Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-10

among newspaper editors, to improve the NOR
ais of Washington city. We feel very CRATE
full for this, as well as for all other kindness
shown us; but would at the same time admon-
ish our friends not to magnify the evils under
which we suffer-
We have before us copy Of the latest num-
Der Of the Home Journal, in which we are
considerably noticed by its editor, who says;
at was well meant, and indeed it was
natural thought, to put Congress away in =
new city, remote from the centres OF trade and
influence. But the experiment can hardly DO
called very successful, SO far. congressman,
says letter writer, with few important ex-
ceptions, are idle and Indifferent to the public
business. There are two hundred and thirty
members of the House, more than one-half of
whom are new members. Many Of them came
here impressed with their own local Importance
at home, and become mortified and disappoint-
ed to find that an ordinary member Of Congress-
is Of no particular account or consideration
whatever in Washington. Some new members
are active enterprising and industrious men at
home, and they come here resolved to do some
thing but they soon discover it's Of no use
to try to do anything and soon accommodate
themselves to the prevailing idleness, convivi-
atty, and dissipation The life Of Congress
man is surrounded with temptations, which
frequently ruin his subsequent business and
domestic habits, and very seldom contribute to
his own honor or the public veal Our own
observation does not warrant q dissent from
this impression, and it is worth the considera-
ton ofnew States and nations, that to fix the
capital at distance from tho chief cities does
not tend either to purity Of legislation or the
morality Of legislators.n
But for the inconvenience OF removing the
Capitol, and few other inconsidcrable stone
edifoes, to the city Of New York, ii is there
fore obvious that the General Government
should be removed thither at once; and all for
the sake Of good order, morality, and the graf
ifcation Of the prayer which SAITH lead us not
into temptation" Now, weshall not undertake
to say that the press of New York is not pure,
honest elevated, and moral, but we are tempt
ed to inquire how it is that the criminal records
Of that city present SO dark an account? Howis
it that the almost unanimous voice Of the press
there from year to year denonnces the respeota-
BILE citizens chosen by the people to enact and
administer the laws Of the city as rascals, cheats
extortionera, wine-bihpers, and gluttonsa How
is il that the expensesA of governing that city
are 90 enormously largea and so on. We do
not say these charges are true; but we DO say
that we have never seen them refuted in any
New York paper.
But regardin the city of Washington: our
bills Of mortality prove, BY comparison, that
there is not q more healthy city in the Union
than this; our statistics Of crime prove that
there is not more moral and orderly city than
this, and that the larger portion Of all offend
ers convicted here are persons whose established
homes are not here and our statistics of pau
perism show that the thing ia almost unknown
among us-that industry and thrift meet with
. sure reward and that private charity, given
without Qstentation en- the one hand, aad re-
ceived without exposure and shame on the
other, is adequate to afford relief to those who
are unfortunate in seasons Of hardship or in.
olemency.
If members of Congress are not all successful
in rising to distinction and favor, and if some
Of them become disheartened, dspirited, caro-
less, and Indifferent it is much to be regretted
and if il is certain that q residence in New
York would prevent all this, we must Of course
grieve with our disinterested and benevolent
contemporary, that they are not with him
and yet it would be pity TO remove the whole
body of Congress thither, for the welfare Of this
faint hearted few
But it is our opinion that the members Of
Congress are the most misrepresented and
abused body Of men in the United States.
There il among them as large proportion of
intelligent, latorious, prudent, and discreet
men, as can be found at any time in any con-
vocation Of worldly. minded men, engaged in
pursuits 80 exciting in their nature and calling
for the exercise Of equal tact, and involving
equal responsibilities If portion Of them
will, at times, be found picking their teeth at
hotel doors in the afternoon, or partaking of
rich suppers and champagne at restaurants
late at night, it is our belief firstly, that this
is the smaller portion by far; and, secondly,
that these practices would probably not be
wholly fOrsaken by them, even in the city Of
New York itself.
lhere Is put one improvement that we think
necessary to urge on this subject at present;
and that is, that the happiness and welfare Of
members Of Congress and their families and
the welfare Of our city, alike call for the provi-
sion of class Of furnished dwellings here, awith
all the modern improvements,o to be rented to
members Of Congress upon terms adapted, not
TO their presumed wealth, but to their pay as
members, and that every ipdueemept be given
them to establish their homes here during the
sessions, or the terms for which they are elect
cd and, in furtherance Of this most desirable
arrangement we think the transportation Of
their wives, children, and servants on every
direct mail route, should be stipulated for in
every mail contract. The harmonizipg influ-
ence thus produced upon the society Of Wash
ington, and the advantages aceruing to its citi-