The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-01
For the Southern Press.
Relies Of scraps and Musings.
No. o.
COMPENSATORY ELoouEEcg.

! Congressional eloquence, Ola peculiar species,
is certainly improving every day in both Houses,
most especially in the Senate. The practice of
introducing private and personal quarres which
used to be settled out Of doors, as part of the
regular routine of public business, has given a
piquant gusto to the debates, and greatly relieved
the grave monotony of legislation. This appears
plainly in the increasing audeDes- espc cialIy
ladies', who everybody knows are great amateurs
of scolding. A debate in Congress, particularly
in the Senate, proper notice is given that there
is to be sparring. match between two honora.
BILE members, attracts almost as great an audi
ence as public execution, or set-to between a
Crib and q Molyneaux.
Nothing in fact furnishes greater stimulus
to eloquence than proper degree of personal
feeling, except it be the sight Of the galleries
filled with sparkling eyes, blooming cheeks, and
waving plumes. A man-especially if he be an
old bachelor, or a widower contemplating sec
ond voyage, must be born both dumb and
blind if he can't make speech about some
| thing or other under the high steam of such in
spiration. remember long time ago, when ]
used to attend the debates in Congress, there
was great belle, and great heiress 10 boot
spending winter in Washington, whose pres
ence in the galliry caused the most enormous
effnsions of eloquence. On one of these oeca-
"bother her aabaster heart,"--as Looney Mack
wholter has it-but not being prepared on the
subject before the Senate which was one Of
revende dashed off in speech on the Impress
ment of seamen, which he had ready cut and
dried. 1t was capital speech, only il had moth
ing to do with the subject. Whether the heir
ess was caught in the meshes of his eloquence
cannot remember.
Another candidate for the applause Of the
galleries, and the good graces of the ladies, be
ing unfortunately no orator, took infinite pains
to attract their attention by busying himself
with writing letters, ever and anon casting his
eye askance towards the gallery, to see if the
ladies were noticing him. He was, however, an
honest, harmless member, and his foible never
led him to talk nonsense, about what he knew
nothing. But still this growing custom of sett-
ling affairs of honor in the two Houses of Con-
gress, according to the canons of Billingsgate,
had | think better be confined to the sect of old
Viragos, who vindicate their good name by as.
sailing that of others, and whitewash their own
walls by throwing mud on those of their neigh
bors. II does not become the representatives
of great people; for although it may be in ac-
that all classes should have voice in the State,
am inclined to believe that Of blackguards
should be excepted. The cornerstone, the very
basis of our political edifce is the system of
representation, and should the people once lose
their respect for, or confidence in their repre-
senlatives, that moment the entire fabric will be
shaken TO its foundation. When the represen-
tatives Of the people become objects of ridicule
and contempt 10 their constituents, the govern
ment may for awhile continue TO exercise porcer,
but it will inevitably be deprived Of that author
iiy which, while it confers dignity on rulers,
more than any other cause, secures the re-
spect and obedience of the people. Nations
may be governed by men they hate and fear
but never by those they despise. Let our le-
gslative bodies look to this, or they may ere long
become the jest and scorn Of their constituents
and when that period arrives, the edifce OF gov
eminent, though it may seem to exist, will be
without foundation. When the people lose
their confidence in free institutions, there are but
two alternatives, anarchy and despotsm.
wooDwoRTHs PATENT.
Will any charitable person, who knows any.
thing, tell me what this patent is for! is II 3
patent for long speeches and interminab!e de-
bates or for wasting the time Of Congress,
and increasing the per diem Has II anything
10 do with the Presidential election Il il a
patent for improving governors" increasing
the speed Of locomotives, or stimulating tenn
perance societies TO intemperance 1t must be
something Of the last consequence to the people
at large, or il would assuredly not have oecu-
pied so much Of the time Of Congress, for two
or three years past, TO the exclusion Of subjects
highly interesting to the general welfare In
truth, there Is something exceedingly occult and
mysterious in the legislation Of Congress.
There are certain members Of both Houses,
who, If they have no personal interest in certain
private bills, al Of pecuniary nature, are the
most disinterested persons in the world, for they
seem TO be forever on tho watch 10 slip in their
" notions" and advocate them with a zeal and
and feed lawyers. Surely, il cannot be possible
that men, who are to decide on these claims as
legislators, would condescend to receive fee
for advocating them, and that fee, perhaps, con-
dilional on their SUGGEST A case Of this kind
certainly did happen some years ago, when
Senator from down East, was, II recoIlect
right, expelled that body for similar practises.
But this is out OF the question, now that the
world has become so wise that il is almost i'm