The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-07

~
The neglect Of their public duties by many mem
hers of the present Congress- Is matter Of very gen
eral complaint Hardly day passes that the proceed
ngs of the House not stopped for want of quo
rum, and on w ednesday this repeatedly hap
penng that it really seemed impossible for the House
to get on at all Some remedy is wanting for this
evil Ii may be found by stopping the per diem of all
the members Who not present call of the yeas
and NAYS unless absent on leave II may possibly be
corrected by making rule like that proposed by Mr.
Adams Wednesday, requiring the names OF all
absentees to be published in the papers We should
rely father upon the stoppage OF pay for cure for this
evil than upon the rule publishing the names -
The air at Washington has the effect on many men, OF
making them calous to the shame of such exposure
The mistake of the people sending them to Congress-
hey appear to be fully satisfied, will not be made
again and contentng themselves with the empty
uonor of right to seat In the House, which they
seldom occupy, and to the per diem allotted theu
which they never forget, they pass their ume at
w ashngton as Indifferent special rs of the scenes
here enacting as if it was not their duty to take
part in them. Such men cannot be reached by any
mere publication. They must be touched another
. int. The ''pocket nerve" aft rds the only means
of moving them. Let the dissecting knife but reach
that nerve and it will be to see such
members of the House, as have referred to- all
sent, than it is now to see them present
There are members of Congress, however, who
absent themselves from their duty, who. would be
operated upon by the rule proposed by Mr. Adams,
and it would be well to adopt both means, by stop
ping the pay and publishing the names. We should
then reach the proud well as the mercenary, and
be able to keep them to their places.
The press also has duty to perform on the subject
1t is sometimes painful duty, and never pleasant
one. 1t may be that political, perhaps personal
friends are found thus derelict in their public EN-
poyment, and to censure such is the duty of the
press. The neglect of public duty IS contagious, and
the more distinguished the member OF Congress who
| ic thuSo ltv M
In censring such the press should be the more de-
cided for the reason that they cannot be allowed to
escape without injury to the public business. re-
markabe instance of neglect OF duty is at this time
presented by one who cannot but feel ii he reflects
for moment, that he is doing great wrong to the
public interest We refer to distinguished repre-
sentative from Kentucky, who has been delivering
speeches in New York for some time past, and who
it is announced intends to remain in that city still
longer, for the purpose OF defending Munroe Ed
wards who confined in that city for large forgeres
and is to be tried in this month. We do not know
whether this gentleman is now in the receipt OF his
per diem as member of Congress, nor is it very ma
teral to know in deciding the question whether he is
not highly censurable for abs, nting himself from his
duties at Washington. He is entirely without
for his prolonged absence. Though 1t may be doubt
ed whether member of Congress should go away to
distant city for the purpose of delivering lectures
speeches, yet because of the great merit and ex
citing interest of the this gentleman went to
advocate he may be excused But the special OBJECT
of his journey over, he should have returned to
Washington with all convenient despatch, and, by
renewed attention to business endeavored to compen
safe the public for neglect of their business In
not doing this and In proongng that absence to
month"; he is justly entitled to censure But he has
gone further than this He has actually set himself
down to the practice of his profession, and has UNI
dertaken the defence of culprit, in city far away
from his own home-a culprit who has no claims on
his good offices-and who only secures his services
because he may be able to pay him literally out Of
the proceeds of his forgeres for which he is to be
tried 1t is too hard that members of Congress
should thus act, and it among the most unpleasant
duties of editors to be called to condemn them for it,
In this case it is especially unpleasant and if we
thought less highly of the member referred to, we
might refrain from this expression of opinion of
his conduct in this matter.