The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-28
FIR Tie GosstAer7s Pres.
Relies 81 Scraps and uuslngs.
LOG .ROLLING.


There is radical defect in all the systems OF
government, discussed by the most celebrated
writer's, ancient and modern. Neither Aristo
tie, nor Plato, nor Sidney, nor Locke, nor even
Machiavei, say anything about log rolling, which
has by degrees become the great pivot of legis-
lation. To remedy in some measure this ex-
traordinary omission, shall however conscious
Of my ncapacity and want Of practical expert
ence, attempt brief analysis of this, the most
occult and powerful agent in directing the
measures of representative governments. As
example is better than precept, shall give one
which passed directly under my notice, some
years ago, and which will fully illustrate the
subject
1t so happened that was sitting in the gale-
ry of a Legislative body-whether State or ma
tional is nobody's business-behind two very
knowing looking, sharp-phized persons, who,
by their conversation, seemed to be great adopts
in the occult mysteries of Legislation. From
what could gather, they were a couple Of "bo-
rers," or "lobby members"-a they are indiffer-
emily called-a class Of men who are said to OK.
ercse controlling influence over inside" mem.
bers, most especially in all cases involving great
terest in their discourse, and finally gathered
from it, that the great object Of one WINS to roll
through the house ii bill for grant of few
millions Of acres, for the construction of rail-
road in one part Of the country; that of the
other to roll through bill, the object of which
don't exactly remember, but of this am Ger.
tain, that it had not the remotest connection with
the first, either in its location, object, or princ
pies.
The former bill was then under discussion,
and was puzzled TO know why the lobby-mcm-
Der, representing the latter project, should take
such deep interest in the success the former,
which apparently hal nothing to do with it.
This, however, was soon explained The bill
was successfully rolled through the House, and
the two obby.members shook hands ia an ex
tacy, one saying to the other-"Your bill is safe
now--your friends have kept their word, and
supported my bill, and mine will keep their
word in supporting yours. Is not this much
better than pulling different ways, and defeating
each other?" The prediction was accomplished
the next day. The friends of the railroad grant
kept their word and the quid pro quo was made
good with the most scrupu|ous fidelity.
This little incident explained what had fire.
quently appeared to me one of the most pro-
found mysteries oflegislation, by disclosing the
invisible links by which bills, having apparently
not the slightes. connection with each other,
were inseparaby identified, and could no more
pass through the House without mutual aid,
than 1.-THE four wheels of a wagon could get on
separately. Being DESTROYS to understand the
whole theory and practice of log-roling, cuI-
tvated the acquaintance Of these two expert
encud professors, and finally invited them to
supper of oysters, and champagne, where under
the genial Influence of jolly Bacchus-who eve
rybody knows can't keep secret,-tbey un-
folded the entire system Of legislative tofnbina-
tons which had hitherto appeared so inscruta-
bic to my poor capacity.
"I'll tell you all about it, my dear friend -
said he who appeared the most expert as well
as most communicative" 1t is one of the
simplest things in the world. think ought
to know something about il. for have assisted
in rolling through different legislatures, as many
banks, railroads, bridges, private claims and cor
porations with exclusive privileges, as verify
believe would amount to at least a hundred
You see, the first thing | do is to find out all
the projects about to be brought forward during
the session, ard who of the members are most
interested, either in pecuniary or political way,
in their success When this information is ac.
quired, mako acquaintance with these mem.
bers, and being pretty good hand at story
telling ard Joking make myself sufficiently
familiar to invite them to a dinner--or what is
better, supper-and ply them briskly with
champagne, which of all wine in the world is
most seductive We talk of public affAirs, and
take occasion to insinuate to the green.horns--
though there are not many of these now "a
days--the bad policy of men bers opposing the
favorite objects of each other, when if they were
only to unite, they could carry them all with
ease; whereas by the other course they all
went overheard one after another. The thing
is so selfevident that seldom, if ever, found
any man not at least a thousand years behind
the spirit Of the age, who did not see it at the
first glance" Here he seemed to be nightly
tickled with some idea that had Just occurred to
then proceeded. "Fl be eternaly
spill Gated, if did'n. once wind up in one single
bill, in this way-though the world knew moth.
ing about it bills for six railroad grants, hun
dred millions of acres for the Lord knows how
many purposes, for the relief Of all sorts of
people, and for all sorts of charitable institu
tons. They had no more connection with each
other than any two Of the most distant planets,
but still they all belonged to the same system
and though they all came in regularly one after
the other, were tied together and moved by the
same power, just like train of railroad cars"
NV worthy friend then nrocpeded tn d;ccuaa