The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-18


THE DEMOCRACY OF CONGRESS-. "-Unde
this caption the Richmond Enquirer gives u
the article hereto appended, upon the late con
gress. It is the picture Of a democratic con
gress by a democratic artist, and none can there
fore doubt the truth of that part Of it whicl
shows, that, ''not only the character of thi
country, but tie credit Of representative gov
eminent also, is impaired By shameful disre
gard of principle and decorum in the congress
of the United States" and that "the clums,
irregularty and corrupt practices which dis
honor it's character have made that body al
object of derision and denunciation. There j
much food for thought in the article, and if
were not for the fact that the present chief exc
cutive officer Of the nation SO utterly destitute
of all the higher qualities necessary in the ad
ministration of the government, and so wanting
in the characteristics which command the res
pect and admiration of the people, there woule
be much room to fear, as the Enquirer says
that "unless congress mend its manners and it,
morals, the country might not oppose the trans
fer Of its powers to the executive department
ofathe government Such a cause will bt
sufficient to prevent a transfer, or the agitation
of the transfer of the power at this time, but i
we should ever again get talented, intriguing
ambitious president, with another such demo
cratic congress, we do not know but that he may
coax them into making the United States zone
man. government, and appointing him dictator
over it. The Enquirer says:
If it be legitimate to infer design from the
adaptation of means to an end, we may conf
silently affirm that it is the set purpose of con-
gress to forfeit every particle of the public res
pect For assuredly the conduct of honorable
members is precisely such as will most speedily
end certainly provoke the contemptof the coun-
try.
In the first place, a sweeping accusation of
corruption is brought against the house of rep
resentatves by one of its own body, and a come
mttee of investigation is appointed to play the
part of detective police in the federal legislature
Equally regardless of an awakened public SEN
timent which is prepared to inhict the heaviest
penalty upon every instance Of congressional
corruption, and of the vigilance of the commit
tee who are ready to bring the guilty tojudg-
ment, "a memberof the house of representatives,
in collision with one of its officers, mutilates
the record and changes the effect of bill in
order to compass some pecunlary advantage.
Isdeed, such is the repute Of congress, that the
calumniator regards the character of honorable
gentlemen as legitimate prey, upon which he
may pounce with impunity, in any fit of per-
sonal malignity. Rude alterations, brawls and
vindictive displays of bloody weapons on the
floor of the house, convince the country that
congress is as little solicitous in regard to its
character for decorum as for integrity
Tho cauata diSti bed f,r
dignity and scrupulous morality, will soon sink
under the assaults, of Mr.. Petit to a level with
the clover" house. The scene which this gen
tleman got up few days since in the senate for
hiss personal amusement, was such disgraceful
aid Notifying exhibition of vulgar blackguard
ism, as we trust the country will never be con-
demned to second time.
Not only the character Of this country, but
the credtof representative government also, is
impaired by such shameful disregard of prin-
cipe and decorum in the congress of the Uni
ted States. With writer's in the interests of alb
congress is already chosen mark of
derison and denunciation. From the clumsy
and the corrupt practices which
lshonor its character, they derive an argument
n favor of the promptness, precision and mex
orable frmness with which the designs of des-
ootism are conceived and carried out. The Ce-
sars, Cromwells and Napoleons of every age
and country, have alleged the degeneracy and
deficiency Of the Legislative body in apology
or the usurpation of absolute power. Unless
congress mend its manners and its morals, the
country might not oppose the transfer of its
powers to the executive department of the gov
eminent.
The proprietors of theoEnquirer, the Times,
he Commercial, and the Columbian, four Jour
lals of Cincinnati, have combined to raise the
price of their papers from 10 to 12 cents per
week, They allege as reasons for the change,
he fact that newspaper publishingi is less pro-
liable than any other business requiring a
similar outlay Of capital, talent, and labor, the
Increase in the cost of making ras.sBape rs
owing to competition, the rise in parsT. wages.
ents, fuel and provisions.
Corn AND PoRK.-We learn (says the Bos-
on Courier, from gentleman who has Just
'een through Illinois, and has letters and ad-
ices of latest dates from all parts of Illinois,
owa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, that there will {