Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-08-20

A PICTURE OF CONGRESS-" Independent" the
correspondent of the Philadelphia North American,
draws the following, not at all a:tering picture, Of
Congress. The evil of which he complains appears
to be rapidly increasing each succeeding Congress
getting worse than its predecessor The practice of
frequcnting the gambling "hells" is becoming much
more common and few members bstray their con.
stitutcnts until they have been thoroughly initiated
into all their mysteries. Independent" has had
many years experience at Washington, and what he
says is worthy of consideration;
1.-The whole tendency of things here is down.
ward. A standard lower than mediocrity prevails;
and the vast increased annual expenditures have
opened channels of corruption, which have percepti
bly, entered the halls of legislature, and made traffic
and venal combinations professional system. If
the lobby has been reduced, it is because the inside
operators have been increased in number. The
spois of legislature are VIGOROUSLY parceled out in
the halls among few choice spirits who are sup
posed to be potential in local affairs. Any respecta-
of these Congressional brokers' who shame to say,
include in their numbers men no. heretofore sus.
pected of such wantOn prostitution of high position
and such utter disregard of private integrity.
1t is notorious that no large appropriations for
almost any purpose can be carried without employ
ing these base Instruments They form secret plans
address themselves to sordid influences on the
mittees and by conforming to the wishes Of Others
unite interests which are seemingly in conflict, but
sufficiently powerful to obstruct successfully any
Dill or scneme Which may be their interest to re-
sst. The morals of the New York corporation,
der the supervision of New York managers, are
getting to be established rapidly.
When members of Congress will consent to fob
the money appropriated for their newspapers and to
sell, without much secrecy the books voted for the
benefit If their constituents, they are pretty well
prepared for any other step Of moral degradation.
The "hes" washington, which audaciously faunt
the principal avenue have, within the last five years.
produced much of this evil
They are VIGOROUSLY frequented, not occasional
y, but nightly, by sent here to egislate for the
country at large, and to watch the particular con-
Germs Of their own constituents. The indulgence
Of such apassion is costly, and the losses thus in
Cured must be compensated from some source. Is
it surprising thus, that venality has entered Con-
gress, or that legislation should be jobbed, when
these gorgeous palaces of crime to be supported
and when blacklegs often swell the Hobbies, Boosting
their power, and by the force of obligations" at
the faro bank, commanding votes5 The picture is
not half drawn for full justice to it in painful and
prominent facts. If the whole truth were told, it
woeld astonnd the country end open the@eyes Of
many constituency ]" g s. =
f E TINS DfsTRrcT The clear majority ii this Dis
riot for Bragg is assnear as may de, 5, 1G2, being
gain Of 900 votes since the last election for 6Yesn-
and over coo since the election for Congress 10
August 1853 it Is again upon the majority
fof Aens Fierce 81 even upon the largest
lever given ID the District fer Coy. which waa