Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-31
LAST DAYS OF THE SESSION.


The noise and confusion" which prevails
in the House of Commons for the last week or
two ola session, is worth describing. The bu-
siness, (if business it may be called,9 is conduc-
ted in such a hurry burly manner, that it may
indeed be said to be confusion worse con-
founded" Every body seems to be doing some
thing, and as the people of the State ought to
know what a diligrnt body of public servants
they have, we proceed to give a description of
one of their Night Sessions.
Those who are not infected with the mania
of agitation and misunderstanding, sit in their
seats and pursue the harmless occupation of
writing letters to their friends. Those Off
more sportive temper are engaged in drawing
the likeness Of the Speaker, or the profile of the
member VIII is trying the strength of his lungs
in the vain hope of securing the attention of
the House. But the highest sport is to raise
points of order and call for the ayes and noes
on every trivial question that comes up. This
last amusement seems to be practiced for the
purpose to waste time. So netimes half the
sitting is taken up in this way of calling the
members names. The poor clerk o fthe House
whose tongue goes in this process with the
rapid and monotonous clack of a mill, we al
most believe might repeat these names fast a.
sleep, 50 perpetually is he called upon to go
through the mechanical drudgery.
Presently, by dint of an effort, a member
rises from a comfortable slumber into which
he had sunk andcr the influence of liquor, and
wants to know what is going on, and asks leave
to record his vote. Leave being granted, he
drawIs out-A aye" He is soon assured by
his neighbor that he has voted on the wrong
side, and he asks cave to change his vote, and
votes " no" In a moment his colleague steps
over and tells him his vote has killed the bill
that it is one in which their constituents are
deeply interested, and that a fearful reckoning
awaits him when he gets home. Suddenly he
springs to his feet, and asks again to change
his vote to "aye." A general burst of laugh.
ter follows, and the sage Scion looks out from
his cloak collar in which his head is mufled
as wise as an owl.
The ways to impede the business of thu
House are manifold. The moment a chanc,
D offers for raising a silly-point of order abou
nothing, a dozen or two of these Parliamenta
ny Tom Thumbs jump up at once, and a mos
discordant clatter of screams may be heard
" MIR. Speaker? Mr.. Speaker Speaker
. Speaker keri -ker ker-r-r-r-r T. echoes an,
: re-echoes around. Arms are flourished higl
in the air, and heads are shaking to attrac
! the notice Of that officer. Rap, rap, bang
bang, goes his hammer. "The gentleman
from Buncombe-Does the gentleman fror
y Rutherford resign the floor to the gentlema
from Nash ? Mr.. Speaker Mr.. Speaker +
} er-ker-ker-r-r. Rap, rap, bang, bang
e goes the hammer again "Order-order !
The gentlemen from Carteret is out of order
the gentlemen from Warren has the floor
; In this manner they keep at it. After a Will
> the point of order is settled, and a member be
. gins a spcech-but soon a confused din Of tai
from all quarters ov%erpowers the ear. Dow
'e comes the hammer again. Rap bang! thump
" Gentlemen! Order in the hall! Gentle
70 men must suspend their conversation and pr,
: serve order. Gentlemen must resume the
seats and allow the business of the House
, 60 I. A pause ensues in the tumult, an
s the speech-making is resumed. But not OF
'1 in ten listens to what is said the talking
mong the members. recommends and soc
/. rises to a hubbub. Down comes the hamm,
= of the Speaker once more. Bang ban;
- bang ! Gentlemen must susr end their co
versation, or the chair will be compelled
call upon gentlemen by name, to keep order
= Once more the noise RENTS and the busine
r-ecommences, but with no better success tn
- at first. The buzz and gabble, and hurly-bt
- ly spring up again land again to be hush
for a moment, by the voice of the Speak
and the poundings of the hammer. Day
4, ter day precisely the same scene is repeats
and it is amid all this noisy turbulence Il
every item of business must be Iaboriou
H. " showed through" before a vote can be
!, tanned.
The imperfect adaptation of the hall to
,e purposes of speaking, adds much to the dis
or denuof these proceedings. 1t is hardly posi-
to hear anything distinctly, unless a spec
position be selected.
-. CONGRESS.
-