Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-08-30
Scenes in Congress, and what Is said of

Scenes in Congress, and what Is said of
them.
The Cincinnati Atlas alludes to the most recent
"scene' in the House of Representatives, and
says:
"The man who considers any honor attaches
to seat in Congress nowadays, is most uncon-
scionably verdant; majority of those who have
Hon. prefxed to their names are better qualified
in every respect to breathe the atmosphere Of q
grog-shop than that Of the National Capitol, and
to edify crowd of bar-room loungers than III
thinking masses of an intelligent people; and il
such things are suffered to continue, the day is
not distant when Congressman and blackguard
will be synonymous terms"
Our friends of the Atlas have done gery great
injustice in the publication of the above para
graph. We cannot think of any declaration that
could possibly be made more wide of the truth,
although we are sure the writer, under the ex-
element Of just and honorable feelings of indig-
nation, desired to be just
The number of members of the present Con-
gress who are indecorous, violent, bullying and
Incorporate, is exceedingly small, and could be
reckoned on ones fingers. The great majority
in both parties are men of high intelligence, Of
prudence, Of HONOR and sincere regard for good
order and propriety. In the appeal made by
Mr.. Chandler, of Philadelphia, tenths of all
the members present sympathized, though it was
not in their power at once to silence and suppress
debate that had gone SO far, without the ap-
pearance ofpartialityan and arbitrary power. Meth
er the frequency of disorder nor the violence Of
the connections excited, affords any fair proof to
substantiate the general charge preferred: for a
very small number Of persons of evil habits are
ample to enact these scenes.
1t may be asked why so small number of per-
sons are permitted to invade the peace of the
Congressional halls, and disgrace their charac-
ter, and why such members are not at once
treated with severity, and rebuked into silence.
To this we reply, that, however easy the task,
and however just toward the individual members
referred to, so summary course may not be ap-
proved Of, when it is reflected that one year ago
many thousands Of American freemen sent each OF
these persons to Congress-, and that year hence
they are TO pass Judgment upon his conduct. II
these constituencies regard themselves as fairly
represented by harsh, turbulent, and incorporate
men, however deeply we may mourn their pres
ence, their expulsion would prove so serious ant
unpleasant a matter as to deter any attemp
thereat, except from reasons Of the most urgen
necessity. If Constituencies do not look at thes
matters, Congress must endure the evil as best
may.
But we repeat that, however disgraced by
few scenic representations, the halls of Congress
contain but few men who do not grace them by
their presence-but few who do not reflect honor
upon their positions in every relation of life. II
is common for American editors and others, wher
justly incensed at the enactment of the scenes
alluded to, to thoughtlessly denounce, in unmeas
ured terms the whole body of our national legis
lators; but they thus surely do great wrong t.
themselves to their representatives, and to oul
common country.
We have been observant Of these things from
fair point Of view. We have always stood with
out the whirl of excitement-never asking, ex
pecting, or receiving any favors from Congress o.
its members, and never failing to rebuke ever,
act by which its reputation could be blcmished
and we offer our testimony alone from considera
tons Of justice, and desire that the Senator
and Representatives of our country may both {
home and abroad possess the confidence and r.
spect of their fellow-men they so truly merit.