The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-17
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TWO HOUSES
OF CONGRESS- .,. rfE

1t Is doubtless well known to you that for many
years. Congress has legisated defnitivey upon on
y small portion of the private claims that were re-
ported upon, and that the com mtees in this brancl,
OF business have had much more than they could
accomplish. 1t Is also known to you, that MANY
claims have been pending for years after favorable
acton has been had IN one branch, and not time to
receive the action Of the other. From causes known
and unknown private claims are becoming more and
more hopeless, and justice more and more tardy
| every year. II ID, ......'.I ..I..'..,.. :
The constant growth of the country necessarily
enlarges the sphere of government it consequently
augmens the number of individual claimants and
increases the number that have to 90 TO Coneress in
the last resort. Another and most fearful aug
mentat'on is found in the legislation Of the last ses-
sion, wherein the accounting officers of government
are precuded from taking action upon any case that
has been closed upon the books of government and
also in all cases that have not been presented for
settlement within six years from the date of their or
ign! These two prolific sources, superadded to the
| heretofore unmanageable mass, readers hope
less all prospects of redress for this class of cases
Burdened as Congress was before this act Of the
last session, il is passing strange, that Congress
chose to close the doors Of one department, whose
action might have been had and point them to an
endless and hopeless appeal for Congress relief!
Under this state Of things what is the right Of petit
ton but m.ockery' Who that resorts to it, but
finds it fruitless form, from the physical inability
Of Congress to dispense what the constitutional right
Of petition meant to secure.
In the name OF common justice is il proper, "to
feel power, and forget right" Is it proper to dupe
the citizens OF the country with empty forms, that
give promise to the ear and break il to the faith
Is it honest for government TO withhold from its c-
zens what would be awarded by any judicial tribu-
nal of the land because il has the power to do So and
arbitrarily wills to do III
Whenever government refuses to administer ius-
ce and to furnish every facility for its prompt ex.
ecution, 1t perpetrates great moral Outrage and
builds up dangerous example Wherever gov
eminent refuses to protect its citizens in their rights
and will use its power TO wrong them il is criminal
delinquency of duty, and its tendency is to lessen
the respect and confidence that should be ever re-
cIprocal between government and its citizens. Such
IS the practical operation Of existing laws and regu
latIons upon thousands who are pleading at the
doors of the departments and at Congress for JUS
tice--sheer iusuce-and who believe honestly that
il the government could be brought to trial before
jury that those rights would be reached which are
now withheld. ,. .. 3d.. ..... ~
Gentlemen ofthe two Houses of Congress, know.
ing as you dc your rules anG forms OF legislation, |
and how small portion Of your time is given to
private claims, and that grudgingy, do you not feel
that injustice is done to private clamantsS Have
they not right to expect more at your hands, Do
you do TO them as you would have them do unto |
your no SOD, ID Iat .'|
The subjects Of general legislation very often in
terfere to make il necessary to set aside the private
calendar on those days set apart for H. The con
sequence is that il is but seldom reached and Then
by the operation of strange rule ONE mem
Der can set aside claim, and throw II be-
yond the resch OF recovery. Such too IA the y;el
lance with which pri8ste Slnirns are wstahs3
and ench the bRwcrthy ptejddice Against thsr, mat
the few that are reached, are generally desfed u
death, and the time thai ~ consumed IN Killing thcse