The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-22

sent Congree has been doubled, and we are yet |
without an organization of the House of Rep |
resentativea Never were two hundred and
thirty representatives of the people more
unsuccessful in the discharge of o pub tic
trust; never more successful in winning the
contempt of the country. Such a ws mt of
faith in the transaction of private business
would meet with prompt rebuke and dismissal.
1t lis not very important, to be sure, what other
nations may say and think of the pr esent condi-
ton of the American House OF Re- lresentatives.
1t is matter that has been Disc Used at ST. Pc
tersburg, Vienna, Paris and london, and we
have already been credited WI tn vast amount
of folly and some wickedne' S. The represen-
tatives of the people of u lie Great Republic
set an example to their COZ Istituents and to the
world of utter paralysis, if rot anarchy
Where are the laws when the lawmaking
power sits headless ans. motionl esss Where is
the vitality of the federal sys tenn which was
formed to work by The copjoint force and coun-
sci of the Executive, Legisla' i've and Judicial
departments of the COVER nment, when the
great central authority of + III these, the popu-
lar branch, stands power less for the want of
0eoo. 41oNC NC iOAIm Q0ulc OuuCdILlce W
settle peacefully or oth6 rwise with England
and Spain, and perhaps lsif the governments
Of the Old World, and yet we are unable to
organize the House of Representatives, with
which body the const Nation has lodged the
ultimate power Of d session? Do the people
desire to be heard " pon the subject Of con-
fessedly weak admin istration both foreign and
domestic? Their re- presentatives cannot agree
upon presiding OF 6ceg.
1t is not, indee d. important to the present
Congress what e Heightened men everywhere
may think Of the government Of the United
States at this me ,nscnt, but it is important to
the American !leople. They are utterly dis
graced by the rceeedings-of the House, which
has ceased to have legislative character;
and it would e strange indeed if it should be
regarded as otherwise than as q work of
shameless pr ,stitution by men high in public
trusts Over forty days have elapsed
since the H. suse undertook to orgeniEe-itis
now, as nea rly as possible, in the exact posi-
| ton it first assumed It is divided into three
| factions; t'To of them protesting adhesion to
| the constitution, and high and patriotic pur-
| poses to sustain that divine compact; the other
| is the black republicans, deep dyed traitors,
| not only to the federal system, but to every
| other rational and humane suggestion by which
mankind is likely to be benefited. 1t is the let
! ter force, led on By William III. Seward, encou-
I ragged and aided BY every monarchist in Ed
rope--by every titled enemy of the republic,
! every aristocrat whose power is menaced by
the advancing force of popular government
here, in England and on the Continents
combination looking to the immolation of the
| constitution, to an INVASION ultimately, Of the
slave by the free States the destruction of
slavery, the amalgamation of the races and the
final test of superiority Of the one or the other,
as described by Mr.. Banks; it is this force which
has invaded Congress, and has the criminal face
to demand the control Of Its Speaker!
An abolition Speaker of the House Of Rep
resentatives. The aboitionists- the disunion-
lists in majority in the popular branch of the
| government! Do the votes show this? No.
| Is there a majority against the disunionists?
! More than hundred ballots have so decided
! What then have this majority been doing that
| they have not elected Speaker Of their own?
What better are men who SO vote, having the
power to save the credit OF the House and the
| honor and integrity of the government, as to
| put into constant jeopardy that credit, that
| honor and that integrity, than those who make
| no scruple Of their treason and no longer hide
| their shame? Is it enough to defeat
| Banks Owe they nothing to the const-
| tuition, to the people, to the world? May they
! set up in self.ustifcaton their adhesion to this
| party or that, when impeached for neglect of
| great and solemn duties imposed upon them by
| the organic laws of the republic? And yet
| who viii say that the democrats and Know
Nothings are not now exclusively, and we may
add wickedly, bound to their respective par
ties? Has any political analysist discovered in
the House, so far, more than one or two per cent
Of patriotism, and that so difused through
the corroding masses of partizanship as to be
utterly undistinguishable Seven weeks de-
voted exclusively to party-seven weeks &C
| tion at the public expense to build up the abo-
| lition traitors of the North, the Know No
| things and the democrats. How happens it
| that neither of the latter int erests has disco
| vered that the movement, whatever it may be-
| that shall defeat the disupiopists and elect
national man, will go far to recommend the
| men alC the party that thaii be instrumental
! in its execution? Do the friends of Richard
son and Fuller for a moment imagine that
| they are doing creditable business in thus
| playing dog at the public expense? Is it
| enough to growl and nose round amongst each
! other, while the thieving ours of the Banks
stripe, with no character to gain or lose, are
just about to enter the public larder?
We have not too much respect for either Of
the forces composing the House. The Ameri-
can people, however, should not despair that
they have sent to Washington set OF men
! who cannot look beyond the creeds and rituals
| OF tho reenectiye nnrties to which they helann