The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-06-15
PEOPLES PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, June Is, 1871.
CONGRESSIONAL DELAY.


Congress has at length assembled for the
first time under the new administration.
prompt and seasonablc reform of abuses, which
have so long afflicted the very vitals OF the
commonwealth, is among the duties which
the people demand should be vigorously dis
charged. Mr.. Clay, among the leading wing
members, has broken the ground in style of
determinate effort to expedite business highly
creditable. But it is too apt to be the case
thai those, who go about reforming others, are
the last to think of amendment in themselves.
1t might not be amiss for the people to remind
Congress, as a body, that, as servants Of the
people, for a few years past they have most
grossly neglected their duty, although they
have done much to help themselves to retain
their seats. How many weeks have been
spent, session after session, in doing nothing
Lut laborng upon questions as to the order in
which something should be done, and ranging
all over the universe, in discussing topics as
distant from the subject Of debate, as the poles
fromeach other. How many bunlumbe speech
es, hours in length, have been inflicted upon
the nation, filled with nothing but political
prattle, which sere never listened to by the
house because they were virtually addressed
TO constituents hundreds Of miles distant ,
How many abstract resolutions have for weeks
been discussed, only for the purpose Of laying
up political capital TO the party which introdu-
cling them How oftcn has the floor of Con-
es been converted into an arena of political
gladiation, on which members have INDUCED
in hurting SANDER and abuse al each other, 10
the utter disgrace of themselves, and emotions
Of disgust and shame created in the minds OF
the people, at the PROSTATE dignity Of the na-
tional councils. In speech of a member Of
Congress, during The last session, whose name
has escaped US, he declared in substance, that
two months cftha session of Ie39-i0 were
exhausted in This disgraceful manner. Thirty
public, and seventy private acts were the only
fruits of all eight months session. In the
mean time, more than a thousand bills and res
buttons died upon the Clerks table for the
want Of consideration, involving great rational
interests, and private claims for relief upon
which the hopes & comforts,and the verybread
ofwidows & orphans, were depending; while
at thesame time appropriation bills absorbing
millions Of the peoples money, passed almost
without debate at the very heel of the session,
for want of opportunity to sift them. Thus,
wasted, while the interests ola crushed people,
whom they nominally represent, have been
heartlessly disregarded. 1t is however, but
exact justice to say that these humiliating pro-
ceedings are peculiarly characteristic of the
Congresses assembled under the influence of
the two last administrations. Before the &C
cession of Gen. Jackson, these abuses had not
arrived, at an importance TO become the SUBJ
ject Of special complaint. But since that Pc
Rod each year has been marked with addition
al guilt But the palsying influence of this dy-
nasty has ceased to exist, and we shall soon
see whether wing Congress will be scene Of
business or empty defamation, or whether
they will press straight forward in the adoption
Of salutary measures Of reform and relief to
their suffering country. We know the diff.
culties they have to encounter from the ranks
of the opposition, and disagreement among
friends. We know, too, that with the mos
consummate wisdom and craftsmanship, tlm'
must be allowed to heal the wounds which hav'
been inflicted upon our bleeding country, un
derthe operation Of the most salutary measures
But the business of raising a PROSTATE natiol
must be done. The glow Of industry and en-
terprize must be re-enkindled, and, we do trus
there is still intelligence enough among tn
people, to distinguish their friends from thei
toes, and that those men will be marked witt
no common brand, who will still pursue per