The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-11
an. A...mnl,nx OF Congress,


The New York Joarnai of Commerce expresses
she opinion that the scele presented al the Nation
al capitol, ut the assembling Of Congress. mus
have been, very ane aud impressive picture 4
ths eve or stranger. We dare say to the eye OF
ssrauses.-.-i,,ere 30 than TO Que who knows them
rhe Ji.irual aar,as with enthusiasm. upon the snb
iect aud thus diseaurseih: Two, hundred ans
fErty fear IN the lower House. aad sixty-' ws
in the upper, eoagregasel az tbs Instance snt
by abe free choice OF constusensy anoantins !"
seAriv thirty miilioas, 10 ssgalatu ihe AFFAIRS %
shs rational government. AID, by taeIr aeii'"'"
lions, 20 that obstacles allowed 10 ihle'
yese which eau prevent the Accomplishment OF lh'
greatest good 10 The greatest humber. n sfea'e'
trust has gayer been coin aiitted 20 any eedy o.
nsen, since governments .ss-. 10 ee.
was a represprts.ion Of the intelligence, the pow
err and the hope Of thirty-one states sprung iron
thirteea. and soon TO be largely increased Ii was
an answer To all prognesticators OF evil, who con
tluual,y cry why does not the world progress !-a'
we'll as to that other class who are eternaly CUES
toaing the course Of progress. Its very fact at
ermed progress aud indicated it. We are of thos.
who have both faith aud hope for the country;
Who acknowledge some errors to be rightcd Lu
iifiag our eyes and beyond the bienishe'
love TO dwell upon the good and the great TOWARD
which we are tending, and to which every yeai
brings as nearer
This Is a pleasing picture, and we sympashiz'
with the aspirations after progress" But wha
progress does a modern Congress exhibit, l.
there any improvement upon Calhoun, Clay, Web
sser' Are there any usmitons, Jeifersons, MsdI
sens, now, There has been an extension o
the Canitol buildings, aud q new and immens'
gxs apparatus, when every member slread.
1T 4{rfa s,iy
new balls. AZ to anything else imposing In Con
gress, except the capacity of imposing upon gull
bic constituencies aud sanguine editors, We hav'
not yet any evidence.
Like the Journal" We love to dwell upon th'
good aud great Of the country, and have faith an,
hope in its progress, but never look to Con
gress, when We desire new inspirations 10 patriot
lem, or fresh strength to confidence. Progress W.
ses every where, except there.-tlist iy materis
proeress--but the progress of Congress has beel
from such men As Madison, Calhoun, &c, to thos
whose wisest and best, are Tot worthy to unloss,
the latchets of their shoes. Ii the hope Of ths
Country rested In Congress, il that body frns he,
correct index Of the popular intelligence and
virtue, we should expect the dissolution OF III.
Union aud the extinction CT The Republic in abou
i've years These remarks do not refer to the pre-
ssut OoHSTSss III pattiCuisV, but " ''o S0ho'"
character of late years. Look at tine acknowledge
bribery aud corruption, and imagine the enormous
amount OF undetscted Intrigue and rascality Loot
the facts srfeted out every and then, by tina
faithful and gallant representative. Hon Jon;
LErcHgR; aud WHO, after such exposure
could derive hone for the country from shifting tn
hot atmosphere of the House Of Representatives
NIGH impose his views of human nature BY lift
ing of the cover from the bottomless pit.
The present assemblage may be an improvement
upon its predecessor; We hope Ii is. Certainly
cannot conceive of a lower deep than that slim
and suphurous abyss in which the whole air wa
foul aud fatal with corruption, in which obscen
birds perched on every elevation, venomous ser
- eious monsters wallowed in nasty, but nourishin
and cuuge NAL mud. But before we can sin
paeans to national legislature, because it contain
ell cted representatives. of the people, We mus
have TIE evidence Of its works that it is worthy
its constituency; We must have better proof of IL
merit than the fact that it numbers in Its rank
some approved and virtuous statesmen. When Il,
good and wise In Congress succeed in stampin
their own character upon the whole; when me,
sures discussed and decided without re!erenc
to party or personal considerations; when patrio
ism and principle become the rule of Congressors
action, instead of the exceptions, we will join til
New York Journal Of Commerce in auguring We
for the progress and hopes Of the country, from il
CONGRESSIONAL representatives