The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-16

WAsHiseToe. June Il, iss5.
The Business of Congress.

The Business of Congress
An early adjournment of Congress is every wav
desirable, and TO any one who has spent summer
IN Washington, the prospect of remaining here
during the sweltering months of July and Aunust.
Is extremely unpleasant; but If the public business
has been neglected during the last six months. 1t
Is no reason why Congress should adjourn without
an effort to repair the error One month will NOT
suffice Tor the transaction of the accumulated bust
ness on the calendar OF both houses Indeed II
congress were to sit from now ill December. therr
would be quite sufficient to occupy its attention
Inc necessary reorganization of the old army--for
twill amount to that--wlI be most difficult task
ana VIII require time and patience for its success
iul Accomplishment; but Notwithstanding the late
ness OF the season, this duty cannot be deferred
without seriously Jeoparding the interests of the
service and the rights of individual officers.
There IS bill before Congress to establish rs
tired list for those officers disabled from active ser
vice by wounds or ill health So far as this is in
tended to hasten the promotion of active and capa-
BILE young officers, II is perhaps both meritouous
and necessary; but the bill has another object
which does no credit to Its trainers. This is to re-
duce the pay aud allowances OF such retired officers
tonotmuch more than halt what they are allowed i'm
the army This measure leaving its want of geperos-
ity out OF the question, Is extremely UNJUST A cit-
zen, alter long and aborious probation, enters the
service as INTO any other profession. He is ready to
die tor 1t; but he also reasonably expects to live bv
IT, 1t is contract by which he binds himself tn
devote his whole time, his free will, his health
his limbs and lite to the country, condition that
he shall be decenty supported IN return This
contract 1t would be a shameful piece of knayery
on the part of the country to attempt to evade. Tho
officer, trusting to the honor of his government for
the proper maintenance of himself and his family,
f,r ,..rl,. h..ttt
moved by a zeal for the honor of the service and
by by laudible ambition tor distinction, goes TO
the field and is wounded in such way as to unfit
HIM tor further acti4A service. This bill would
not only degrade 81 an officer, by casting him
out OF the line of promotion, but actually punish
him for his gallantry by reducing his pay But il
1t understood how dreadtully this reduction one.
rates! The disabled officer cannot pursue any
other calling His wants increase. He is unable
TO help himself, and this bill would deprive him of
the means OF Keeping servant. The wounds re-
ceived, or the diseases contracted i'm the service
require not only medical attendance but also little
comforts which in health he could dispense with
This bill would suffer him to drag on a miserable.
existence without medical attendance, without
comfort, without hope, except that death would
hasten to terminate his wretchedness This is
the pleasant prospect the trainers of this bill
would hold out to those who venture their lives
and limbs in the service of their country. II
is not too much to call it measure for the
encouragement of cowardice; for the man who.
IN sight OF the enemy, shirks his duty, is pro-
NOTED when his time comes, and receives u
suihclency to support him, while the brave
man who obeys the promptlngs of his own valor-
Gus heart, and dlsregards those prudential consi-
deratlons which influence the coward, is punish
ed, degraded, and condemned to state of ago.
Missed existence, which makes him regret that the
bullet or the sabre had not done all its work His
country casts HIM off, like an empty bottle, from
which she has drained the contents
1t Is to be hoped that the good sense of the Sc
M IN NJ Al hon off
to be chargable with the new disgrace of passing
this odious measure The only arguments adj,
vanced In Its favor, are, the saving which would
accrue to the country from the reduction of paw.
and that It would hasten the promotion of active
young officers. The cogency of this argument
may be Judged " the fact that it would save to
each citizen OF the United States not more than
the average amount OF one cent yearly. The Sc
oond end proposed can be accomplished by other
means.
Next to the private bills, perhaps the business Of
this District has been most neglected. The ex-
cessive economy practlsed by Congress In their
appropriations for the District, has caused this ca
pltal to be a .dlscredlt to the Union II is a
mockery to call 1t a city. Few as are its natural
advantages, 1t could be much improved II is not
at all surprising that SO many people become blind
mere. The dust, TO the denzens of Washington
Is as deleterlous as were the sands of Egypt TO tn
soldiers OF Napoleon Yesterday, one OF the6nes
Gays OF the season, standing the steps of the ca
plto and looking towards the Presidents hous
one could not distinguish single object in the is
terven;As space, The whole avenue lay conceal
el under cloud of dust In Washington. Eolus.
not Jupiter, is the ''cloud-driver." GALvIENsrs.