Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-27
coNGREss-THE CLOSING SESSION.

CONGREss-THE CLOSING SESSION.
As the session of Congress draws to close
much business of an important and interesting
character is acted upon. The galleries Of the
two Houses are every day thronged with eager
and attentive observers, of both sexes, and from
every part of the country. The Federal city is
full Of strangers. The hotels are crowded
There is more of frolic and gaiety than Wash
ington has presented for some time past. In
deed, it has been observed that for the last year
or two there have been fewer visitors and so
journers here than at any period before. The
hotels and the boarding houses, the merchants
and the trades people, the keepers of public
houses, and even the hackmen have all com.
planned bitterly of diminution of their profits,
in their respective lines of business.
But at present-though We fear that it will
last for but a few days--every branch OF bust
ness is well patronized.
There is class of men who have had but
little encouragement from the present Congress.
II is that class of men who come here from
every part of the country and combine the two
avocations of reporting and claim-agency.
They are generally inscriptions men-mere
mercenaries, who will either advocate or oppose
claim, for money. They do not look at the
merits Of the claim. They only think Of the
fee they are to get If bad claim they will
oppose it, if it conflicts with a good one !; il
good claim they will oppose it,. if they can get
fee for their opposition. They prostitute the
presses for which they report, and with which
they correspond, and the sooner the proprietors
Of distant newspapers are made to understand
this the better. We speak of these men as
class when we say that they are hirelings and
mercenaries. 1t affords us much pleasure TO
say, that there are men in that class whom we
believe to be honest and truthful. There GER
tainly are some few who have become distin
guished for their talents, their acquaintance
with public affairs aud the correctness Of their
information.
The present Congress has done more to break
down the manifold corruptions of Washington
than any Congress we have had for some years.
What is called lobbying" which under whig
administrations has been power in the State,
has by this Democratic Congress been extir-
pated. Fascinating manners, generous wines,
and good dinners, have ceased to influence
legislation.
Far be it from US to condemn as mercena.
ries that class Of gentlemen who prosecute
claims against the Government. That is a
professionals much so as the law-and as
necessary. The Government owes claims. They
ought 10 be allowed. They must be prosecuted.
Either the claimants themselves or their agents
must prosecute them. Many Of the claimants
are old and infrm, many of them are females
most Of them distant from the Federal metrop-
oils. They cannot attend to their claims in
person, and are compelled TO employ agents.
These agents are like lawyers, and their pro-
fession is just as respectable. There are IN
principled lawyers, as there are unprincipled
claim agents. But there are honest lawyers
and honest claim agents. If honest, they scorn
10 attempt bribery and corruption, however
successful such means might be with plant and
mercenary men. But plant and mercenary
men became so numerous under Wing admin
istrations that the business OF claim agency
became reproach TO the country. This re-
proach, we are happy to say, has been wiped
out by the present Congress.
The new court OF claims, one OF the greatest
and most useful measures Of the present Con-
gress, and the fruit Of Democratic honesty, will
efectually cut up BY the roots that vile system
that put il in the power Of corrupt men to
cheat innocent claimants ana at the same umv
TO impose upon, if not debauch, members Of
Congress.
We will now have dignifed court. We
viii have regular and formal proceedings. We
will have no fascinating men, no generous
Wines no good dinners. We will, it is to be
hoped, have justice. Good claims will not be
rejected because honest men arc the agents,
and bad claims will not be allowed, because
dishonest seducers Of virtue are the agents.
Yet, there is this thing to contend against in
our Government Presidents, Cabinet off.
GERS, members Of the Senate, and members OF
The House OF Representatives, have a great
fear Of money appropriations. They are afraid
that Demagogues will accuse them Of being
lavish and prodigaL They are afraid that they
will be charged with the heinous offence Of
raising tdres. And when the President APP
points his judges for the Court Of Claims, out
Of gratitude and consideration towards him,
they may have an undue respect TO economy
and psrsimony. They may reject claims that
are honest and good. There is no danger that
they will allow claims that are bad. Then,
again, as the decisions Of the judges have 10
20 before Congress, it is TO be apprehended
that the Demagogues in that body, who to ad
vance themselves, always pretend TO a great
consideration for the pockets Of their constitu.
cuts, will do, as they have done heretofore, vote
to reject the honest claims Of suffering men
and women For such Demagogues we have