The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-03
q PETTY ABUSES. /"

aPETTY ABUSES"
Extract from the speech of Mr. UsDgawoop, Of KY,
on 10 appropriation bill fol ls4i;
Sir, have bu, little respect for and not the least
confidence in the man who affects 10 regard tiftfe
things beneath his notice. especially little imPropne-
ties My observation through life has proved, TO my
satisfaction that those who refuse TO attend TO little
abuses are sure TO wink enormes. have no faith
in the intellectual ability Of those whose mental and
moral organization is such that they affect TO be inca
pabIe of attending small things. have ever found
them incapable Of managing great affairs. Napoleon,
Wellington and our beloved and great w ash
ington, were men who paid strict attention to the
smallest matters Of camp police. They We're capable
Of comprehending that world 10 but the aggregate OF
atoms, that great battles are made up of individual
that the fate Of empires may be decided by
the failure cinch nail Such men know that they
are great in proportion they like their Creator
whose attention, informed is directed 10
numbering the hairs of heads and who takes note
of the falling OF sparrow. sr, am shocked at the
combined tilensss, pride, and arrogance OF men who
affect up their noses at improper and immoral
actions as trifies beneath their notice The People
must dismiss all such from their service If they would
make this Government in all its departments what il
should be-a light upon eminence Illuminating the
nations Of the earth sun blazing in the political
armament upon whose disk spot can be found. /
have upon this floor practical illustrations
Of lhi, siepaied disregard Of little things. have seen
additions made TO the private libraries of members, by
voting thousands upon Thousands to pay for books
be distributed among ouiselves and have this
naughty spirit this elevated contempt for little things
kuIk from exposure by refusing the yeas and
have witnessed, year after year, papable violations
Of the law relating 10 the mileage of members and
have in vain endeavored 10 the abuse. have
witnessed efforts made by others to correct il but all
ia vain. II passed by of those nsip nicant
affairs which the mighty minds OF great politicians
could not condescend 10 notice
Mr.. Chairman, the honor, the dignity and to great
extent, the utility Of Congress- depend upon the abb
ding confidence which the American People repose in
our integrity, in our disinterested patriotism, in
love of justice, in practical good sense in
asslduous discharge of the duties Of legislators for
great naton-a nation destined under the guidance of
wisdom, TO revoutonize and an,elorate the condition
of enslayeJ humanity throughout the world or to de-
monsrate that, in the midst Of professions of every
noble emotion and Christian virtue, but cant.
ing hypocrtes, seeking office with avidy for the sake
| only OF its ''spoils" Sir, ought to clear our own
skirts of suspicion by seduous attention the least
whisper OF improperly, by applying instantly the pro-
per remedy petty abuses. Demonstrate your resou-
TO reform crying enormties in other
by first taking, will not say the BEAM but the mote
out OF our own eye SO that you may more cerly see
how to operate upon others.
We have no time TO attend TO trifing matters j
have known days yes, weeks, consumed in idle de-
bates upon preliminary motion and points OF order
From the perpetual discussion about order spectator
III the lobby would Iuppose that dispos
ed than any legislative assembly earth observe
siIic, order, and do every thing by rule. And, yet,
sir the newspaper reports of our proceeding
stanty presenting the country with this
noor which excite sentiments of shame and indgna-
ton IN the bosoms Of our people !" To day the Hon
Mr. "A. and Mr. b. had some sharp. shooting" To-
day the Hon. MIR. G. and Mr. ID. passed The lie direct
+" To-day the Hon. MI. +. and MIR. F. had fracas in
the Hall of the House OF Representatives" Such
SIR are the degrading accounts leemlDg from the press
(and lament 10 say with too much truth for repu
tution in regard 10 the dongs OF this order discuss
ing body. have sometimes thought that | would
take up journals and make careful examination,
with view TO ascertain the time lost in debating points
of order and preliminary motions. II would result,
have no doubt, hnding that we waste time 10
criminal extent.
| Here MIR. Cooper, of Georgia, said that he had
made the computation, and found that teo months Of
| the last session had been thus consumed
| No wonder, exclaimed Mr. u that our eight months
labor during that session only brought forth thirty pub
llc and seventy private acts, making little primer Of
eghty-five pages only No wonder meet and break
up and nothing done Is it because there nothing
| which ought to be done No, sir, no. am inform
ed by the Clerk that there at least thousand bills
and resolutions upon his table ready for consideration
There are a great number OF private claims which
have been allowed by your standing committees, and
which we ought to act upon II is enough make the
heart sick to read the imporng letters which claimants
frequently address TO The members of this body.
have received letters and from females telling that
ns ess iae e Sna M and hat usess
Congress would and pass the bills the poor-house
ar the Jail m,,st receive them. have received letters
compa,-ng bitterly that the Government failed per-
] sun its engagements and pay for property actually
conveyed to ii, consequence of when the citizen
was likely to be ruined. will mention but one case
In point and that IS your to appropriate money
to pay for hospital sites the western waters al
though years ago deeds have been made for the ns
selected. We have public measures of vast import
ance which, session after session. and year after year
remain upon table, calling for the action OF this
House. Sir, have had resolutions upon your table
Tor nearly SIX years, proposing amendments to the
Constitution Of the United States, and which consci
enously believe to be essentially necessary to the
wholesome operation if not 10 the very existence our
repu llcan Institutions and, under time wasting
rules and proceedings they have not been and would
no De reached IN regular order for century come
W. originate business enough to talk about and then
spend the whole Of in speech-nak for
buncomb instead OF practical action for the good of
tne country. These are evils of crying agnitude
ne effect oil such course Is now glazing faces
we are forced, by this sinful OF time, upon
the appropriation bills necessary to keep the Govern
ent In notion at the very close of the session amidst
pustle and confusion and it impossible de-
hberate in regard to the mil ions money are plac-
ing in Executive hands mention these matters to
show that those who affect to be above attending 10
trfes do not act upon affairs of magnitude except in
the way Of talking about them. And we talk about
every thing, when committee, except the business
before US, this debate fully proves and as shall
probably demonstrate by my own remarks before
close. II is this rambling practice, with view to lay
our IDEAS whether original borrowed upon all sub
Jccts before constituents in the same lump speech
that has rendered this body almost incapable OF trans
acting the public business"
| Good use for Tobacco-Not long since ret took