Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-24
sPIRIToF THIS MORNING PRESS

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sPIRITOF THIS MORNING PRESS
The Intelligence, discusses the recent pro.
cssdings OF the House of Representatives in
an elabOrat, and very able article, most Of
the suggestions of which cannot fail to 6nd
approval in all well-balanced and conserva
tive minds Its views are SO well-timed and
fOrcible as that we put aside other articles t.
day, in order to spread as much Of them be-
fore tae Stars readers this afternoon as pos
sible Thus, we quote as follows:
"And thislesis US to remark, in like manner,
that they who seize upon any particular in
stance Of real or supposed corruption in Con-
gress as the ground and justification of a gen
eral attack upon the integrity of its legislation
are committing an injustice of still more
fragrant character, in proportion as the blow
which they deal is aimed at a more vital part,
while the derelictiOns which call it forth, if
they exist at all are lnanifestly wholly excep-
tional with reference to the general constitu-
ents Of Congress. If it were the aim Of those
who apply such terms OF opprobrium to our Ma
tional Legislature, not only to destroy the
confidence Of the people in tho integrity Ct
Congress, but also to impress upon that body
the very character which is imputed to it,
means by which to hasten and render iRveter-
ate the very deterioration which they profess
20 deplore. Thus, whom the Congress has
once been stripped of the confidence repossd
in IL by the nation, il will be not unreasonG-
bic to expect that only they who have but
little character to lose will be forward in as
piring to its doubtful honOrs 1t is surely
idle to hope that the honor and repute Of Con-
gress can be raised by taking out Of the way
all incentives to honorable ambition, and by
undermining the very ground upon which all
pride Of character is built
The evil tendency ofthis general denunoi-
alton, should it succeed in destroying or ma
terially affecting the confidence Of the People
In their Representatives may perhaps be most
discerned when we measure and appreciate its
necessary or at least probable effect on young
and inexperienced members Of Congress, who,
taking their seats under the impression that
little or 10 credit will he awarded to them for
purity Of motive greater than is admitted to
exist among their associates, will be only the
less likely 10 rise superior to the level as
signed them in the public estimation for
no MAJ or association of men can afford, by
the rigCr and austerity Of their native virtue,
TO dispense with these safeguards which are
found In the respect ana appreciation of the
public. Custom, 1T has been truly said { is
mans nurse, and whatever has the force Of
long admitted prescription is deemed to pos
sess species Of sanction CT federation, under
whose shield IL is sometimes attempted to
screen from condemnation grave public mis-.
demeanors. The dangerous infection of such
an impression, wherever it becomes general
with regard to any class Of officers, finds its
illustration in the spreading corruption which
is said TO prevail among certain officials under
European Governments, which tolerate a
farming Of tie public revenues, and lower
the standard Of private morality by allowing
the depositsries of a fduciary trust to CLEAN e
portion OF their salaries from the perQuisites
of Cfico.
g That country has reached critical period
In ITS history IN which good men are con-
strained to decline its oiicss Of trust under the
sad conviction that the post Of honor is the
private STATEN, and that country strangely
abuses the spirit Of liberty when the very
franchises with which il is endowed are turned
into 80 many fixed figures
For tee hand of scorn
To point his slowly moving angerat'
or when iEsepsibility TO insult shall Re the rst
requisite c. the politician and the ruler That
the personal Inv ectiyc 20 freely poured out
upon political opponents, aud the msconstruc-
non OF motives 50 gratuitOusy and wantonIy
imputed TO the incumbsnts OF Cficial station
have already tended to lower the standard Of
character among political asprants has been
shrewdly suspected by many careful observers
Oh American history ard, If there be any
foundation for such a charge, tie patriot can
hardly fail to discern in it an evil not only Of
present ma gIitIde, but OF still more astrors
portent for the future
"NOr should it be overlooked, as has been
already intimated, that in a 7svTessnfatIrs
Government like ours it is impossible to con
tenn the character Of Congress without, at the
same time dIsparaging the character of the
People themselves and the free institutions
under which they live; for the Congress CT
the United States is composed Of those whom
the People elect, under the organic law Of the
land, to serve rs tAsiT Representatives Shall
II be said, then, that the People are corrupt,
and therefore choose corrupt men 10 represent
them In the National Legislature Or shall
We say that the fault resides in the yery ma .
ture OF our Government, which, By reposirg
power IN tie People, places II in hands inccm-
petent TO administer IL W sely! Ii is difficult
70 see why one or the other of these aIterna-
tVes does not ntcessa rily follow from the ar
gumentation Of those who would ncuI pate the
general character Of Congress-
The Union describes the snow blockade.
announces the confirmation Of Ebenezer W axe.
ly, Of Wisconsin, TO be an U nited States judge
Tor Nebraska Territory, vice James Bradley,
resigned, and urges the increase Of the pay
Of oheerS Of the Army Of the United States.
II We are indebted 10 Joe ShiIlinPton for
harper : Magazine for February, as we'll as