The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-24


"MANNERs MAKES THE MAN"
There are some men in this world who il
goes against my conscience to praise, and among
those is a distinguished Senator from New York,
the head of the higher law school; but there is
one point in which feel bound to do him justice
his uniform courtesy in debate In this he
sets an example highly worthy of imitation, es-
pecially at this time when Congressional de-
bates are fast degeneratng into personal alter
cations. 1t would seem the members of both
Houses, being constiutionally freed from all le-
gal responsibility for words spoken in debate,
are determined to make the most of the exemp'
ton by attacking the persons rather than the
arguments of their opponents, under this sane
ton of great constitutional guarantee. 1t
might be well, however, for them to recollect,
that freedom from responsibility for eur words,
is to magnanimous mind the most powerful
restraint to the indulgence of ribaldry, abuse, or
scandal There are certain rules Of courtesy
which no gentleman should overstep, though he
may be out of the reach Of all accountability;
and legislation being held a gentlemaD!y voca-
ton, legislators, especially when acting in their
public capacity, should be careful how they
bring, not only themselves but the body to which
they belong into contempt or disrepute with the
public. They should recoect that they are
playing a conspicuous part in the great drama
Of the world, and that their course of public du
4; 10 ind, bv
alterations with fellow members In this re,
spect, at least, the Senator from New York pre-
sents ar example worthy the imitation OF all
parties. He is uniformly temperate, courteous,
and corciliatory. Having done him this justice,
have exhausted my fund of appreciation; for
though have watched his political course for
some years past, | grieve TO say can find no.
thing else in it am willing to take the respons-
Utility Of praisng. He will, therefore, be pleased
to value this small modcum OF applause partly
for its scarcity, and partly as coming from one
who wishe. him no farther HARM than that he
were consigned to that station which has some
times been called by disappointed candidates
1.-THE post ofhonor." If any thing could recon
ellie me TO his acting in his present capacity, il
would be that it affords him an opportunity OF
setting good example to that distinguished
body of which he is member.
HOW THE VIOLATION OF A RULE CONSTITUTES
A RULE.
In late DEBATE in the House of Representa-.
tives, Mr.. Brooks made point of order that
the gentlemen were discussing party questions
and not the deficiency bill The chair decided
against the point of order, son account Of The
uniform prqctt,e Of The House" An appeal was
made, but the House sustained the decision OF
the chairman 1t appears, therefore,. that the
habitual violation Of rule Of the House con-
stitutes a rule Would il not be better 10 abol.
sh the rule at once? If this new Congressional
principle should become universal, there would
be no such thing as law, because laws are per.
petually violated. This il worse than the "high-
er law"
HOW THE NATION MAY BE ENRICHED By GIVING
WAY ITS LANDS.
| remember somewhere to have read Of a
great political economist who devised plan
"for gathering immense treasure from al sorts
of people and euriching them by taking it away. "
This seems very much like the policy adopted
by Congress, for enrching the United States by
giving away one-haf the public lands, in order
to increase the balance of the other half Why
not come out with the honest truth at once, that
this is great plan devised for purchasing the
votes of States and communities by wholesale ?
II is one of the longest strides towards centra-
cation ever yet made The States will be per-
petually begging boons from Congress, and one
by one become Esaus. Nothing can be more
destructive of State equality than this new de.
vice of raising the price Of the public lands.
New York has expended some forty millions in
public improvements Pennsylvania at least an
equal amount; MASSACHUSETTS nearly twice as
much; and Virginia many millions. All these
improvements are highly advantageous to the
United States, because they inevitably, though
indirectly, give new facilities TO that commerce
from which they derive great portion of their
revenue. They are equally advantageous TO
the Western States, by opening new avenues OF
cheap transportation to their products, and re-
cevng returns Of merchandise. Yet these, and
other States, that have expended such vast
sums in public improvements, have received no
aid from the general government. They were
satisfied with the advantages conferred by them,
and so should be the other States, who will be
far more benefited by them than the United
States. The policy is bad in principle and worse
in practice, since It will certainly lead to many
premature or totally abortive schemes, for dido
ling the people Of the United States out of their
richest lands, which, if not now, will in good
time be a source Of profit to honest purchasers,
and Of revenue to the United States. The dis.
tinction between giving away money and Civ
ing away lands, by which the Constitution is
dodged-meaning no rehexion on Senator
Dodge-is pretty much on par with that