Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-12
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE l2, 1858,
CONGRESS PAST AND PRESENT.

CONGRESS- PAST AND PRESENT.
Those who lived in the days when Clay We
Speaker of the House. will read the '"''
ing with no ordinary interest. 1t ''U'
Washington correspondent :" .. 1ne ,bon
Courier. We are free to LAY '''''
Those who are ,ot accustomed 20 TO-, ~'t hass
the proceedings Of Congress; anu WI; Of
not the mee-s, from persona oo ..S .Iat h,5r
comnar;ag the present House VIII" .ua' o"u3
comPa aY;s,ed twenty or thirty years ego,
as ID End il difficult to believe the truth IN
,d 20 il A visitor TO the House for the
&C.. time is astounded at the " ant of dignity
and decorum, and the positive disorder and
S;m,Itaneousness which attracts bis atten-
ton The scene which ordinarily presents
;,self ia one OF confusion. One-halt OF the
members are out Of their seats--walklng to
and fro; standing in the alleys or Ill the area
in front of the Speakers desk; gathered in
knots here and there, and engaged in CONVEX
satiop, not unirequently 81 loud as to vie
with a speaker who may be formally ad-
dressing the House; and members probably
living and sleeping upon the luxurious sofas
and couches which surround the members
seats. Some are sitting listlessly, and with
apparent Indifference TO the proceedings, in
their easy chairs, with both their feet. it may
be, upon their elegant carved oak desks
Ohers, among the few comparatively who
seem to be aware of the business before
the House, are constantly interruptiug the
speaker who is entitled to the floor; and not
unireQuently two or three members will he
addressing the Chair at the same time
What with this and the conversation going
on about the hail. in every direction. pref
~ good idea Of Babel may be formed. Eve
nv few minutes the Speakers hammer is Wig
orously but vainly pliod, for the purpose of
restoriug order; and ten timesan hour the
clear voice OF the Speaker is heard above the
tumult OF tongues, requesting members to re-
sumo their seats, aud admouisbing them that
conversation is too loud in the hall, aud that
be cannot entertain auy motion to proceed to
business until order is restored. Ten times
an hour, however, there is renewed the occa
sion for this interference IF the Speaker. 1t
must be firm and durable material which
witbstaods the constant and severe appllca-
ton of the Speakers hammer.
Daring the long term of years in which
Henry Clay was Speaker OF the House, he
seldom or never used the hammer. Either
through bic influence as a presiding officer.
or better sense of decorum among the
members, dignity and order marked the pro-
ceedings Of the House at all times. But if
ever there were occasion to call to ORDER
aud slight departure from the rules Of the
House was deemed an occasion-it was done,
and efectually done, by simple tap upon
the Speakers desk with bis folder or pen
knife If while a member was addressing
the House, two others were out OF their seats
and whispering even in trout OF the Speak
er's desk, Mr.. Clay would request the mem
Der to suspend bis remarks tall order was re-
stored. An anecdote related recently by q
venerable gentleman aud model legislator,
will illustrate the sentiment which perVaded
the Hopse at that time IN regard to the de-
portment of members while in their seats
Now, as has been remarked, members are
constantly seen with their feet, both ieet, up
on the tops Of their desks, in the most vulgar
and upgsinly position imaginable. The
desks, as is known, are elegant and e1pen-
sive. being made of oak, richly and elabo
rately carved. 1t is mortifying to the spec
tator, and it would be grating to the feel
ings of your Messrs. Doe & Hazelton, the
manufacturers of these desks, to see the heels
of the members of Congress, which, like
their heads, are not always of the most deli
cate structure, in such rough and destructive
contact with their beautiful handiwork.-
The aueodote alluded to is tbis-Mr. Vance,
member of the House, was lame; and to
relieve himself from paii, be one day raised
his foot to the edge of bis desk. MIR. Clay,
observing bis position sent one Of the pages
to him to remind him that he was out Of Or
der. He looked up, and catching the Speak
er's eye, grscinusly bowed an acknowledg-
ment of the Justice Of the rebuke, and resum-
ed his customary digoifed and decorous pc.
sition.
Attic time referred to no Interruptions of
members while speaking were allowed
Now such interruptions are constant, and
now are ensrally and unfortunately In
dulged in as sometimes to create the extrem-
est confusion. Then, speaking to the ques-
ton, even 10 committee Of the whole. was
strictly insisted upon, and the Speaker was
accustomed to remind members whenever
they rambled or deviated from the question
in debate. There was of course no occasion
for members to call one another to order, as
thew now do necessarily. That Office was
then properly discharged by the Speaker
Now, the latitude and longitude OF debate 10
committee of the whole is nnb0unded ana
unneasured By any rules OF the House or
any laws of propriety. Then, when the
House resolsed itself into committee OF the
whole it was customary for the Speaker to
20 down and take part 10 the debate. Now,
the Speaker retires to his private room' which
is cited up with palatial ihagnihcence for the
reception Of his friends, and is seen no more
till the rising of the coumittee. which during
his absence, scarcely rises to the dignity OF
political caucus, much less to that vi town
meeting or debating society.
otol x,,t h .
deliberations of Congress, and with com
psrison of the congressman now and those
thirty years ago, which are worth noticing,
lint for u bicb there il not room now" q.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CITY TAN
PAYERS-Tax payers are hereby notified
that they can save eight per cent, by paying
their bills in full, on or before the goth OF this
month We can be found at our office IN Mar.
81 l,L