The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-22
AsToR HOUSE, New YORK, }
49, YotD
Il Passing Glance at the Long Session of the TNtr-
fieth COuoy1ss


tieth Congress.
The long session of the thirtieth Congress, be-
ginning on the first Monday in December, 1917
and ending on Monday the 18th day of August
lS4S, has been especially distinguished for its ex
traordinary expenditure OF gas, and speeches fol
Bunc ombe.
The House commenced operations on the wal
with Mexico, with the reception of the Presl-
dents message; and, as the speeches were intend
ed for home consumption, the debate was pro-
longed for weeks and weeks. Indeed, from first
to last from the alpha 10 the omega OF the alpha
war has been the lneXhalstble theme for Bun
combe, and tor speciOus arguments adapted to the
great object OF humbuggng my constituents into
the belief that the particular representative of a
particular districi, or the Senator of particular
party IN the most patriotic State of the Union.
know all about the subject, and have duly held
up IN Congress the reputation of the people of my
section OF the country, as the most intelligent,
and, by all odds, the most patriotic and most ge-
nerous people on the face Of the globe.
But your speech-makers are not the only
men in Congress. There is another class
the workers in the committee rooms, those
Ouries who examine papers, evidence, and
vouchers, and make up the bills and reports
upon them, and upon rejected cases These
men, generally have no more TO say than is me-
cessary to the explanation and vindicatlon of their
reports, There Is yet another class, those pract
tIcal fellows, who are always on hand TO drec
is TO be done Colonel Benton belongs to this
class IN the Senate, and General Mckay IN the
House. And there is yet another tribe of NJ C's,
tnat class OF quiet and easy customers who are al
ways In their seats, but never have any thing TO
say. except the formula required IN submitting a
petition or the aye or no upon vote Mr.. Sur
geon is at the head OF this class in the Senate
lie makes no speeches. he presents no reports, he
puts In no directing voice In controlling the bIls-
ness OF the day; but his vote always counts one
and he alwaysvoes. MIR. Corwin acts generally the
part OF Sturgeon, he says nothing but ave OF no:
but when great occasion demands it, when it is
required that the tedious monoony of thread
bare discussion shall be broken up and the merits
OF the case, broad and Deep exposed, 10 the rocks
sea-weed, clam-shells. mud, and oysters. and old
CONS that he at the bottom. Corwin is the man to
90 IT. When he rises even Webster and Cal
houn prick up their ears when he has finished.
even Calhoun and Webster have new matter TO 90
upon.
But 1t Is your talkers-your takers for Bun
c0mbe-and my constituents, or for "the State
which have the honor in part, to represent" a. if
senator, there being two, could only represent
part OF State: II Is this sect OF statesmen these
nome consumption men, these Tammany Hall and
Albany regency pupils and professors, the alumni
and graduates and the sophomores of your polit-
cal president, making, place. regulating, phodemic
societies; II is this most dislnterested and ooua-
clous school of patriots who have absorbed per-
haps, nlne-tenths OF the late elongated session of
Congress, at eight dollars a day. The abuse
OF President Polk, the defence of President
POLK, the glorihcation OF General Taylor, and
the useless efforts TO get at the schedule of his po-
lcaI platform, the Baltimore Convention, the
Philadelphia Convention, Martin Van Buren, and
free soil the rights of the South and the duties OF
the North, the war and the treaty, and the acqus-
tons OF the treaty, abolltionism and the slave
trade, slavery and the horrors reysus the blessings
OF slavery, the French revolution, and the general
democracy, Secretary Walker and the sub,treasu.
ry, 1t. Col Fremont and the California CLAIMS
all. more or less, with direct reference to the
presidental election OF November, and to the of
hces which constitute the appendix of that cleo
ton, have been the rich topics upon which your
professional speecll-makers have spun out their
pamphlets OF tustan for the retail business
among "my intelligent constituents" or all over
"the Estate which have the honor, In part, TO
represent or all over the Union IL is this sort of
business for which the Secretary of the Treasury
has had to pay some three hundred men, at the
ratio OF eight do lars per diem, for about six
months OF the session. single speech for Bum
combe sometimes costs the people, in account
with the expenses of Congress, several thousand
dollars
By turning to the catalogue of the acts and re-
solutions passed up TO the adjournment it will be
seen that they are nearly all private cases. the
whole work upon which is generally done in the
committee rooms. excepting the mere forms of
legislation so OF the appropriation bills. But
upon these, especially upon the civil and dlplo-
matte expenditures, the largest freedom of amend
purposes, is exercised.
The only subject which lecitnnately required
heightened discussion was the question of slavery
IN the territories; but even here the debate has
shot of into the opinions Of Cass and Taylor, and
the mysteries Of the wing platform.
The business-like action OF the Senate ufon
the treaty Of Don Nicholas p. Trist with the
Mexlcans, at the little village of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, inttuled "Guadalupe Tidago blend
ing In the name the saint and the hero together
in religious and patriotic veneration--the action
of the Senate upon this treaty, prompt and bust.
ness-ike, stands out amid the rubbish of the ses-
sion, in redeeming importance to the country.
But the strongest feature in il is, that the man 10
whom we. are indebted for this good act was re-
called IN disgrace for doing it, while the labor of
believe that Senior Trist employed all his facul-
ties IN the work. are accepted and adopted as
the only way OF escape irem a contest the honors
OF which were exhausted, and the troubles Of
Ai.,i were J9s. beginning. "a t...s Cc1Ac.:Ca,
the foresight the saOecitv the labOYs and the