The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01
VOL. VI.
FREE SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF RppDr,.
ATIvEs-PRESIDENT MAvIyn ABSENT

The House of Representative. b..
pered itself with complicated rulo0 nam
debate, that but one certain mode !. n i.OI'ng
in which members can express tho, ~, ie'
freely upon public afairs-that Is ,,ta" '.S
Committee of the Whole on the sto,o %
Union, it takes up for consideration orr 'l0
ticular bill. Then, member. SO (o,trn..l
to have the floor, may discuss anv ton;o /.
pleases within the range of human tboroL.
without saying single word upon the hin
making the slightest allusion to it Sunnoa.: !,
be proposition to make an appropriation f,r
the extension OF the wings of the Cani,o, -
for the printing of the census, he may talk on
coalition, secession, slavery, Intervention a.
tariff, railroads, or anything that NAV suit HI,
fancy. Of course, the usage is liable to Oro,,
abuse, but without it. there would not bo
chance for even SO much discussion rs Tho
new French Constitution allows to the cinhor.
who figure in the Assembly. Repeated efforts
have been made by members opposed to agita.
ton, to take away this last privilege of free de-
bate, but thus far, fortunately, without success
Better have too much talk and too little action
than action in the dark, without any freedom
of debate.
The discussions in the House for some time
past have been chiefly of political character,
turning for the most part on the Presidential
Question The remainder of the session will
be occupied in similar way for Congress
seems to think it has quite as much to do as
the People, with the business of President
making.
This is all wrong, but how can the evil be
remeded! Every four years President has
to be made. For the two years preceding the
election, politicians are plotting to carry of
the prize, and for the two succeeding years
contriving how they shall make the most out
of it. But, it is from the politicians that the
People generally choose their representatives,
and in this way Congress is converted into
| political caucus, TO devise schemes for filling
| the Presidency apd distributing Exernhve
| patronage. The interests involved are often of
a personal nature. One desires a. Secretary
ship or a mission abroad, or some appoint
ment more profitable than seat in Congress
another seeks Office for friend or relative an.
other expects to become the agent for the dis
| pensatOn of patronage in his State or District
whereby he can secure position at home.
The evil might be corrected to a certain ex,
| tent by certain amendments of the Constitu-
ton. For example, extend the Presidential term
to six years, and Congress will have more time
to bestow upon public business. Make the
President ineligible for second term, and he be-
comes more independent and having no induce
ment to enlist members in the support of his
particular interest Forbid members of Con.
gress to accept any Office from the Chief Ex-
ecutive during the term for which they are
elected and for two years thereafter. Such a
restriction would greatly cool the presidential
fervors which now periodically infame the
debates of that body. 1t would abate the per
sonal interest of the member in the Presiden.
tial Question it would exempt him in great
degree from Executive influence; it would lead
him to look to his constituents, as the source not
only of his present but his future political pre-,
ferment
Give us such amendments, and Congress,
leaving to popular Conventions the work Of
arranging party affairs, and determining Pres
idential questions, would devote itself with more
assiduity and earnestness to the appropriate
business of a National Legislature.