St. Mary's beacon., 1859-02-17
The Present Congress.

crmpicatesl AID less Satisfactory stare ~ Affairs
10 the public than at present. More t"an
two-thirds Of the time Cf the present Session
Ina. heen expended and IN what manner We
ram not answer ,,e question fully, but we feel
testified IN saving, IN manner ia which the
country at large has been but li:i!". IL q: all
tc;..f,ed. We r,coIlect during the past
wear. as election after election camc Of, and
the results fully assured US that We would have
n nia; ,rity ia the coming C"greas, great
hopes we're entertained 0! a'proPeF and spec
d. disposition II all tic grca, and important
questions before the county When the pre-
sent Congress convened, we hal no doubts, H.
u,isgiviugs as'to tie union AID hearty cooper
tim IL each and every member Of the Demo
cratic party, upon all questions in which the
nation ; welfare, was in any manner Involved.
But we need hardly say. in this particular we
have been sadly, 'wufaily disappointed. "
tue many qucs,i,-.s Of importance THAI have
presented themselves 70 the consideration Of
tie present Congress, We Cannot name sin
gle instance ia which the democratic portion
Of that body have been untcl. What has
occasioncd this strange course Of proceedings
j. :hcre no longer unity Of sentiment in the
Democratic ranks? Has this great party,
;.hici has ruled and governed tie ceaii"lcs 81
this nation lalmo,t wiihout intcrmissiv"l Cor a
quarter Of a century, become 'lis.rSanized, AMI
al time, to. Of ali others, when the coun-
try's safety depends iaalaly, NC may almost
say, srlc'y upon the maintenance Of its unity
aud principles? We are unwilling t. admit
his. but what else are We to infer from such
strange and unnatural conduct? let us takc.
fr example, tie Pacific Railroad Bill the
Cuban appropriation Bill at! tilc Tariff Qucs-
ton. How do We find the Democracy voting
u,,n these important questions? Ne: in
slid pl.alaux as of old. presenting TO the
fc front At once impcIctFatie and invinci
be, but OF tie contrary. VIC find Democrats
Mt tie South uniting With Republicans n
tho Moth auI casting th";r v.tcs peil-r!cil
ia support ci, or agaiHs; these measures. l.
Ills the way for party 10 maiItAin It's
strength and nationality? Aud apart from
tat. what las lccpmc of tic platform e the
Democratic par,y2 Have members NJ respect
or regard fnr tho principles embodied in that
Instrument II -. Is i; framed n 'a3gYaEo
81 ambiguous as e. admit Il con tructio'.s s.
varied and so VI c.g dii''r,ut? Il w"Uli l."
paying but \ poor compliment to the >chol-
arhip AID natural abilities cf IL framcrs
OF authors uf that liaif,-.1 10 say 20, but
yet il must lie 80, ior surely r'cn, Occupying
such high positions as our National L..sla-
tors. rl-,; l. 10, cst-at leas, We wrr" s. IN
cline! t. Lclcvc, until ;hc Ma.tesoll Irai .a.:.-
ment case brought furyib,y :" our minds. tic
recollection Of having road OF hear! Some
where in our b"yhood, that
IAN mankind are unco weak
And lilI!e to be trusted "
Since then we have lost some Of our over
wccuirg confidence in men on account Of
position, and have Lccn scrItiui1ug with
more miautcncSs the conduct OF some Of our
leading ? tiraas. The conclusions draw
f.pa or observations are. that either cur
great men generally are less bones; than they
formerly w"rc, or each Eas discovered
fl himself :ount cf wi,lom a.d based his
style {: legislation upJn (, without recourse
To the requirements Of party fcal;y or tn
counsel or advice oE ~ldcr aud inyre cx pericncci
members Of his party. Fast history tells Us
that III al countries where freedom exists, there
mus, lie i: least two political divisions or
parties. !; has been 81 with us from the DAYS
cf Washington down, and will aud must re-
main 81 long rs We maintain uur freedom
and present style of Government. These
parties base their prctcrSicrs 10 office or r,ilc
upon certain principles lal down or cmLod-
led in what is tcrmc,. platform or law for
the government Of that party TIE people
in whose hands are placed the sole cou:.o,
Of affairs. select from these platforms that
which is the least o'jcctionaiie or bette.
suited 70 their views, and thus make their
appointments 10 Office. Now, wo contend
that it is duty obligatory upon this body
elect To carry out to the letter the principles
embodied ia the platform upon which they are
'lcctcd-c,hcrwisc they violate ;h.ir pledge n
tic people. and are consequently dishonest.
Has. the present Democratic Congress done
this: We think it only needs glance at
record Of their votes upon the leading aues-
lions Of the day TO prove to the co,trary.
We fear, amid the great men Of the country
a; tire present day, there are too many as
pirants for political distinction. We fear ".
have too few Of the stamp Of the great triuu-
Nira;c inow no more) 20 guard over and protect
our national welfare. At the present 9nv
we can hardly find man of any consiiera-
Die reputation as statesman but his name
Is used in connection with tue Presidency
His lore Of fame aud political distinction is
i!s,rrby aroused, and. knowing, that when a
great question arises in the political arena.
1t mus; necessarily divide the sentiments
~ the country. and fearing ia: any c,nnec-
tin with !: nigh: lessen his charcce f.r
executive h"unrs. he >lrinks from i, .ui leaves
it to the handling OF men less experienced in