Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-27
AMERICAN ORGAN.


IHc dicnteu cuitUr OF me n6itIinOre Ratr1Ot,
writing from the gallery Of the House Of Rep
resentatives, illustrates with a pencil Of light,
the effect Of the american Reformation upon
the various branches Of the government We
like his idcaof characterizing thcprcscnt move
meiit Of the people as tho American Reform
ation," and sach It literally is, and such it
should be called We con- mend the article to-
the perusal Of our renders He says a
"CoxaREss As IT WAs.--For some wears past
we have looked upon this body as an illustration of
the evils which spirit Of party, alike mad and
mercenary, has inflicted upon the country. par
tisan Congress is reckless and irresponsible, be-
cause as merit has had no share In the choice Of
its members, 90 fidelity can have no Influence in
securing their reward. ~, 4at ssf !, 4
The partisan member Is therefore fatalist,
considering himself irresponsible for his official
acts He expects to receive no approval from those
who differ with him for his good deeds. and he is
sure that his party win defend him for all his evil
ones. Thus aiinless and idle, often incapable Of
appreciating the character, or of performing the
duties OF station to which he has been accident
ally elevated he disports him there like any other
fly, and soon disappears in the oblivion appropri-
ate to his ephemeral existence. Congress has then,
heretofore, seemed, from the gallery, like turbu-
lent ocean--the caverns Of the winds--the temple
Of discord--the pit of the Bowery, between the
actsor any other classicalfgure, which represents
disorder. Whilst the broken reverberation Of this
Orat0rical Niagara rendered an intelligent hearing
impossible the spectator wascompeled to translate
the pantomime Of the inaudible dehaters-whilst
the Speakers hammer produced no more perccpt-
BILE sound than the conclusion in vacuo, which we
witness in acoustic experiments. n II was Babel
speaking to Bupcombc. At. the Inst session the
arrogance Of partisan Congress- was especially
obvious. Members high In the favor of power ate
apples as they promenaded the aisles, and playfay
threw the cores ut their compatrots, as Cromwell
used sometimes to tease his lrnsides, or Napoleon
pinch the ears of his PETS
81 Some statesmen chewed peanuts in all the sto
lid importance of unmerited station, or computed
mentally the accamulating per diem of an indef-
mite session. Some slept of the effects Of metro
politan hospitsities, while few, smart enough to
know that the sun Of party prosperity could not
gid their little day forever addressed themselves
to the practical business Of making hay. These
last practised in Congress- like 80 many attorneys
and turned to good account their influence in the
caucus or before the Departments. Congress sat
as the caucus Of competing politicians, or as the
arbitrator of discontented aspirants. The public
business was postponed to the unnecessary excite
ment of q sectional quarrel, while claimants upon
the justice Of the Legislature, turned from its OBJ
durate doors with execrations upon its neglect
Strange stories oflegislative venaity began 10 steal
upon the public ear. Political honors were said
to be the avowed medium of compensation for lc-
climate support. Direct-bribes and interests con-
tingent upo~ their own action, were said to be the
currency intcrchangcd between the outside inhu-
enccs, and the men charged with the representa-
tion Of the Republic. Votes were said To be as
much the subject Of negotiation upon the Rialto at
fbn <.f
merce in Wall street l +. BT
We turn to another department Of the govern
mcnt. few short months since might have been
seen wcl-dressed gentleman with ambrusial locks,
giving daily audience to innumerable suitors; there
many bent the knee for Office, and each brought his
tribute of adulation- Now, while human nature may
be wrought into innumerable conditions, It's inte-
gral staple never changes So although the Presi-
dent of the United States Is in theory the tempo
rary custodian Of public trust, ii is not wonder
fu that he should have yielded to those Influences
which made the Eastern Emperor
"Assumc the God, fa e
Affect to nod ~
And seem to shake the sphcrcs'
" Inspired with the design to secure the supremacy
of the Democratic party and his own reelection,
he projected magnificent plan, TO be carried out
by purchasing the support Of dissentient nialcon-
tents, and commanding the admiration of the
American people by the brilliant and inscriptions
audacity Of his administration. The antagonism
Of political antipsthiss TO be reconciled by the
infalible solvent Of patronage. To effect this plan,
cabinet sessions were held and adjourned upon the
certificates of comparative fidelity exhibited by
candidates for clerkship or consulate sspk &.
"The foreign relations Of the government were
made to await adjustment Of the election nc
counts, and no diplomatic measure was ordered un-
~ u - IL
not upon the national interests, but upon its own.
With these magnificent schemes Of personal and
party aggrsndizsment, sprung up designs Of war,
conquest, and acquisition. Too impatient TO await
the gradual npcning of those causes Of conflict
which always exist among nations, ministers were
chosen Of the most impulsive character---tncn not
Americans nor bound by the ties OF ancestry or
socistion to the interests OF America. These men
were sent 70 roam the earth for csnscs Of interim
tionh strife-to occupy the pacific interest, the
clsp-board city Of Gryytown was laid in ashes.
Thus occupied, the pacific Interval perhaps, pre-
pared our aims for higher exigencics. To secure
the necessary legislative cooperation, the hirclngs
Of the government were sent into convention. Its
nominees were gratuitously placarded by Its press,
and sustained with the whole Official power Of the
party. 4fseEg ~ -t8 ess1 HT
aThe people ofthe United States looked with NOR
tihcation and amazement upon these things. The
President Of their choice sought TO perpetuate his
own power by prescription and purchase. Their
Representatives had forgotten the duties for which
they had been appointed, and were upon every
tongue for vcnality, Incidence and vice. Ete
The people determined upon radical correc-
ton of these evils. The execution Of this resolve
may be called the american Reformation. They
did not adopt the remedial system OF Cromwell or
Napoleon. They did not drive the money changers
from the Temple with physical violence. They em-
ployed neither the bayonet nor the scourge to
effect their purpose. 1t was done peacefully, si-
lently, effectuaIly. There was no bloodshed-no
man was restrained of his libcrty--none were per.
secuted FOR their opinions. IL effected in per
feet accordance with the American Constitution.
There was neither axe, faggot, nor inquisition.
There was no oath OF recantation, abjurstion, or
supremacy. Such reformation in its manner and
in it's political results, was never wrought by any
nation before, nor was any other nation capable OF
executing it, 1sa z 6tw ~ io Ill Ae.
We will just poto its effects upon the national
legislature, and win therefore describe Congress
IL II.
"What change has been produced by short
recessi Are these the same mcnp This Is a
quiet, orderly body. Nay, more, there is degree
Of attention 70 business disposition 70 attend to
Ia