Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-05-20
whit has Congress Done,


since the present Congress commenced
its session, and the inquiry is becoming
gcneral-not confined to one particular
party, nor to the public journals arrayed
against the majority in that body, but
going out from all quarters-what has
Congress done, or what does it propose
to Co; to promote the interests of the
people of the United states, coniJed to
the keeping of its members! That all
business has been neglected, is admitted
on all hands: that there is no manifesto
! zion of a desire TO do any thing, is also
conceded. In this dilemma, when grea,
interests are abandoned, and there is no
prospect of change in tie course OF
members, il becomes the duty of the
people, who are most abused by the out
rage of violated confidence, to look abou,
for remedy. ... ...
Five months Of the time of Congress
have been squandered, fooled away by
The majority, and not one solitary &C,
of any general importance has been per-
iected or passed. Who are accountable
for this! |: is at least clear that the
Wings are not, for they are in the minor.
| i,y IN each branch, and can do nothing,
except with the aid of the LocofUcos.
! Ii they be not, then the Locolocos are,
for they had majority of some fifty in
the House and decided majority in the
Senate. They have the organization,
( in the officers of each branch, and in the
committees; and if they have been so
organized as to proven. Congress from
doing any thing, the Loco(ocos ough, to
| be held accountable for it, We assert
that it has been in the power of the Lo-
cofoco maj ority, if they had been so dis
posed, to have acted upon every meas.
ure Of general interest before Congress,
and that not hastily or imperfect. The
Senate, a more limited bod than the
House, has done something towards the
dispatch of lis legitimate duty, but lha,
body is still far behind Inc business
which il ought TO have perfected. Blu.
in the House, nothing has been done.
No, three acts of any general importance
have passed that body. The Deficiency
Bill-the Bill to improve the Rivers aud
/ Harbors of the West and on the Lake
Shores-the bills granting Lands to the
various Railroads, of National char
acler, which have passed the Senate, and
those which have been introduced into
the House-lhe Appropriation Bills
The bill TO amend the Postage Law, has.
! lilly passed by the last Congress, and full
Of mperiections--,he bill to amend the
law TO provide for the inspection Of
steam boilers, and to adopt some safe
guard against the dangers to which every
one is exposed who travels on Steam
boats-the measures necessary TO provide
! for The protection of the lives and prop
erty OF the people of New Mexico, and
to carry out the treaties by which the
United States are bound, in good faith. to
extend military protection TO the Mexican
frontier agains, the incursion of The In
dians--ali these measures besides others
of more local interest, but in which the
whole country is really concerned, have
been either neglected, or, if partially ac-
ted upon, have been put in position
which makes it extremely difficult to
reach them, with any hope OF favorable
legislation. For this condition of things
this total neglect of all the legitimate
duties of legislation the Locoiocos,
with majority of ABOUT .fty members
i'll The House, are clearly and unqneslion.
ably responsible to the country. They
have had i, in their power, in the five
months of their session, to have malured
and passed every one of these measures,
or to have voted upon and defeated them,
| if they did not suit them. But, instead
of this they have preferred to engage day
after day, and month after month, in the
business of Prcsident,making-,o occupy
the time of the House, for weeks, in an
illegal attempt to vote thousands of dol
lars into The pockets of a par,izan editor
and to do any thing rather than to pass
upon objects of legislation necessary for
The interests OF the country, but which
might have some effect upon the ap-
preaching Presidential election. The
patience of The people, in all sections of
the Union. is we'll nigh exhausted, and It
is not surprising that denuncia.ions loud
and deep should be breathed against the
Prol1igacy, the efficiency, and the utter
neg lect of those who have been entrust-
ed with the law making power. and W no
have shamefully abused it.--.Mo. Rep.