The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-18
COMMUNICATED.

! That there is determination in the majority
of the House of Representatives, TO suffer the
session TO pass without any useful legislation,
is an impression TO which the history Of every
day adds strength. The appropriations for the
support Of Government may indeed, be granted
as matter of necessity but nothing is likely
TO be done in compliance with the loud demands
of the People, for some measure Of financial re-
lief. Half the session has been Welded to mem
bers who were smitten with sudden and ire
sIstlbe ambition to define their positions, or 10
Others who, awaiting themselves of the breadth
of debate permitted in Committee Of the W hole
exhausted their hour in gross and idle virupera-
lion of the Executive. In the meantime, the
cry of distress rings through every part Of the
country without awakening a single sympathy
within that building where the spirit Of patriot
ism once presided, and wise and lofty elo-
quence once startled the echoes of lis elevated
domes. Sordd and vindictiye factions now
| occupy the rightful seats Of the patriotic, and
misconstructon and abuse only form the burden
of privileged tongues. With few exceptions,
every member, when questioned as TO the mode
in which be employs his delegated powers, might
steal a line from Pope, and reply
"Why, d-mme, sir, frank my letters ;"
with the simple addition, that he has voted
for, and regularly drawn his eight dollars day,
and as much mileage as his conscience could
safely eNiou
Now, let the serious, thinking People, ask
themselves, as often as they think Of public
matters whether this, which is a correct picture.
is precisely that which the Congress of the
United States ought TO exhibit Is it what
should be expected from men who, going from
the Capitol into the country, will during the
next SUMMER amuse themselves, and delude
the People, with elaborate misrepresentation
OF the corruption of Government, the Incidence
of public officers, aud the wickedness of the
Executive2 Why these very hooters against
the extravaganza Of the Government, waste
more Of the public money in three months than
IS paid TO every clerk in the service in the
course ola whole ye 7 are guilty of more idle
ness, commit more immoralities and injure so.
ciety more deeply, than any other class of men
Of twice or thrice their number living in any
other sphere, or employed in any other avoca-
ton. In which branch of the Government.
th N, are we to look for the corruption, the indo-
lence, the wickedness of which so much com
plant reaches the ear? IL ever reform was re-
quisite in public body, it is necessary in Con-
gressj and Congress, can only be reformed by
the People themselves. And it is time that the
People looked into this matter, and applied the
principle OF reform here. Until this be done.
there may be much legislation, but there will be
little of that much that will bear the test of time
Our statute book will be merely a record of le !
gislalive recklessucss and repentance-unuI ex
perience shall compel tho People 10 embrace
the Executive Veto as their only rock of safety. |
To this point we are floating rapidly, and it is
high time the People should see the danger. |
that they may use the power in their hands to
avert its course Let them bear this in mind
when they 60 to the ballot-box, give their own
honest judgment its free course, and we shall
have no cause to blush for our future legislative
bodies as we unfortunately have for the present
House Of Representatives. X. S. !