The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-05-25
Spec,sl Correspondence Of The Democrat
A Day in Congress.
WASHINGTON. May llth,

political Mecca OF tno American people,
All their associations, from early youth to
manhood, coDspire to make them regard 1t
with feelings Of veneration akin to awe
As school boys, we declaim the speeches
pronounced there by the great men of
the early time. We venerate tho Con-
gress that commissioned Washington, and
that carried the country safely through tho
struggle for independence. We transfer to
the Congress of the Constitution, the moas-
ure of regard we gave to it. As youth, we
look upon live Congressman as walking
wonder, and budding ambition thinks its
highest aspirations will be realized by q
right to frank documents, with that caba.
istic suffix. IN. c." Nor is there anything
wrong in all this. A body to whom is in
part confided the power to make laws for
the government of millions of people, to
regulate the commerce of a continent, to
manage the affairs of peace and war, grow
ing out of our intercourse with overy people
ubon earth, with whom rests the fearful re-
sponsibilty of fixing the status of races in
the organization of states. should be a body
entitled by their gravity, wisdom and worth,
to the regard of the nation.
But how completely are oil fanciod ideas
Of the august nature of this legislative body
dspeled upon entering the portals of the
House of Representatives. Seated in one
of it's comfortable galleries, you look down
upon the two hundred and forty gentlemen
moro or less, drawn together from all parts
Of tho Republic, selected, we would suppose,
for their wisdom and learning; men who, in
the various departments OF public life, have
garDered up o rich experience to fit them
for their high Office and whose proceedings
it is natural to expect would bo marked by
order, courtesy, and the usages of gontIe-
men. Strange as it may seem, such is not
the fact. Let me give you u specimen.
1t is l2 o'clock, NJ The Speaker rises,
and BY his side stands the venerable Chap.
lain tho hammer falls, the noise ceases,
and for moment it Is quiot. A petition
is offered to the Most High, invoking His
blessing upon their deliborations-a prayer
for wisdom and guidance, for unity and
fraternal feeling. 1t is finished, the Chap
lain departs, and the House is ready for
business. In q rapid manner the journal of
the preceding day is read. Presently score
of persons spring to tboir feet shouting at
the top of their voices, "Mr. Speaker" "Mr.
Speaker" tho journal needs correcting.
Then comes the regular business of the day,
and with it comes babel. Persons talking
in clusters, pages running to and fro, as the
clapping of hands call them; members
struggling for the floor, with incessant shouts
of "Nir. Speaker !" and the Speaker rapping,
in vain endeavors to restore silence. Mo
tions are made, points of order raised, aud a
vote is taken without calling the ayes and
nays. Tho Speaker decides it his decision
is doubted, tellers are appointed. who stand
in the open space fronting the Speakers
desk. one on either side. Down comes the
ayes in body, passing one by one between
the tellers, like children in the play of King
George aud his train, and back TO their seats.
Tho DAYS take their turn, chatting and
laughing meanwhile. Then the House goes
into Committee of the Whole on the special
order, the Speaker leaves the chair, q men,
ber takes it, then follow amendments and
debates on them. or set speech on the
main question. But the speaker does not
receive the attention that is given to an ora
ter al a political meeting, or to a lecturer
of oven Ordinary note. The Hon, Member in
most casos, must speak once at least during
tho session, not to enlighten tho House, or
because he has anything new to say, but
to satisfy his constituents. They want their
member to make a noise, and he makes it,
He rises, and that is signal for stampede.
Those who havo business attend to il; Others
go to tho Senate Chamber, or noisily con-
verse. Vocilerously he talks at the Speaker
his allotted hour, the reporters fix his
speech for him, making as much out of il
as possible, and for some time thereafter
he has employment in franking it to bis con.
stituents
No one can have an adequate idea of the
"nose and confusion" attendant upon a
session of the House, without witnessing 1t;
and members, to be useful, should have long
leases of Office, az il requires one term OF
service for person Of quick apprehension
to become familiar with the rules so as to
bring "order out of chaos" and determine
in the general din, what is being done.--
There are but few members that can COM
mand tho ear of tho House; the rest are of
the "heavy" order, and wore sont for some
other than their speaking qualities.
One thing is noticeable; for though, while
l was there, ono mQmber told another he
lied, and a little temporary rumpus was
gotten up on account of it, yet there is less
ofinsolencc and brow-beating than formerly
| The firmness of Northern members. and
particularly the late retirement Of Roger
A. Pryor from his challenge to John f
Potter, because the latter would use such {
vulgar backwoods instrument as q bowie
knife. which at such familiar distance al
four feet. might damage gentleman's finC
features, has done much for tho promotion
of good manners. If Northern member
are willing to meet the Southern bravados
there will DO no challenges from the South
Mr.. Pryor acted, it is said, upon erroneous
information; a colleague of Mr.. Potter in
formed him that Potter would not accept
challenge, and "upon that hint he spake"
Besides, the Republicans have tho bes
talent on their side, and the majority o
votes. The South see that the power is dc
parting from them, and with it decency i
returlng.
The Senate is totally unlike the House
Order prevails, and our ideas of what leg
islative assembly should be, are there real
lied, save in this: there are few gray head
in the Senate, principally middle-aged men
a few of commanding presence. but the ma
ljority would not be selected from crowd
as ranking among tho magnates of the land
Wigfall, of Texas, is the only downright
rowdy. and he is unfit for decent society.
u Seward is the great man of the Senate
and his superiority is owing largely to hi
industry. No man works harder. DurinI
the session thus far, it is said he had no
walked to tho Capitol, working at bis hous