's sake The very men who are
most distinguished for their powers of diffusion,
will, on such occasions, employ only the most
technical. authoritative, and direct modes of adj
dress. We would not be understood to say,
that the superior chasteness and condensation
of the speaking before the supreme court, are
owing entirely to the necessity imposed upon
the judges and counsel to be economical in point
Of time for there are other causes-suficiently
obvious. But we believe that wherever it is
usual to indulge in pathetic and imaginative
dant leisure for that sort OF entertainment. And
if each session of Congress was twice as long
as it is, there would always be speakers enough
to consume the whole time Ii is remarkable,
there is a greater number of regular debaters in
parliament, and the style of discussion is more
diffuse now, that the practice of morning sittngs
has been adopted, than before
Even now, however, there is a vast difference
in both these respects, between the American
and British legislatures. In the house OF COM
mons those men only are heard, who can com
mand respect, who are supporters Of ministers,
or who have party sufficiently large and nfu-
entail to back them effectually. Their system,
though well adapted to accelerate the perform
ance of business, is so unfavorable to the indie
pendent expression of individual opinion, and
so repugnant to our notions of the just weight
Of each representative, that ii could not be intro
duced into Congress. They have summary
mode of putting down an obnoxious aspirant to
their attention, which consists in the employ
ment of such mixture of groans, bah's,' oh
obs ? and other noises, as is perfectly astound-
ing to an American accustomed only to the
comparative quiet and decorum Of our legisa
lures. Croning like cock is the latest i'm
provement on the methods of expressing ironi-
cal applause, in the reformed parliament. Dur
ing one of our earliest visits, the following scene
occurred. An eminent tory member from Ire
land was making set speech. He had been
permitted to proceed for some time, without
much positive interruption. The members only
did not seem to listen to him; hut sat talking
and laughing with each other, and with the
speaker himself-some of them lying at full length
along the benches and conversing in loud tone,
as if they were at their clubs. By-and-by, party
Of the more youthful members came in, and
clustered around the bar. They had the look of
men fresh from the dinner table. From their
conversation it appeared, they were on their
may IN the onera and had inst dronnpd in on