Washington telegraph., 1851-03-19

the Hast day Of the second session OF lhe
3lst Congress, and regret to state that
among many important bills laid over IN
the Senate, probably more for want OF
time than for any other cause, is the
River ard Harbor bill Had the peoples
Representative discharged their duty as
faithful public servants, and obeyed the
Will of their constituents, we would not
now have to record the defeat OF this
important measure The public interest
is TOO often neglected, and bills OF the
most pressing necessity TO the people are
lost, by members wasting the time which
should be devoted to such measures, IN
wrangling about trivial and unlmportant
matters about which the people care no.
thing. and the defeat Or adoption OF winch.
would result in nothing either advantage
Gus or detrimental to the public veal.
The River and Harbor bill was one of
the most important bills of the session to
the Yves. and South. and its defeat will
not only result in she loss Of millions OF
dollars worth Of property, but what is
still more to be dreaded. great sacrifice
OF human life. The aggregate annual
loss by the distractions ir the navigation
of the Western and Southern rivers is
almost incalculable; and we should think,
that if anything would induce legislation.
or call the attention Of our Represent
atives to sense of duty, it would be the
great sacrifice of human life which is of
almost daily occurrence. These however,
are matters Of minor importance. with
many who occupy seats on the floor OF
Congress. Electioneering schemes-by
which they may be enabled to throw dust
in the eyes Of their confding constituents
are matters of much greater magnitude.
The remedy for the eyil is in the hands
of the people themselves. II they would
examine more closely into the merits and
qualifications OF those who aspire TO
places of honor and trust, and inquire
more strictly into the policy they would
pursue If successful, instead Of selecting
men totally unqualified for :he station.
lpereiy because they belong 10 this or
that faction, the correction of the evil
would certainly follow. In other words
if parties would select as candidates those
bes, qualified and fitted for the station,
and not undertake to make great states
men of thei: most Indifferent material.
there would be better. and more whole
some legislation, fewer disgraceful quar-
rels in the halls Of Congress. and less
cause for complaint,
In these remarks we have reference to
ro particular person, but the evil exists
and should be remedied. AS far we
are informed, the delegation from this
State favored the bill. We know that in
the House Mr. Johnson used every exer-
ton TO bring the bill up for action long
before it passed that body. but we con-
denim the every day practice of Senators
and Representatives qubbling over mat
tiers OF personal and minor Importance, to
the detriment Of the public interest
TERRIBLE ToRNADo-A letter from
Fayetteville, (Tenn.) to the Editor Of the
Nashville Banner, describes terrific
tornado which passed over that place on
the morning of the Gath ui., laying the
greater part Of the town in ruins. The
writer gives The following graphic ac-
count of it:
Pen cannot describe the awful scene
The world seemed TO be coming TO an
end The wind roared and blew with
fearful violence resfect hurricane,
amidst which couhd he henrd the silrieks
of women aud screams Of children, fall
ing houses, crumbling walls, timbers
dashng against timbers, mingled with
peals of thunder; and the air was alive
with electricity, followed by rain in tor
rents aud an impenetrable darkness,
while still from every quarter came ag-
onizing cries for assistance. Truly, it
was a terrible scere. The heal. sickens
al the recollection.
| The tornado came from the Southwest.
The streets are almost entirely blocked
with confused moss of timbers, and
not uufrequently the whole wreck Of
large houses was thrown aud s,rewu for
He oF