Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-08-09
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MISCELLANY.

The LAnoRs OF MEMBER OF ConeREss.-
me farmer is apt to suppose that, when Congress
adjourned for day, his Representative is idle
ana mat he ought to have his pay and raons stop
Peu' MS IS great error, as is obvious to those
VINO may happen on Saturdays, or any day of Con-
gresSlonul recess, to go through The Public Offices.
ihere Is not Member who is not charged with
innumerabIe commissions, of one sort or other, by
ms constituents, with The Public Departments at
washington. Mere legislation is but a small part
| oil the business ofmany ofIhen This PERHAPS is
more especially the case with the Members from
new and growing States, where every thing is in
rapid prog ess OF growth and DEVELOPMENT and
all is comparatively unsettled. Step, on Saturday,
Into the room Of the Postmaster General for exam
pie, and you will see perhaps twenty Members of
Congress waiting for their turn-one wants to
have post office established al point some where
between Dan aud Beersheba. Nothing in nature
ran he clearer than the propriety and necessity of
inc cnse. True, there are already offices on each
side oil the one proposed, within Two miles of the
spot hut then there will be no additional expense
some clever fellow will get the frunking priv =
icge, and the neighborhood will he gratifed. To
show how it is demanded by the public voice, here
is a memorial signed by one hundred people, not
two OF whom, perhaps, expect to get a letter there
III year. That case being dismissed, another
wants to have the name of post o6fce changedirom
i'oughquay or Skaneaeles, to some more euphon-
cal, cant find euphonious in Webster as Tuck
aleechee Cove, or Maintoowoc Rapids, or Wan
lDesopinecoux or, for name shorter, and still
more convenient, as City ofthe -Four Lakes," or
" Mouth of Arkansas River"
These requests being all disposed of in the
"twlnkiing of an eye" the next gentleman repre-
sents the cases OF numerous contractors in-ds-
irlct, petitioning for remission OF fines and here
II is TO be observed that the louder have been the
| complains of the Press, and the People. and the
Chambers OT Commerce. md Grand in 10 mi an
irregularities OF The mail, the stronger the under
current OF opportunity TO the Postmaster General
TO have fines remit,ed-drilts Of snow heavy rains,
deep ruts, sick horses, bridges swept away, cows
run on, and engines off tie track, &c. &c.
dozen members yet remain, with pockets full
OF rnemorlals-some 10 get postnlasters in, some
10 get them turned out, some TO get Sunday mail
service and pay restored. In the midst ofa this,
in steps the Messenger, TO the relief Of his boss,
mud lays on his table about two hundred letters by
The last nni All these are to be examined their
contents weighed aud compared. A man is reco-
mended for post Office, whose qualifications, il
you believe ali that is said in his behalf fit him to
he Postmaster General, or any other member of
the Presidents cabinet. Well he gets the appoint
ment-and what then Why all The builders of
Babel, when God COMPOUNDED their tongues raised
not greater confusion than the complaints raised,
sometimes, at the appointment of the recommend
&c who was thus extoed 10 the very skies Thus
passes me morning OF one Department, until these
members, lnboring for their constituents, with
poor pay, and perhaps less thanks, get back to
their boarding houses, leaving the head of the head
ut Department fit be not as hard iron aud clear
as glass, coniounded with their conflicting claims
and app locations, and with all his regular work lying
still before him to be despatched to prevent accu-
mutation yet these offices thought by many
OF our agricultural friends to be sinecures-places
without care and without labor. While some
members are thus going the rounds from one De-
pnrlment to another swallowing dust and gasping
for breath, the thermometer at sc, others yet
harder at work in their own or in committee rooms,
in the ,c'rk oCpreparation-so much more trying
to the physical and The intellectual powes Than the
work of hardnguing on the floor, on which so ma
ny rely to gain reputation in "Bunkum" This is
but fhimt sketch of the labors Of the public men
nt Washington, who are 100 generally supposed to
be enjoying otium cum dignitaie.
american Farmer.