The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-02-25
CONGRESS-.

This body will of course adjourn on the 4th
of next month One important law has passed
at this session, and that is, to issue silver
change, deprecated in value so as to prevent
it being exported Our coin is worth
more in foreign countries than its current
value here-and the consequence has been,
that it has been bought up at premium, and
sent out of the country. Change has conse-
quently become so scarce as to make it al
most impossible to transact business, and in
some quarters there was serious talk of issuing
shin-plasters. The law provides for issuing
$3 gold peice, and so, 25, 10, and cent
pieces, of silver OF course the metal will
contain more copper than has heretofore been
used in their manufacture.
We suppose this will be the only bill of
any special Importance that will pass the pres
ent Congress. Ofcodrse they will pass the
bill to provide for their own pay, and to keep
government moving. But the settlement of
the question Of what shall be done with the
public lands-whether an equitable mode of
distribution is to be adopted, or whether they
are to be given in parcels to railroad compan-
les, in the States where the lands are situated,
and not to companies in other States-this
great question, which is beginning to create
much jealousy in many of the States, g. calls
loudly for a speedy equitable adjustment,
seems to claim but little of the attention of
Congress. Its true that many millions of
acres have been given to various railroad COM
panies but that only makes it more import
ant that the whole question should speedily
be settled
So, too, in reference to the question of the
railroad to the Pacific. This great work,
which is both civil and commercial necessity,
drags along in Congress, when a single years
delay may be millions of loss to the people of
the United States. Companies are organized,
and ask Congress to grant them land to aid in
making this road. But there appears to be
constitutional scruplcs in the minds of some,
as to giving that aid. If it is constitutional
to grant land to companies to make roads in
several of the States, as has already been done
--how can it be unconstitutional to grant
bonds to companies to make roads through the
Territories of the United Statesa But these
great-these vitality important measures are
neglected, and the time of Congress spent on
fllibuster and manifest destiny speeches.
Unless the people of the United States
call their servants in Congress, and in the
States, to more rigid accountability, we think
there is great danger that our institutions will
be brought into contempt 1t cannot be that
the race of true patriots is extinct. There
are as good men and true in the country now,
as there ever was.-The great difficulty, we
apprehend is to be found in the fact, that there
are set of men all over our country, who make
politics trade-whose whole ambition is to
be in office-and SO that they accomplish that
object, care nothing about the fact that it is
their duty to render to the country an equiva-
lent for the money they draw from the treas
ury
The remedy of these evils is in the hands
of the people. Let them look around g. select
such as have real sympathy with the masses,
and who would industriously strive to advance
such measures as would tend to the general
good of the whole people. Such men we are
confident, could be found. Let the people see
to it before it is too late.
THE LEGISLATURE.
In looking over the proceedings we find
nothing Of special interest. The School bill,