The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-20

\ INJURIOUS PROCRAsTINATION.-I pre-
crastlnation Of Congress in acting upon pr
Vate bills, and the perversity Of some Of thu
members in "bocking the wheels" wheneve
the private calendar comes up to be acted up
on, is a source of great complaint Throughout
the country. Year after year, are claims o
the most unexceptionable character turned
over to that common scape-goat, "the mex
session" while one quarter Of the time spent
/ in insensate wrangling would suffice to inves-
tigate and pass all the private bills which JUS
tice requires. As the general government
can not be sued, justice to individuals de-
ponds entirely ON the honorable action of the
members of Congress and it is a subject of
frequent remark that it costs more to get sim
pie justice from that body than it is worth af-
ter it is obtained. Such state of things is
shameful. 1t is disgrace to the whole coun-
try which permits it ; and we seriously pro-
pose to the press generally to attempt a rene
dy. Let us obtain a list of those members
most conspicuous in defeating private bills,and
parade their names in black letter until they
are brought to a sense Of duty.
Among the most important private claims
thus cavalierly treated are those for indemni-
ty for French spoliations prior to the year
1900. This bill when brought up by Mr.. Ii
gon the other day was somewhat unccremo-
niously invited to stay puiet until next ses-
sion. very remarkable argument was
pressed against it on that occasion, the force
of which we cannot perceive, being based up
on an alleged fact that the claimants out of
the Atlantic cities were few in number. The
fact was controverted by gentlemen from
Ohio, Indiana, and other States, who several
ly observed that there were many claimants
within their respective constituencies. But
the argument advanced in this connection,
seems to us entirely without point. What
does it matter how few the claimants are, or
what they are, if their claim is Just ? The
government having arranged with France for
the adjustment of these claims, after negotia-
ton and reprisal had failed, the claimants are
justified i'll pressing a settlement; and it
strikes us that the mode which the
bill proposes, is one well adapted to the OBJ
ject. There are many citizens of Boston who
have an interest in this matter, and anxiously
look for the passage of the bill, and we have
reason to believe that if it was allowed to
come to a vote, that it would be promptly car
ried upon its own merits.
2. S. Since the above was written, the
French Spoliation bill has passed the House
1t had previously passed the Senate 1t has
now to undergo the often uncomfortable
chance of Presidential veto.-Boston 1IaH
When Twas in Washington last winter, man by
the name Of Lcavenworth, from Indiana, was fell
low boarder with me, and on learning his business,
found he there the third or fourth Session of
Congress- pressing claim of some S25 1000 for dam
age accruing from having large Mail Contract alb
ruptly taken from him few years since. Others
were there business of the same nature unneces-
sarily waiting while all they had was at stake. Ed.
RAILROADS AND COMMON ROADs.-The