The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-03

neaeea yesterday as Is past o'clock and finished At
SS o'clock s sT and nss a. SS
before Clooa the second at 10 minutes past o'clock
The Unknown Orators and Statesm N In the
American COngress-Gross Injustice of the
Warrington Hewspapers-A New System
of Congressional Reporting.
In looking over the large quarlo volume which
contains the elaborate reports of the Senate debates
during the last session of Congress- made by DR..
Houston, the stenographer, we have been very for
chilly reminded OF an interesting and important
subject to which we have been often DESTROYS Of
dire citing public attention. We alude to the wrong
and injustice which have been perpetrated on the
majority of our representatives IN Congress, and
on the country itself, IN consequence OF the lmb =
cIty and negligence of the Washington journals.
Although immense sums have been lavished on these
newspapers-amoun ing, In fact, TO many millions
of dollars during the last twenty years-yet, SO
utterly incompetent and Negligent have they been
In II aki ag leports Of Congress, that it has only
been through the instrumental ty of the stenogra-
graphic record ordered by the Senate itself last
year, and the independent reports Of the Nep York
Herald, that the public abroad, and very many Of
our own eope al home, have been enabled to ar
rive at the fact that that body is not COM
posed solely Of Messrs. Webster Benton,
and Calhoun. The House of Representatives
has suffered still more seriously even than
the Senlte, in consequence of the meagre re-
ports Of lis Proceedings published IN the wretched
things called "gove nment organs" and "party
organs" which are issued at the seat of the gene
RAJ government, TO fifteen hundred or two thou
sand delinquent subscribers Much more impor-
tant in point of numbers, and changing Its const-
tuent members much more frequently than the
Senate the popular branch OF our national legisa
ture has presented very wide field for the dis
play of those oratonca overs and talent for poll.
TICS which, in this country, open to all who possess
them, the way to the highest distinction But you
constantly hear the cry uttered by foreigners,
with more or less of ridicule, and by our own
people, with regret and surprise-"Ho few men,
bers OF the House make an impression beyond
their own districtr' The explanation Is easy
enough There has been prope, vchtcls of com
sa,.n,catiom betueen Congress and the great world
,ohtch hes beyond the obscure cilage called Wash
snpton IN the District of Columbia. Parties have
had their organs-that is little clques of office
holders, or office beggars, have had their organs;
Presidents have had their organs; and ambitious
heads OF departments have had their organs;
tive assembly of the people, has never yet had its
organ.
The evils of this unfortunate state of things have
been manifold. Let us glance at few Of them.
Hundreds OF men, Of genuine ability as statesmen
and politicians have been thus sacrificed. The
fame of few pet orators has been suffered to
eclipse the perhaps sterling qualities OF many
OF their compeers Great debates, elicitIng trans
4 -
been lost forever to country which would have
resped great honor and improvement from them (;
while abroad. our national councils have been sub
)ected to unjust reproach, on account OF alleged
poverty OF intelligence and craftsmanship The
press of the country, too, has been thus de-
prIved of most essential aid in the discharge OF it's
important public duties. Political trlckery of all
kinds, and political chaIlatanry of all de-
scripuons, have thus been enabled to play
their caIds with degree OF success which never
could have been obtained had the people, and
the great capitals of the country, been supplied
with full reports of Congressional proceedings
and debates Thus, too, while able, eoquen
and patriotic men have been consigned TO obi
won, the weak, indoent, and shallow representa-
tiyes have been enabled TO bamboozle their con
stituents, by publishing pamphlet speeches which
never spoken, and perhaps never even read, by
their repued authors.
We have noticed within the las, few months the
most enthusiastic encomIums several members
81 the House OF Representatives OF all parties, who
have been traversng the country and making
speeches in favor Of their respective candidates Tor
the Presidency. Their eloquence- therreadlness
their profound knowledge of politics, appear to
have excited, very Justly, the CHEST applause. We
could mention names, but it might seem lnudlous
to do 70. Yet, during the last session, you never
heard Of these men in the columns OF the Wash
Ington newspapers! Did these ardent, eloquent,
able men, sit mum, then, throughout the entire
sion Pooh! Simpl minded reader, they were
not deemed worthy Of notice by the intelligent,
vigilant old gentlemen who now FIJI their intole-
rable sheets with speeches six months old AT the
moderate rate OF fifteen dollars per column-that's
all. How could il be expected that poor dear.
nervous old Mr.. Richie, who edits a journal
called the Urion, ii we ere not mi stakcn, while
engaged in pumping State secrets cut Of some
halffuodled under clerk IN one of the departments
should trouble himself about the speech of the
. rising young orator who had that day electrified
the House or the Senate And surely 1t would b.
altogether unreasonable to interrupt the "mornnt
business" the "fond pursuits" OF the veteran
hnsncier Of that flonrshing and delec.able shee
30 correctly styled the Infeil,genco, by calling hi,
attention 10 the great struggle in which his party