The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-10
CONGRESS


The National Intelhgeneer Of yesterday says
of the proceedings Of the present Congress
ut is related by Bacon, that once, during
the reign of Queen Elizabeth of England, when
Parliament had sat long, and the House Of
Commons especially had done in effect nothing
the Speaker of that body coming one day to
the Queen, she said to him, Now, Mr.. Speak
er, what has passed in your Housep To which
the Speaker replied, If please your Majesty
seven weeks
IF our sovereign (the People) of the United
States could be supposed bodily to address the
same question to Mr.. Speaker Boyd, Of our
House of Representatives, what much more
satisfactory reply than this could the Speaker
make, substituting six months for seven weeks?'
However little has been done during the last
six months, it is clear that nothing will be done
during the present week. Congress has already
adjourned over to Friday; if the Baltimore
Convention should have completed its work be-
fore that time the minds of members will be
80 much occupied with the result, that no other
topic has chance of receiving any attention
in Congress, for the rest of the week, at least.
If the proceedings of the Convention should be
drawn out beyond Thursday, Congress might
as well adjourn at once, till Monday, as it
would be impossible to obtain a quorum for
business When the Wing Convention is held
Congress must have "A holyday of another week
Nor is this to be the worst of it; the moment
the two candidates for the Presidency are
nominated, the warfare, which before was a
series of skirmishes, becomes general engage.
ment the struggles of different districts of the
same party for the ascendency are over; the
two great parties are mustered against each
other with an appearance OF unanimity, and
the contest is hand to hand The daily allow.
ance of harangue designed to affect the decis
ion Of the Presidential question will be made
till each member has fairly unburdened him
self, and sent home the desired quantity Of
speeches to be read by his constituents; and
then, when the members are tired of Washing
ton and of each other, a few days, Just as the
two Houses are about to adjourn, will be set
apart for the transaction of necessary business
which will be hurried through without due
consideration, and of which a considerable part
must of course, be i'll done.
New York EUening Post.
These evils being admitted, is there no RENEE
dy? Let us suggest a few remediate measures.
LIST. Make the President ineligible for a Sec
ond term. This change would to a great ex-
tent remove the temptation to the undue exer-
else of Executive influence over members of
Congress, and at the same time lessen their
susceptibility to it.
IDLY Extend the Presidential term two years
longer, making it six instead Of four years. The
country would have longer intervals Of quiet
Congress more time and disposition for the
transaction of its legitimate business, and Ma
tonal politics would not so greatly overshadov
State politics and interests, as is now the case
3dly Render members of Congress ineligible
TO any office in the gift Of the Federal Execu
tive, during the time for which they are elect
ed and for two years thereafter. Now, con
stitutional provision prohibits them from being
appointed, during the time for which they are
elected, to an Office under the United States
which has been created, or the emouments Of
which have been increased, during that time
This is good so far as it goes but to secure dis
interested men as the servants Of the People
| and promote strict attention to their duties a,
legislators let them feel that while in the ser
vice of the People, to them and their own con
sciences alone they must look for support ant
reward Acting under the general inhibition
we propose, they would take very little persona
concern in the choice Of any particular man as
the candidate Of their Party; for to them per
sonally it would be quito immaterial They
could expect no Cabinet appointment or profit
able Authorship or foreign Mission.
4thly Substitute fixed salary for per diem
allowance and let the salary be ample enough
10 make the position of a representative of tbs
people more desirable, even under pecuniary
aspect, than a place in one of the Executive
bureaus In other words make it more profit
able for q representative to cultivate the good
opinion of his constituents than the favor Of the
Federal Executive, and he will take more in
terest in doing their work than in manufactur
ing Presidents.
5thly. Reduce the patronage Of the Presi
dent by making the eighteen thousand DEPUTY
Postmasters Of the country elective by thu
People; and regulate the appointments t.
clerkships, where possible, so as to secure each
State its fair proportion, and also to exclude
mere favoritism. This would tend to restrain
within reasonable limits the ardor of ambitious
members intent upon the election Of candi
date through whom they could dispose Of thu
Executive patronage in their respective States
6thly. Abolish the Franking Privilege. Thu
facilities this secures for wide and prompt cir
culation stimulate political speeches by whici
the time of Congress is literally wasted. A
member makes speech in Congress, not Z
elucidate any measure under consideration, O
to promote or prevent its passage, but for tn
sake Of a political impression on his consttu
ents knowing that by the aid of a few fellow
members, which he is always willing to recip
rocate he can have it printed at small cost
and sent 10 some thousands Of his politica
friends without any cost at all. Abolish tn
Franking Privilege, and there will be q re
markabe decrease Of political speeches. Mem
bers, IL they wish to produce certain infiuenc
at home, instead Of INJECTING impertnen
speeches ON Congress, would then address per
tinent letters 70 their constituent, directly
through the columns Of their local newspaper
7thly. Let no member of Congress be slscte'
to National Nominating Convention. w
notice the names Of several Senators and Rep
reseutatives in the list Of delegates recently i
attendance at the Democratic Convention u
Baltimore. Let the legislator attend to tn
business Of making laws and the convention