The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-03-25
aspEECHEs FOR BUNKUM.b

The following article from the Yankee
Blade "fills the bill" in regard to nineteen
twentieths of the speeches annually made
in Congress and in our State Legislatures,
nearer than anything we have met with re-
Gently
aOne Of the greatest evils with which le-
gislation in this country is afflicted, is the
cocoethes loqtleodi, or itch for speaking,
which is caught by almost every man who is
elected to seat in our State or National
Councils. Ninc-tenths of the speeches
o-made in Congress and our other legislative
bodies, are, it is well known, mere "bumkum"
orations, made up of tlimsy, cobweb argu-
ment, and commonplace expressions, which
would disgrace half-hedged collegian, and
delivered, not to enlighten or instruct, but to
be printed and sent to constituents. Every
person who has had any experience at the
Capitol, knows that these speeches are an in
tolerable bore, not only annoying to the bu-
siness members, but costing the nation an
nualIy an outrageous sum in the consump-
tiou of precious time The daily expense of
KEEPING our political Solons in session at
Washington is over three thousand dOlLarS
and on many days the house sits but three
hours, all of which time is consumed in n
long, tedious, bombastic speech by one of
the aempty barrer' orators. 80 -
Nor is this the most disgraceful part of
the business; even these speeches. trashy and
,nonsenscal as they often are, are not always
the productions of the tomtools who deliver
them-th are manufactured, in many in
stances, by eliterary'' men OF small means,
and oftentimes still smaller abilities, who
flock every winter to Washington to gets
lob that is, to get an opportunity OF writing
Speeches for some wooden-head in Congress.
We recollett that some years ago a New
York editor stated that friend of his, who
failed to geta liyingas lawyer, went toWash-
incton, and 'feathered his nest without trOu-
bic in this new-fashoned vocation. in brief
time he wrote fifteen speeches for some of
the eloquent" members, who were painting
for notorety as orators. These dcclamations
were delivered to empty benches; but that is
of no consequence. Ina few days two thou
sand copies of each are neatly printed, with
a formidable title page, announcing the
speech of the Hon. Mr.. Sam Stupid, from
Stultania. During the whole Of the succeed
ING week, the member from Stutania is
busly engaged directing letters, enc losing
his mastery speech, to every blacksmith
and travelling tinman in his district. No
one of these worthy voters suspect the plan;
and when told that the Hon. member is
an ignoramus, and unable TO write two SEN
teaces of English, they Indignantly resent
the charge, and refer with confidence to the
glorious speech of their representative, re-
ceived by mail at the expense OF the Post
Office. -.
1t is this class Of speeches, it has been just
Nv observed, which are copied, translated, and
published in the European papers, with re-
marks and annotations 50 very little eompH-
mentary to eur country. No man who has
travelled in Europe can forget how he was
there yexed and annoyed by having these or
ations presented to him, with questions by
no means calculated to tlatter his national
pride. and which often force him to make eX-
plantations in cases where his own choice
would have impelled him to decline the task
1t is time that an end was put to this "tom-
-foolery" in Congress. The press has the
power to destroy this nuisance, by showing
up these inflated balloon members in their
frue coors '.4lE