Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-05
rpoM THE SANE or MARCH ?.

The two Houses of Congress are engaged, during
the brief remainder of time allotted them, in active
efforts to dispatch at least part Of the important
business before them We doubt not that many
members now think that more Of the present SEES
sion, its duration short at the BEST and fixed by law
might have been proftably and nationally devoted
to the concerns of to-day and that, giving credit
to their successors for average patriotism and udg
ment, our living legislators would have done well
to confne their attention to matters demanding I'M
mediate action, without soaring in the midst Of real
business to the deceptive though alluring empyrean
of the future.
But legislators have experienced often before,
the same selfreproach, and will continue to do SO
at the termination Of succeeding sessions Of Con-
gress, untaught by the lessons Of the past What
has been called a pretty conceit, enumerated py
clever author, contains in fact much truth that
experience resembles the stern-lights of ship,
which illumine only the path we have passed over.
The same thing precisely never happens twice. The
most unaccustomed observer must see that during
the last days Of our Congressional sessions import
ant measures are passed crudely and without other
examination than is allowed by the little time which
them Sometimes the passage of these bills in
wolves the expenditure of large sums Of money! and
sometimes such hasty legislation may tend to Tx
upon us course Of policy extending in the future
much beyond pecuniary considerations.
We have known confessions at the eleventh hour
that such rash determination of serious affairs upon
slight or no deliberation was pernicous and had in
known instances affected injuriously important
tional interests but in the succession Of events and
men, few can be expected to heed the counsels of
the past The gloomy dictum of the English mo-
rast is as trae of deiberative assemblies Of in
dividuals; that man,
SIN all the magnanmity Of thought
I" Resolves, and re-resolyes; then dies the same
There are certain customary bills which 1t IS ne
cessary to pass in some form, and in greater or less
completeness, to enable the Government to continue
even it, ordinary functions. But they require, ne
vcrthcless far more careful consideration than they
are likely to obtain when both Houses are exhaust
"a by long-eontinued sttings and jaded by the ne
cessty of examining 50 many and various SUBJECTS
We might also speak Of what is less generally ap-
preciated or known the severe labors OF the com
mittee-rooms for those are mistaken who suppose
that upon an adjournment Of either House its mem
bers free Tor the day, and return on the MORO"
fresh for duty. Let any one read the account Of
Monday proceedings N the Senate, and 1t Will Dc
apparent that much more business was proposed
in a few moments to be taken up and attended
to at once than could be understandingly disposed
Of in thrice the time remaining OF the present
Congress.
In glancing, however, at those acts Of omission o.
commission which will shape the judgment OF his
tory on its merits, one of the most unpleasant re
foc6os is, that by virtue of the power 50 strangely
conf. / on minorities by the rules, some OF the
most iro rtant and just measures should have been
kept ba and finally defeated BY miroritles, when
he sense Of large majority has been repeatedly
and emphatically indicated in their favor