Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-06-25

CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION

for The most part something very different
from this. 1t is not necessary that one should
be sn actual lookcr-on in Washington to
como to this conclusion even the meagro
and imperfect sketches of the business and
debates. which are given TO the public through
the medium Of tho press, suffice to show that
very many Of the members Of Congress have
great need to study and heed the injunction
Of Wolsey to Cromwell, Love myself last.
Judged by their speeches and acts they think
twice for themselves and once for the people,
if indeed they give them any consideration at
all. More than half their time seems to be
occupied, while in session, in explaining and
defending their acts and manmuvrcs when not
in session; every man who speaks has to de-
fine his position, as often as he speaks and
assures the country that he is all right rhh
/ his payiy, scarcely Democrat has had the
floor, during the last session, who has not
yocifcrously proclaimed himself the pink Of
the true blue Democracy the incorrupublc
and ncvcr-enough appreciated disciple
Of the Cincinnati Platform, just as if the poo-
pie cared to which wing OF the divided De
mocracy Congressman belongs, so long as
neither Of them seeks anything but chance
at the public plumber and an opportunity to
strengthen the slave power.
II the speeches. which these uuarrclsom
sham Democrats have made during the pres
ent session 90 prove themselves Simon Purcs
and their brethren hypccriticai rogucs, were
all printed together they would furnish wrap
ping paper enough to supply the trade Of the
c1untrv for q wear. and 70 the time occupied
in iheir preparation and delivery had been
devoted 90 Che business of the country, the
N.H D N.I ia rtsf. rsf
crcdi.abie and there would De fewer private
claimants KEPT, waiting the tardy movement
OF Congress for the settlement of their Just
demands Another method of delaying bust
ness is the common practice of "hllibustcr-
ing. or consuming the time in making iriv-
olous motions intended merely to stavc off
the decision of a question We saw. ono day
last week. the entire time of the House of
Representatives, occupied in this way for
three hours by Houston Of Alabama, who
went through with the whole series Of mo-
tons and possible devices for wasting time
and left the House at the end of the game
precisely where 10 was at its commencement
This is done by any member who is peryerse
enough TO resort to it when he feels chagrined
at the failure of some private or layorite
scheme of his own--an instance of the dog
in the manger practicc-or it is often resortcd
to in order to carry portizan project or ward
off defeat. One result in all such cases is
inevitable The time Is rdsied, and those things
which really demand attention are, of course,
sighted and neglected.
There are fifty other modes and practices
which seem to have been invented for the cs-
pecial purpose Of frittoring away valuable
time and rotarding the transaction of busine 8
and Congress appears to have been thorough
ly converted into a circumlocuton Office where
the great point is to learn how net to do it. ~
One of the worst features OF this is, that hon
est and industrious members can do but little
to forward the public busincss--they may
labor faithfully and watch diligently, bu,
what they accomplish must be gained by the
sovorest eXeriions and in spite Of numberes.
obstacles thrown in their way-onc or two
such men as Houston of Alabama, or Jones
of Tennessee, by their captious and doggod
obstinacy can easily render the efforts OF
/ hundred faithful men comparatively fruitcss
| When any substantial progress is achieved
and the public business advanced, it is usu,
ally owing to one of two circumstance eli
Their that the administration wants som,
money, or that the directors, illibusters anC
/ buncombe patriots are absent for the moment
/ To enumerate the causes for this state o.
/ things is not within our present purpose
what we desire is to impress upon the public
/ mind the fact that such is the state of thing
1 in Congress, and that more than half the tim,
and money expended in legislation Is absolute
/ ly trdsted. One fact may, however, be men
toned in addition to those already suggested
/ which will serve to partially explain the wa,
/ III which Congressman managc-thcy arc al
ways diNisibe into three classes, one class
who are sure Of being reelected, soconC
who wish to be and are not sure of it, and
| third who don't expect to be--usually a mucl
smaller number than is comprised in either o
the others From this classification, withou
any amplfcation, it can readily be seen how
| easy it would be TO rctard the proper bushes.
| of Congress instead of seeking to advance it
We do not know what method will be taken
or could best be, to remedy this abuse bu
if the people generally were fully aware o
the magnitude to which this evil has grown
some measures would be taken which woul,
effect a reform.
The session just terminated has not beer
| characterized by much that is worthy. but on
the contrary, will be marked in history b,
I some of the most disgraccful passage in Con
! gressional experience, The Kansas .ecomp
ton yillainy bribery and oppression will stanC
/ an inetlaceable record to the shame of tn
Buchanan party and Administration. a dee,
| which in its totally and in all its details vii
/ be a theme for the scorn -of all coming time
/ For the first time in our governmental histor,
the whole power and patronage of the Ad
minstraton party has been prostituted I,
serve the basest purposes of oppression, I,
reward law-breakers, ballot-box corrupters
thieves and murderers, to override and set a
naught the will OF free people constitution
ally expressed, to destroy popular sovorcignt
and TO force upon the masses form of gov
ernment which they abhor and condemn. II
effect this the Buchanan party has withheld
no endeayor, however base, and paused at M
rascality, however patent and monstrous, an,
the offices and emoluments in the bestowmen
Of the President and his creatures have beer
as shameiully bartered away as ever the crow
and the imperial purple were hawkod abou
by the Prptorian guard in the most shame
less and degraded days of ancient Rome
This basoncss, yenality and corruption hay
done much to render wise legislation, eve
upon other matters, impossible, and to max
the majority in Congress despcablo. Sec
ondly, the reckless extravaganza and waste
iulness of this Administration will be re
markable. None ever found the countr
more prosperous or the public treasury richer
none has ever so squandered and stolen pub