The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-01-20
From the South Bend Register.
Bditsrial C,rsesp sponaeuors
II. r., wAsaIsoros, Dec, 10. 10

II. r., WAaaIN0roS, Dec, B 1850.
was returning from the State Department
this morning, whittier had been to procure
some passports for constituents, when, Gefor, |
had reached with quarter of a mile Of the
Capitol, the Stars and Stripes were run up
flag staff over this Hall, and futtered in the
brisk and wintry breeze. This was an ind-
cation that was late; for at tho moment
that the presiding officer in each Branch Of
Congress takes his seat, the National stand
ard is unfurled, and remains floating over it
until it adiouns 1t was the first time 1 had
seen the flag run up; as | have regarded it
the duty Of a member to be in his seat as
promptly rs the Speaker always is; and have
therefore been inside, instead Of outside Of the
Hall when "the star spranged banner is
thrown to the breeze" But it reminded me
of those sessions of last winter and summer,
when, as the peoplo of Washington rubbed
their%yes, woke up. and went out marketing
for their breakfast, they saw those flags fly
ing over one Of the other Branches of Con-
gress, showing there had been an all night
session, and that the members were still ut
work, trying to elect Speaker, to pass tho
Army bill, DC, &c.
hS tIc Po,IHc eITuch
me that if there was some test vote being Ia
ken, my maine would be amongst the miss
ing, and some critic at home would take the
fact as conclusive evidence that had "dodg-
ed" As the rules declare that member
shall not vote unless he was within the bar
when his name was called, these whose sur
names commence with letter high in the
alphabet have to he more watchful than the
more fortunate ones who are down nearer to
x. Y and z. Thus when dull debate is
going on in the House, and some able Sena-
tor is delivering mastery and eloquent
speech in the Senate, and messenger or
page notifies the Representatives who arc
listening to him, that the House is just GO
ing to vote by Ayes and Noes, it is rather
amusing to see the members whose names
commence with A. B. G. d. or E. exhibit
some tall walking on their back road TO the
Representative Hall, while the Washburnes,
and Wadron, and Wabridge, como along
with Zolcofer quite leisurelly, enjoying
themselves rs they witness the heet-footed-
ness of their less fortunate brethren.
The great wonder to me is that members
do not often miss a vote, especially when ta
ken at the opening of daily session. For
duties in the Hail, form really but tithc of
a members duty. One day he has to 60, as
| did to look after passports-the next to the
Pension Office to learn why Bounty Land
application No. 10000 has not been dec-
ded-the next to the First Assistant Post
Master General, with some business for, or re-
lating to some Country Post Master, or else
IN l,arn. .vhv nna hos hepn daca,.ifn ed nv m
establish a new .oftice-the next TO the
General Land Office to hunt up patent
or some other business in his lne-the next
to the Patent Office TO look TO constituents
Patent application, or to procure seeds for dis
tribution-thc next to the second or third
Assistant p. NJ. General with some business
IA regard to Mail carrying, and so on round
to all the Departments, sometimes two or
three Of them in a morning. 1t won't do To
neglect them. if desired to attend to these ca
SEES personally for in u short time they would
accumulate, especially if coming from u large
District, 40 heavily that it would ba impossible
TO give them individual attention, and they
would therefore have to be disposed Of by
wholesale. Those members whose wealth
enables hem to dash out with carriage and
fast span Of horses, can get around easily e.
nough, and make the connection" in good
time, as the Rail Road men say; but those
who enjoy the more healthful and bracing ex-
exercise Of walking can alwajs have their full
share in the above duties.
s COLFAX