The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-23
Party SPIRIT.

Exuberance Of party feeling, which, with few
and brief intervals of quiescence, has swayed,
in greater less degree, our national councils
in matters both of public and private interest,"
has always been deprecated by every statesman
and patriot since the beginning of our Govern
ment As yet, however, it aourishes in all It's
pristine vigor. Crushed for moment, it has
invariably sprung up with renovated strength
Even now, when every motive demands union
of opinion, as far as practicable, and, at all
events, concentrated energy of action, party
steps in to associate those who may be willing
to meet in the spirit of concord of feeling and
compromise of sentiment-and the public good
still hangs suspended by the equalised influence
of two antagonist powers.
On the evils emanating to the public veal
from the stubbornness of party conviction and
the ascerbation of party passion, we have more
than once animadverted. We have endeavored
to paint the multform shapes it assumes, and
the various forms IN which it inhicts its injuries
ON the country at large; and, having done so,
we have no intention to revert to the subject of
the mischief it produces to the common inte-
rests.
Among all the modes in which it operates
harm, it engenders most we think, by the delay
Of legislation which it causes. This is the more
severely felt by individuals who have claims on
the Government, the equity of which is to be
determined by the wisdom Of Congress. In
view of these priuate interests, we have been
induced to touch the subject again.
The most important and urgent public bills,
though dragged through dcbate of months,
will be ultimately passed before the close
of the session at which they were reported
The appropriation acts referred to the Commit
tee of the Whole, at the commencement OF the
session, will, no doubt, with perhaps some slight
notifications, pass both Houses before they
adjourn. These acts must be passed, as
matter of course, and therefore will be passed.
Not so with the bill of the poor private claim
ant, on the equity of Congress- This session,
perhaps, his bill will be reported from the Com
mittee to which it was referred, and will be
placed on the calendar-but it will not be reach
ed this session. Next year, perhaps, 1t may pass
the House, but not in time TO go through the
Senate He then must commence anew. The
wear after his bill is started in the Senate and
passes that body, but does not get through the
House-and year after year it is thrown about
from one end of the Capitol to the other, but
never succeeds in getting out of the building.
In the mean while the claimant fingers on with
hope deferred, constantly renewed, but as often
disappointed while the Representatives Of the
People are Willing their tim, or INDUCING their
spleen in endless trades of oratory, dictated by
party passion, and subscribing no beneficial pur-
pose
If the public interests suffer from the obsti-
macy of party conhicts-private interests are no
less the victims There are periods when the
country would thrive better under less legsla-
ton, or occasionally, under no legislation at all.
Individual cases submitted to the action of Con-
gress always require immediate consideration
and prompt decision. Is not one motive here
presented sufficient to induce greater activity in
Congress?