The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-22
w AS HI N G I N.
MONDAY MORNING, JAN. %, 1914.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


The fact cannot be disguised from the country,
that the House of Representatives Of the United
States has become proverbial for its noise, con-
fusion. and want of dignity and decorum. The
time was when this body commanded the profoun-
dest respect from the people Of the United States
because it entitled itself to il by showing respect
for Itself, and by being composed, if not Of able
and talented men entirely, at least of men who
had the manners Of gentlemen, and the courtesy
which members Of the same Legislative body
should every where observe in their intercourse
with each other. We lament the change that
has gradually come over that body, and lament
the improbab lily of any change for the bet
ter, at least for some time to come Indeed
we considera reformation in that body as almost
hopeless, for the reason that the people them
selves do not, in many districts, seem to consid-
er gentlemanly and refined manners as any re-
commentator in a candidate for Congress.
The scenes that have been witnessed in the
present House Of Representatives, day after day,
and the language heard in that Hall, have been
such as would more be6l cockpit than leg
islatve body. Lie /" falsehood,' 7" brand of
untruth," go to your MASTER" &C., are some Of
the terms used by members upon the floor, and
in debate. Damned lie,' :. lies enough to
damn commonwealth" "Murrel gang" un-
der the table and be damned TO it, " Clay or
any of his dirty CONDUCTORS or any Of his damned
dirty work" and others Of a similar character,
are epithets and expressions, freely used by
members in their seats, not soto voce but in a
tone loud enough TO be heard by the whole
House, as well as the galleries.
We are sure the Speaker as much regrets the
use of such language as any man in the House,
or the country; he has the feelings of gentle
man, and cannot, therefore, but be shocked by
whatever is improper and clownish his anna
bility, however, we fear, prevents his using his
authority with sufficient degree of energy 10
correct the evil. Some might be disposed to at
tribute that want Of authoritive energy to an un-
willingness to censure his political friends we
believe any such imputation would be unjust and
undeserved. It may be, as some are inclined to
believe, that the Speaker naturally turns his
head to the right, and his own political friends
sitting upon that side Of him, it follows that he
is more apt to see them when they rise to obtain
the floor, than he is to see his political opponents,
who set chiefly upon his left; but that he allows
any member to use epithes and expressions,
such as we have quoted above, without proper
rebuke, because they come from that side Of the
House, we cannot be persuaded.
In speaking of the want Of dignity and deco
rum in the House, it is not necessary for us to
institute contrast between that body and the
Senate, because, to all strangers and lockers on,
who go from one gallery to the other alternately,
that contrast is strikingly apparent. Going from
the House to the Senate, is like coming from the
billowy and surging ocean into the still waters
Of well protected and quiet harbor; or from
the noise and tumult Of city to the peaceful re-
treat of country residence.