Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-02

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WASHI1efo1 HEWs AID e0ssIp.
Congressional Invsstigstious ~ observe
that the various committees of investigation
are BY no nssns . popular th,oashout the
country as those who invented this legislative
machinery may suppose. Four Of thsss CON-
mittess have been called within nearly as
many wesh, by.tAe present House Of Repre-
ssntatiTes. Not more than two Of them have
been constituted under circumstances that can
be justified. Perhaps bat one-the committee
investigating the Minnesota land bin fraud.
So, if the public impression is correct, some of
the others have accomplished literally less
than nothing. A great number of witnesses
have been summoned, and sent for to distant
cities ct their behest. All the expenses of
these witnesses, amounting to no inconsider-
able sum, must, Of course, be paid out Of the
treasury. And to what end? We fear, in too
many cases, simply to crafty personal malig.
mtg, unfoundsd suspicious, and tho authors of
those disgusting assaults upon private and pub
lie character which have constituted the staple
Of certain Now York journals In q word: to
crafty those whose accusations have, in every
single instance 80 far, been proved to be the
basest falsehoods. .r .
Though IS there arc black sheep in every
flock, 30 there must be here and there mem
Der Of Congress without personal integrity,
to brand the body on account Of the few black
sheep, is wholly unjusti6able. Take the case
Of tho Hon. 7. H. Bayly Of Virginia, person.
ally one Of the purest and sbless American
statssmeu. His name, coupled even with the
fouiest allegations, charged with practices
alike criminal and corrupt has been circu.
lated from one end Of the Union to the other,
to the sgony Of his friends and family; and
although these allegation are believed by no.
body, and were literally laughed down in the
House, yet they had to pass through COM
mittee Of investigation, and are now already
dead and rotten. How the high tone, the
public spirit, and the pride of country so rife
In Old Virginia, will revolt at such exhibi.
lions ss these! $50
Following out this system of espionage, this
imitation Of Spanish Inquisition and English
tar-Ghsmber torture, We may to. morrow see
the President Of the United States dragged
before one Of these committees, on the secret
accusation Of some disappointed Office hunter
or the pure and spotless Chief Justice, whose
lives have been spent in defence Of their coun-
try,-each called to answer to some anon
ymous calumny, some base Islander upon rep.
utation-soms blow struck at the hearthstone
and frsside and family, by men who dare not
utter their aspersions over their own names
There can b no limit to syst en- 1t once ire
sponhble, unlimited in power, and controlled,
it may DO, by the worst passions of our nature
There is class of men who seem to devote
themselves to the agressbls business of sus.
pecsing everybody but themselves-of regard.
ing all men excluding themselves) Is q grand
concourse Of rascals. This class believe it to
be their especial mission to prove to the Amor
loan people and the world, that most of the
Senators and Representatives IN our National
Legislature are filter for the penitentiary than
for the halls Of Congress, Without going out of
the way to show that there once lived a person
sse who cried out "stop thief, and soimmortal-
issd himself by setting An example to others,
who, guilty themselves, try to divert attention
BY ssailins everybody else-will not the people
ask if this is proper occupation for Americans
ID pride of country lost forever? Can it be
that any American, proud Of his country and
Of tho great names that survive to Us, and Sc
cure worlds applause, is willing to aid in
spreading false and shameless reports upon all
the servants of the people, who, it is to be sup.
posed, have not been selected for their vices
but for their virtues. We need only ask these
questions to hear an indignant response in the
negative from all parts Of the Union And
now, lot US say in conclusion, that after lopg
experience in Washington, and with an init
mate knowledge of men and things at the
Capitol, whils there must be speculation,
whore 80 many millions are necessarily OK.
psnccd. end while in country 20 vast, and
with . popu:'!stion 80 great as ours, various
projects of individua. apd personal character
must be presented for the consideration Of the
Government many of these projects proving
to be of the utmost importance to the pub
lie interests,) yet We are perfectly free to
say that the greater part of the charges
pertinaciously and perseEeringly made, i'm
pssching the honor and the integrity of mem
bers Of Congress, of all parties, whether made
in the aggregate OF the detail, are atroeionsiy
false. Wefs it otherwise, it would require
moro power and moro virtue than could be
found in thousand investigating committees
to cure tho monstrous evil. As yet, there is g
popular pride in the American Congress, thai
stirs the depth Of tho popular heart Still
may the young men Of the nation look forward
to occupy seats in the public councils, and bt
worthy of this honor. Still may they cult
vste manly virtue, intellectual superiority
and ennobling patriotism. Whom We mus
tsssb them otherwise, the days Of the Repub
I je will 6s numbered. .a.g
Rivsrs and Haxhcu, &e.-It is next to i'm
possible that the River and Hsrbor bill car
become law before the session terminates, q,
it il impossible that the House can dispose o.
| the Senatss snAadpents to it, and also pas
the General Appropriation bills by Frids,