Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-12-29
THE SECOND WEEK

Of the Session OF Congress is ended
without ending any thing else except
The election oil its officers, thesIasl Of
whom, the Chaplain on the part Of the
House oil Representatives, was chosen on
Saturday.
Appearances are not uuspIciouS, al
present, for the accomplishment Of much
good by the present Congress. The
majority seem to have come 10 the scot
Of Government prepared TO determine
almost every question by a stern and
romorseIess party rule, Nothing short
of the force Of such a predeermination
could have so far overpowered the ha.
bltual Difference Of our countrymen for
law and for the rights Of the minority
as TO induce, in the House Of Represen
tatives, the total disregard Of right iG
admitting to seats Members not chosen
according to law, followed by the relu
sal to suffer protest against the alleged
violation Of law to be placed on the Jour
nal, and, what is more arbitrary
stretch Of power, the striking from Ihe
Journal the record OF the undeniable
fact that such protest had been offered
and refused The same spirit has pre-
vailed, as our readers have seen, in The
choice Of officers Of the House of every
description. The case Of the Clerk Of
the House we have already noticed; a.
gainst the choice Of Prinersto The House
we say nothing, having really nothing
10 say; nor do we say any thing OF The
other officers eligible BY tho vote Of the
House, though the changes made there.
in could find no justification except in
mere blind party zeal, But the pro.
scrip,ion and persecution, by the per
sons thus pteIerrod TO the old officers,
which has followed, has been such as
was never before witnessed within the
walls oil tho Capitol, and, beginning with
the highest and best qualified, has do.
seconded 90 low as will hardly be believed
even down to IItle boys, (pages, or run.
ners in me House, Of from ten to fifteen
wears of age J several Of whom have, we
are informed, been driven out OF employ
be cause their fathers or mothers, or un-
clSs or aunts, are suspected OF being
Wings! The case 10 which we have
alluded Of the highest and best qualified
officer removed from en-
is that Of Samuel Burche, the
old, we'll known, and most efficient
Clerk in The office Of tho Clerk oI the
House OF Representatives, whose remo-
val was the FIRST act Of the new Clerk OF
the House. This gentleman had been
for thirty nine years a servant Of the
House, and during twenty nine of those
years, with the exception Of q furiough
Of eight moDlhS, granted him by Mr.
Clerk Garland in lS40.4l, had dmcharV
cd the duties OF Chief Clerk in the
Clerks Office. There is perhaps no
other individual in tho United States so
we'll vOrsed al The same time in Parla"
mentOry Law and in he practice Of Con
gross; and for the sake Of Members hom
selves il is unfortunate that they have
lost the bene6r Of his Intelligence, his
experience, and his peculiar quaifca
tions for the station which he filled
Not tho least OF tho objections, indeed,
10 tho radical changes which, departing
from usage, the House has thought fit
to make IN its ministerial officers and
attendants, is, that he new officers ne
cessarly want the qualification aud lacl
ny for dlschargiOg their duties which
are acquired by some expernce in them
We shall be moS happy il the auspl'
cSS dscsre us, snd the Members Of the