The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-01
Washington, July II, 1859.

MARGARET L. DALEY.
Washington, July II, 1859.
Organization of the House Of Represent
atives.
We are not how going into speculation
upon the probabilities of Republican organi
zation. We assume it as foregone conclusion
that the officers elected viii owe their success
in the proportion of ten to one, to Republican
votes, and that the Republican party will be
held responsible for the faithful discharge Of
their duties. We propose to speak, therefore
upon this latter subject
1t behooves the Republicans, at all times as
the party of freedom and progress, of conscience
and moral principle, to select none but honest,
capable and faithful men, TO fill the various
Offices about the Capitol. And, for the same
good reasons, none but men Of tried integrity
should be placed on committees where trail
men are exposed to temptation. 1t would be
folly TO deny, and we see no good reason for con-
cealing the fact, that when the Republicans had,
Jointly with the Americans" possession OF
the House, four years ago, they were not emf
nently successful in the selection of men to fill
the various places in their gift. Their excuse
was, and is, that they were but imperfectly or
gained that no party had complete control ;
and that the long struggle in the election of
Speaker, for whom the Republicans were alone
responsible, and of whom they have no reason
10 be ashamed, completely exhausted them and
the public. The consequence was, that every
thing else in the way of organization was dis
posed Of in a hurry, in order that the House
might proceed to the business of Legislation
which fact viii satisfactorily explain the serious
blunders that were made.
No excuse viii exist for similar mistakes at
the next session, and blunders will become
crimes, after the sad experience of the Thirty
fourth Congress.
No man should be selected for Office whose
moral character is not above suspicion. The
Republican party, ike all others, has its quota
of corrupt and greedy camp followers, who have
no other object in view but to monopolize the
fat Offices, jobs, and contracts. If members of
Congress desire to carry home good names, as
faithful stewards of the public veal, If they
wish the country TO respect the Republican
party as the party of Freedom and honesty, if
they desire success in 1860, we warn them to
beware of the cormorants and peculators who
viii hang upon their heels at the meeting of
Congress.
If the Republicans show themselves unfaith-
ful over the few things which arc now com
mitted 10 their charge, they will be Justly re-
garded by the people as unworthy to rule over
" many things during the coming four years
Thieves, peculators, and lobby jobbers, great
and small, must be kept at arm's-length by Re
publican Congressman, or the names Republi-
csnisp, Freedom, and Conscience, will disgust
honest men, as the cant of oficehunting hypo-
critics.
The next Presidential election Will depend in
no small degree upon the character of the Off
GERS of the next House of Representatives, and
the integrity with which the business Of legis-
lation is conducted by that body. The ele
ments of opposition arc sufficiently united in
aim TO control the organization without a re-
sort to corrupt bargaining. Where there is a
third party holding the balance.of power, or, as
IN the present case, four parties, none of which
have a majority, the business of legislation and
the wheels of Government would be stopped
without coalition Of two or more of the par
ties. There could be no organization without
such coalition. But there is not the shadow of
an excuse for any corruption. Everything
should be above-board. The parties between
which there is the greatest affinity upon the is
sues of the day should and will act together.
This is right and necessary. Corruption con
sists in men selling themselves to the party
which bids highest, regardless of principle.
Let the Republican party command the re-
spect Of the nation by the selection of a Clerk
Doorkeeper, Public Printer, and other officers
who, with their subordinates, will present to the
House and to the nation shining examples Of
Probity and fidelity, and they will have offered
an invincible argument for the Inauguration Of
q Republican Administration in 1861. There
was never better time than the present for
men 10 distinguish themselves by simple, pas
sive abstinence from stealing. Corruption i.
the order of the day, in every department O
the Federal Government Let us try homes
men this once. Let us not assume that honest,
is indicative of incapacity.
The Souri, TO BE INvADEB.-The Cincinnati
Enqltirer copies the following extract from s
letter from Milwaukee to the Charleston IS. C
Ne1CS:
Wisconsin will send delegation Of 6v.
hundred of her Democratic sons to accompap,
the delegates of the State Convention to b.
chosen next month. These five hundred arr
all Douglas Democrats. Minnesota sends
daleoation of three hundred Douplas mon
Michigan eight hundred, Iowa FIVE hundred
Ohio one thousand, Illinois fifteen hundred
Pennsylvania one thousand, New York on
thousand, and nearly all the New Englan
States one thousand EACH"
Il this statement can he reliad on as trnn