New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-19

Congress does not please to abandon the absurd
custom of sdournipg whenever the death either Of
a Senator or of Representative is announced.
There seems to be a passion inextinSuishabe in
the legislative mind for this particular kind OF Ell
quette: but 60 far from being heightened ana
patriotic and frstsrna passion it is we fear very
much ike that of the youth with the shining morn
ing face for creeping willingly away from school.
The demise of brother member appears to be par
ticslarly important, inasmuch - it affords an OK
euse for holiday. 1t is urged that the custom Is
a token of respect but that is no honor which Is
be,towed upon all the defuDct, whether Ilastrious
or ignobe Legislative bodies abroad reserve THIS
tribute for these who have rendered the most e1'
traordinary public services; but ours give it TO ALL
whether they have been worthy or unworthy, hon.
est or corrupt in their public course. In short' IL
is a meaningless form, rendered utterly unworthy
of any ones ambition, because it il form and
nothing more. Such honor paid only to great men
tai ability, or to prolonged and important service
or to character kept unspotted through all the
temptations of public life, would be worth living
for, and almost worth dying for; but when it il &C.
corded with unquestiOning facility to the coarse
the brutal the sensual, the ribald and the de-
bsuched, good men will prefer the natural tears
dropped upon their bier by private friendship and
love, to all the pomp Of public ceremonial.
The truth is, there should be no expression OF
public grief except for what is felt to be actually
and vertically a public loss. Members frequently
die for whom there should be no regret in the ao'
seuce of testimony that worse mea viii DO sent TO
fill their plAces-members for whom tho sharpess
March wind would hardly provoke decent rheum.
Take the case of the Hon. Memo Smith, who has
died during the recess. Smith is no more; he has
been transferred to his private and personal vault
if be has one, there to sleep away foul memories Of
billngsgate and bribery and all the pleasing inilu'
ences of Washington life upon personal character.
Smith 10 no more. The resonant hall which so
often echoed bis fine pulmonary efforts will know
him no more for ever. But the world still moves;
the nation still holds up its head; Congress meets,
albeit bereaved. II will try to go along without
Smith, but cannot possibly think Of attempting to
90 on without taking day in which to mourn for
his departure and consider bis many virtues.
Now we are free to say that these hours sccord
ing to our observation are not spent by the afflicted
members in the secusion of their closets 10 prayer
fol and penitential reflection. On the contrary, we
have known some of them to BE- 90 distracted By
their bereavement that they were forced to seek
spiritual consolation in the bar rt Oms, while Others
sought by the aid Of bowls Of billiards and of fast
horses to woo oblivion. But the one thing neoes.
cary to assusge their anguish 10 to adjourn, for the
rake of poor, dear, beloved Smith, whom they oil
SO loved, and did 30 quarrel with when he was in
the fesh. This is to US the mystery. We can IN
derstsnd the resolutions, and sometimes oOmpre-
bend the eulosies. There is ne reason why the
death Of a Senator or Of Representative should
not be made matter Of record; but why it should
lead Congress to abandon at once public business
10 hey Ond our comprehension. We do not object
to any amount of sorrow; but We can easily SEQ
how, upon important occasions, it, indulgence 10
the fantsstical OK ent of shutting up the Capitol
might be followed BY grave consequences; and we
would If possible, have this tribute reserved for
those who in life had proved themselves worthy Of
it We have intended no disrespect to tho memory
Of such man 80 the late Mr.. Bell. But if bis loss
be such a. to leopard the public interests in the
Senate those who survive him will best show their
sense Of tho mi,ft rtune by working all tho more
assiduOusy and wisely.