Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-03-28
Cangr ess and Free HOmes.

Mountains. it is said, ften labor and bring
forth mice but we doubt if Congress ever suf-
fered throes in tie hour cf parturition, mont in
ous though they may be, worthy even the birth OF
a mouse. The dignifed conclave known as the
House of Represent tives, entertaind for several
davis. a bill which promised, if passed, very
improbable conclusion by the way, to dotate to
actual settlers on the public domain, one hundred
and sixty acres. Day after day, the House re-
solved itself int committee Of the whole, ano
day after day, speeches were made 0y hepre-
senta ives on eve question on the eartn IN II
,r under II but the one to which their special
attention was directed The Castles, Walker
itss scottites, and Websterites, defined their
positions on TIE coming presidential issues.
Southern champions, Western roarers, and
Northern dotgh-faces uttered unpalatable truths
TO the injury of each other and their unfortunate
constituents, and the Homestead Bill was made
the scape-goat over which ach aspiring gentle
man brawled. and screeched but never fought
Arms swayed to and fro, like therevolving blades
of a windmill denunciations were shrieked, and
foul-mouthed language belcbed out by way OF
retort, but still the Homestead Bill was no
further advanced on the tenth day OF the Com
mittees sitting than it was on the first what
cared political Goliahs, or heroic Davids for the
hone of the poor, the prayer of the Itch, or the
anethema of friend or foe. To them it was all
importment that their parties should be distinctly
defined in view of the coming contest for possess
ion of the White House. What availed 1t to
those hot-headed partizans whether the credit Of
Cne government was uIsuo4forvd Silx ts0vsf'1tei1'
servants lett to starve or NIL their stomachs as
best they could. More important matters re-
ouired their astute consideration, than the mere
beggarly account of empty pockets and the sus'
nension of federal works--the President was
soon to be elected, and their positions pending
the election must be defned-the Homestead
Bill was still before the Commit Q, and they
resolved to make the most of it. Still the
peoples servants hammered, and screamed anc
poured forth torrents Of forensic lava, bat the
Bill was never talked Of, its merits never dis
cussed 1t lay and languished and shrunk before
the vindictive gaze of its friends and opponents
Finally, when it had fulfilled the purpose fol
which it was brought into existence, it was lait
over for future consideration. The Deficiency
Bill is now up, and how long the public servic
and hungry expectants are 10 wait before it
recognition, the ghost of John Randolph onl,
knows.
Aud thi; is the way in which Congress serve
the republic Ten days were Consumed in Com
mittee on tho Homestead Bill, aud then it wa
showed out Of sight Like decsyea corpse,
stuuk in tbo nostrils Of its inquisitOrs. Tnepec
pie were fooled to the top Of their bent-and j
the midst of expectation and hot anger, it wa
placed in that bourne from whence no travolle
returns. How much are the people benefited
we should like to be informed, by making th
Hall of Representatives. place for party col
spiracies and political diatribes But citizer
ought to b. thankful, iuasmuch as their servan
OUT Ure fJJfr5r7sa 'Trr' 'ljadiS -vv5n-4~n7cE vii'
should travel in November next. "Thers is
good timo coming" but We doubt if the consti
uencies of this Union will ever live to see Il
millennium, or anything else, until they consei
to elect President nominated by the caucuSs
daily held in the Hall of Representatives
Washington