Washington sentinel., 1854-07-12

Z
RIOUs DUTIES. THE JUST DEBTS
OF THE GOvERNMET OUGHT TO BE
PROVIDED FOR.
It has become very fashionable of late to
lampoon Congress for neglect Of daty for lazi
ness, and for culpable misfeasance. In proof
of these charges, the country is pointed to the
fact that the eighth month Of the session has
arrived, ind yet vast number OF important
subjects have not been acted on at all. Long
lists of these subjects are presented in some of
the newspapers, and much complaint is made
Of the members of Congress for not having at
tended to them. They are held up before the
country as unfaithfu public servants, who draw
their pay most punctually, speak whenever they
can advance themselves by SO doing, but utterly
neglect the business which they were elected to
perform.
A plain man in the country, who is accus-
toned TO the laborious superintendent of his
farm, and who values men only so far as they
are capable and faithful business men, would
think that the members of two houses OF Con
gress are the LATEST drones that ever drew
money IIoIn tue PupiS hi'S' =
Despite all the clamor that has been raised,
and without the slightest disposition TO Halter
our Legislators, we must be allowed to say that
they do work, and work faithfully. No doubt
some Of the members are lazy and inefficient.
But the constituency by whom such members
have been sent here are to blame for their
being in Congress. The people ought not to
send any man to the national legislature whom
they do not know to be capable, faithful, and
industrious. If they do, they must be content
10 bear the blame Of it, and not saddle it on the
whole legislative body. Est
Nor, as was we'll and truly remarked by the
distinguished Senator from Michigan few days
since, is the labor of the members to. be esti-
mated according to the duration of the daily
session. They may sit but three or four hours,
and yet most of their time, if they are attentive
and faithful representatives, will be occupied.
They have their committees to attend. They
have information to get. Scarcely a day passes
that they are not called on to visit some of the
departments on public business, or the private
business of their constituents. In addition TO
these they have, what is far from being light
labor, their letters TO answer. We remember
hearing one Of our most distinguished Senator's
say that be received daily between one hundred
and fifty and one hundred and seventy-fve let
ters. That however, was during the penden'
ey of very important measure which may
have added little to the number of his cores
pondents. ~
Complaints are also made that the members
Of Congress talk too much and work too little.
They are charged with being too fond Of hear.
ing themselves speak, and too fond of making
speeches for Buncombe. Many ofthem doubt
less are. But we will venture the assertion, that
no constituency that elects q representative who
is known to be speaker, will be satisfied with
him unless he occasionally makes speech.
If an important measure comes up that inn
mediately affects their interests, they will not
easily forgive him unless he does speak. The
fact is, that members Of Congress, like duelists,
are blamed no matter what they do If they
speak they are blamed, if they don't speak they
are blamed--ust as duellis,s are blamed for
fighting and for not fighting. g !,
That Congress might work harder we will
not deny but no man loves to be drudge,
without one hour Of leisure. In the hot
months Of the summer, when the farmer seeks
the shade, and the very ploughman is allowed
more than the usual hours Of rest, il cannot be
expected that our Legislators are to work day
and night and deny themselves in this, the
hottest Of all cities, all rest and recreation.
A studied effort has been made to injure and
break down the present Congress by charging
it with being lazy, idle, and inattentive. Now,
If Il has not made as much progress IN the
public work as was expected Of il, there is a
good reason for IT, The Nebraska bill--a
measure Of high public concern, not involving,
il Is true, the petty dstsils Of everyday busi-
meas, but involving State sovereignty, State
equality, and the great principles that lie at t'e
foundation Of the govsrnmsnt--had. TO bs sscted
N. The friends Of the measure we're willing