Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-05-12
Congressional Rotation.

OVuhA V0a4NAoA A1NNpWHS4s
An editorial article appeared lately in
the New York Post and which has been
extensively copied by our contemporaries,
in which the writer recommends that men,
mers of Congress who have proved faithful
in the cause Of freedom, should not be dis
placed by Others. The main argument in
favor Of the proposal is, that the South has
studioasly pursued this policy, and as a
consequence her statesmen are veterans iu
dexterous legislation, while those from the
North, although equal in point of learning
and ability, are mere children in parliamen.
tary tactics, compared with the former
1t is true that the practice of the South
has been to re.elect their members Of Con-
gress more repeatedly than we do in the
North; still we can neither see justice in the
custom ITSELF nor yet how its adoption
here, could benefit the Republican cause.
Neither do we agree with the Post that
the future growth and permanency of the
Republican organization depends material.
y Upon the dexter;ty, sagacity, or parlia-
mentary knowledge Of its members in Con-
gress; but on the contrary it occurs to us
that the people must be taught the princi.
pics e. the Republican party; they must
be induced 10 embrace Its doctrines, to la
Dor for It's advancement, and to battle hon
estly, vigilantly and untiringly for the as
tendency of its measures. Until they do
this, the Republican party is powerless'
and neither cunning management nor de1-
ferrous Legislators, will give it that suprem'
acy 10 the country that we all may desire
It to have. Nor Is it our view that the
Slave States have adopted the custom o.
frequent reflections, with view of edu
eating their Congressman in legislative
chicanery: but we are inclined to think
that a kind of necessity arising out of their
social system has always had as much, or
more to do with the adoption and contin-
uation of the practiceth than any other cause.
TO us. at least, this is obvious. In the
Southern States the white population is
divided into two classes. The one is term
ed the privileged class, the other the "mud
sills''-the one the wealthy, the other the
poorer class. The latter greatly out num-
Der the former, but by a mixture of legal
with socia! right the privileged class get
all the Offices and hold them with little
or no competition as long as they desire
This result is inevitable wherever two
classes in society exist that are considered
SO dssimllar and wherever there are many
offices to fil and but limited number Of
privileged persons to gil them. And you
may reduce the number still further of
those who are qualified by the social Gus
toms of the south TO holland whc do hold
lis posts of honor and distinction, by sepa-
rating again the members of this privileged
class. A large majority of them are plant
en, and are engaged in very lucrative
business. This they will not abandon
for a proftless sect 10 Congress hence
there is but little rivalry in many sections
for the place, and he that is returned is
generally chosen, more from tho cOnsidera'
ton Of his standing in society, his love for
the peculiar institution. together with his
lack of profitable employment, than as a
likely Congressional student or a skillfnI
parliamentarian. This we appreheRd IS the
real reason why the South has so few able
men 10 Congress, but who are neverthe
less permitted to hold their seats almost al
long as they please.
10 the Northern states it is vastly differ
ent. Society is based upon another plan
We have neither priviledged class, moi
have we those around us whom we may
stigmatize as "mud.sills." We all NEE
upon level. We breathe The same air
eat at the same table, perform the SAM
work, are imbued with the same impulses
and share the same aspirations. We al
seek to improve our own fortunes, and a
the same tine TO elevate and. .ameliorate th,
condition of others. l. this doing right
Is this carrying into practical effect, the
command ado unto others as ye wouI(