Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-18
The NIcnagcrie at Washington.

We copy some structures Of the National Intel
noencer on the dongs of the present Congress.
That press is so habitualy torbearng and polite
towards the Government, that it Is not to be
suspected of eyaggeration in this case. And
what a picture does it present. The representa-
tivcs of great people, elected in theory, by the
free voices of their fellow citizens, on account OF
their superior ability and worth, to make laws
on a vast range of subjects the most vital to the
general good, pass whole SIX months III utter
NEGLECT ofevery duty, and given over to contemp-
tiblc and quibbEng disputation about the small
lest conceivable triffies. And their debates are
as barren .f wit and eloquence as they are OF
public interest. 1t is painful to be compelled, as
journalists are, to dig into the mass OF chat tor
the bare chance Of discovering what often Is not
there-the one grain ofwheat. Milton compares
the wars of the early British tribes to the battles
Of kites and crows; but the latter are at least as
respectable and as ed;fying as the janghng de-
bates of the House Of Representatives. ,.
The expenditures Of the Government IN time
Of peace, rise suddenly to fifty millions year
The House of Representatives takes no notice OIL
chang, that is enough to revolutionze the
whole federal system; but it cXpends months OF
wranrline in deciding which one of two or three
iobbcrs shall print their proceedings. line l'rcS,'
dent fits out 4 formidable fleet to negotiate with
Japan about the price of Goals, and the House VI
Representatives is quite unconcernrd at an as
sumption of power which. if admitted, MAKES tic
Executive henceforth the despotic arblter OF peace
and war for the country. In return, they nave
iuukcted with Kossuthin honor OF European rcd
Republicanism. -.
It appears from the Intcligcncer, that the
House has had single lucid interval IN the s'x
months, that it has actually devoted one uay
to business. They seem to have been greatly
ashamed of it, and followed itup by sessions even
more than usually vapid. !,
This result comes in great part from the raPiu'
" advancing corruption of the Federal system
we are henceforth to be ruled by second rate
demagogucs and caucus mongers, Drea up IL
crocshops and such like schools Of political eth
les. The rule of mean men is consecrated, and
the number of candidates for the Presidency, Is
equal to the number Of politicians. instead o.
entering the public service with a view OF deieh
ding and advancing the general good, men no"
crawl into place as mink goes into Poul'r!
house, to gorge themselves on the public plum,
der. Hence the debates of Congress give. no re: real
indication of what the Members are about. Inc
whole concern is a mere den of jobbing, and the
outward aspect of a deliberatire body Is only
mask. Even that mask has now III great me''s
ure been laid aside and the afectatlon OF decehcy
considered too troublesome to be kept up,
Is there any hope that things will grow better'
We see none The system Of government by
irresponsible bodies, seems to be every day IN
vadine what remained of legal and constitution
al rule, and political hueksters have taken posses.
sion Of all the approaches to power. 1t is not
by reform, but by a convulson alone that such