Washington sentinel., 1854-07-12

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and anxious to take the vote ON it after rea-
sonable discussion, in order that the ordinary
business Of legislation might receive its due
share of attention. But those opposed to that
measure declared that it ought to be thorough
ly canvassed and discussed. They opposed
every effort to dispose of and decide it. They
declared that the country wanted information,
light, argument, and that decision of it then
would be snap judgment, cheat and fraud.
If any portion Of Congress is to blame for the
time consumed in the Nebraska discussion, it
is that portion that comprises the enemies OF
the Nebraska bill.
There is one thing, however, for which Con.
gress is to blame, in our opinion. IL is this I:
In every part of this country there are men,
women, aud children, who, either in their
own right, or in right Of their ancestors, have
claims against the government. Some OF these
claims have been in existence for many years.
Effort after effort has been made to get them
allowed. Many of the claimants are old and
poor. They have wasted all their substance in
iruitless efforts to prosecute them to success
full issue. In many cases they live at great
distance from the seat of government and it is
exceedingly inconvenient TO attend here in
person. The delay of Congress, which has
eaten out their substance and rendered them
unable to attend in person to their claims, has
brought about necessity for that much abused
class of men, known as claim agents, and to
them the poor, the old, the ignorant, the help
less, and the in6rm, have been compelled to
entrust their business. The procrastination Of
Congress has created an absolute and indispen-
sable necessity for agents, who sustain the same
relation to Congress that lawyers bear to courts.
Some of them are bad men. Some OF them
have defrauded their clients, and deceived Con-
gress. Others have acted honestly towards
both. But those who have abused the trusts
confded to them have created distrust oi,
and q prejudice against, claim agents, that has
been extended from them to the claims them
selves. The consequence is, that all claims arc
now viewed with suspicion, and nearly all
agents regarded with distrust.
This thing is not right. There are many
good claims due by the government. They are
Just and honest claims. tits the bounden duty
of the government to satisfy them, however
numerous they may be, or however large the
amount. Laziness or distrust is no excuse or
justification for passing them over. There are
many good men, good women, and helpless
children, who have just claims against the
government, who are suffering from want, and
who are put off from session to session. Many
of them are treated like dogs. They are COM
PEELED to sue humbly for what is due them, and
are repelled with scorn and indignity.
These claims, sooner or later, will have to be
paid. The sooner, the better. Some of them
are running on interest, and if permitted much
longer to run, they will become formidable and
immense.
There is the same obligation resting on the
trustees and representatives of the people to
pay the governments just debts that there is
on individuals to satisfy their own. Nor Is
there anything better calculated to dissalisfy
the people with the government than the belief
that it is unwilling to meet its liabilities and
pay its debts. They lose confidence IN it.
They grow distrustfal of it. They learn to
hate il.
That there are bad claims we know full well;
and all such should be rejected. That there
are dishonest claim agents we also know and
sll such merit condemnation. But honest
c,aims should not be made to suffer on account
Of dishonest claims or dishonest claim agents,
any more than innocent men should be made
to suffer on account Of guilty men.
AT this very moment, in every part of this
extended country the eyes of thousands of help
less women and enfeebled men arc turned to
Congress for relef-reliefth that they have right
to demand There is not one single member
Of Cong gress, who has not some such person in
every county, in every ncighborhood of his
district and yet they are despised and neg
lected.
This is great government. tits rich gov
ernmeat It's resources are limitless. But 1t
depends on the affections and the moral conf
dence Of the masses. Those masses want the
debts of the country paid, and no representative
should be afraid to meet and provide for an
honest demand.
These remarks are not drawn from US by any
earthly motive Of selfinterest. We would de-
spise ourselves if they we're. They are induced
by sincere regard for our national character
and lively sympathy for the suffering claim
ants throughout the country, who are compelled
to beg what they have right to demand.
M MARVELLOUS sTORIEs-AsTOUNDI