Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-07-30
TIE ADJOURNMENT.


has marked the legislative annals Of our
country. At the end Of nearly seven
months. We may enquire in vain for any
thing that 1t has done useful TO the coun.
Try orhonorable to itself. But would that
the mere absence OF legislation were all
that the people have TO complain Of
Would lha, Congress had been guilty Of
nothing worse than the waste OF the PEG.
Piles money in a pro,racted and fruiiless
session-Excess OF Legislation is the fault
OF our age and country, and as 10 the ex.
pense-half a million, 10 the present
bankrupt condition Of the Government, is
not matter worth mentioning. The peo-
pie have right 10 complain OF their Rep.
resenlaiives, for the indigEiiy offered 10
them by the violence, disorder aud out
rage. which have characterized their pro.
ceedings. II will not be pretended that,
IN The most excited times heretofore the
House has ever witnessed such BLACKBOARD
and disgraceful scenes. as those which
we're OF every daJ's occurrence since the
session commenced. We need not cite
instances. II would seem, that the wrong
inflicted on New Jersey was avenged up.
on the House, with the certainty and ce.
lerlty Of retributive justice. There seem
ed 10 be a consciousness that the House
was not legal or constitutional body, and
that ils components were therefore, not
bound 10 act up 10 the character Of mem.
bers OF Congress The wee Of its orgaai.
zltion influenced the personal department
OF individuals, and led, in some degree.
10 the hsgrant outrages on decency, 10
which We have alluded.
But there is, ia these disorders Of the
House, something more TO be deplored
than mere breaches of decorum-there is
positive and alarming political danger.
In these days, when the tendency, II not
the aim, OF all the measures and doctrines
OF the Van Buren, party. is the concenira.
ton OF power in the hands OF the Federal
Executive. what could better serve the
purpose than the degradation ofthe House
OF Representatives IN the eyes o! the ma
hon' Let the people lose all respect for,
and confidence in, their Representatives,
and 1t will he an easy task TO magnify the
power and influence Of the Executive
The contrast between the violence and
recGlessness Of the House, and the sereui-
ty and dignity Of the Federal head OF the
Government, will tend powerfully 10 ad
vasce the latter IN the confidence Of the
people. The opinion is already begin
ming 10 prevail that, for all purposes OF le-
gi'la,ion, the House is nullity. Let this
belief become universal, aud a great step
is taken towards despoiism. When our
institutions become thoroughly depraved,
let no one hope tina, we shall settle down
into any thing so tolerable as the consti.
tutional Monarchy OF England, or even OF
France. No-ihere is no intermediate
ground between our glorious institutions,
preserved IN all their purity, and the most
thorough and memorable despohsm, and
that too welded under the name and
through the forms OF Republican Govern
msnt.
But. in respect TO the present Admins
tration, there ia no contrast between the
Legislature AID Executive head which
is dangerous 10 liberty. II the House be
turbulent and licentlous, the Executive
keeps IL in couniensnce by its miserable
shifts aud contemplate policy. The peo-
pie can draw no invidious comparisons.
The stupid bIunderings Of ihe modern
NEcKER, whose only talent is that Of
borrowing an1 giving his noie--ihe sb-
surd and dangerous scheme Of the Secre.
tary al War. and his readiness 10 relieve
the President Of all the esponsibility-
the shutting and ignorance of Official du.
ties manifested by NJ. PAULDiYG-ihe
desire Of the President 10 escape from all
responsibility, and 10 make his subordi-
mates stand between him and the indy.
nation OF the people-all these. fortu-
nsiely, act repulsively. when the people
turn ior repose from the House 10 the
Executive.
Among the few Bills which Congress
did pass was iho Sub-Treasury Bll-a
measure which has been thrice rejected
by the people, and finally carried by the
substitution OF eve members for The law.
fully returned representatives. Of New
Jersey. When /, Is rccoIlected that this
measure is boosted Of as eheeiing q revo.
luton IN the financial policy Of the Go.
vernment established by WAsmNG1oN-
aud that It was signed by Mr.. Van BIZ.
RES on the 9Th OF July. as being, in CT.
feet. second Declaration Of Indepen.
dence, what shall be said Of the cool sf
ffoniery OF the President and his part.
2ans, "a thus forcing through a scheme.
avoweGly momentous and radical. ~
contempt Of the wishes Of the people and
10 defiance Of their thrice recorded sen.
ienee of disspprobation; Does any one
doubt that % Vai carried. by The force Of
Iariy discipiine and Executive influence
against ihe large majority ol the people Of
b. country Look at virginia alone
an ge see ~ least Eve members voting
Tor whose constituents, az the polls IN
Apfi proclaimed. IN voice not 10 be
mis'skcn, their conden nation Of the
ncss.fe. Whilst another member. Mr..
HDpttys, owes his seat 10 the zeal
and ability vllh which be opposed The
Bill yhen first brought forward and 10
The irrpur and supposed sincerity Of BE-,
pledge ~ bis constituents Of that opposi.
ton. Nv the way--ths shameless con.
duct ihis gentleman has escaped TIE
eas'isi fIon which IL 20 richly merits from
the ICES It's true. be IS magnificent
2" politician bot Punishment should
be ri 'e'ed a' an example 10 evil doors
The other measures proposed by