Washington sentinel., 1855-02-08
CONGREsS-DIsPATC OF BUSINESS
GENERAL AND PRIVATE LEGISLA-

Otr
GENERAL AND PRIVATE LEGIsLA-
TION.
Not even those who are most disposed TO
grumble-and such are generally the idest of
all men-who wag their tongues rather than
employ their hands, can complain of the pres
ent Congress. The two Houses are working
diligently and faithfully. They sit late, talk
as little as possible, and do great deal of
business The labors of Legislators are by no
means light when strictly and conscientiously
discharged. Indeed, there are times when
they are most onerous and oppressive. The
present is such time. This is the short ses.
sion, and short as is, ii is rapidly drawing to
close. Much Of the business which was neces
sarily deferred at the last session, in conse-
quence Of the Nebraska bill, is crowded on the
present session. There is, moreover, much
that properly pertains to this session alone.
But the mass of business to be attended to
and the short space allotted to it, viii render it
necessary for the members to work harder even
than they do now, as the time for the adjourn
ment approaches. They will have to meet
early and sit late.
We viii take the liberty Of expressing the
hope that they viii not permit the general legis-
lation Cor the country to interfere with, and
oyershadow, as is too often the case, more pri-
vate and personal business There are claims
before Congress land we are honest in saying
it) that are just and ought TO be promptly acted
upon. Many Of them have been delayed most
unreasonably. This delay has caused much
injustice, disappointment and suffering. A
most important part of legislation is practical
and personal legislation in such a Government
as ours-a Government Of the people. There
are grievances to be redressed and claims to be
allowed, that Congress only can redress and
allow. Many Of them are just and imperative
in their character.
We believe that many able men, when they
get to Congress, lose the affection and the con.
fdence Of their people by sighting the just
demands Of individuals. They attend to the
general business Of the country and leave the
private and individual business of their consti.
tuents to take care Of itself The people will
not easily forgive such sights, and they ought
not.
When public man gets above his business
he ought to be turned out Of Office. The great
curse Of the country, from which the States
suffer most is, that public men look too much
to Federal honors. When they get this notion
in their heads instead Of consulting the people
Of one State, they have TO consult the people Of
thirty-one States. They get SO excessively
prudent, for fear Of offending, that they become
excessively useless.
Federal honors are great honors but when
sought they should never be conferred The
man who strives the most to secure them is
generally the man least deserving Of them and
if a man sights the interests and the just de-
mands Of the people and the section from whom
and which he derived position, in order to con-
ciliate other people and other sections, he ought
that moment, to be doomed and damned.
When we speak Of sighting people and sec
tions, we Of course mean the Just demands OF
people and sections. No man has right 10
violate bis oath Of Office and the Constitution
of the United States to please his constituents
He would be unworthy to hold Office If he did
so; they would be Unworthy to have an honest
representative il they required it.