New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-07
CONGRESS-.

Congress takes it easily, as it must until the
Committees are fully constituted, which it necessa-
rily takes time to adjust Two hundred men, a
large part of them Impractical legislators, cannot
be readily disposed into the seats they are severay
best qualified to occupy as business men OF the
House of Representatives. There must be great
deal of culling, and great deal of transposing, and
shifting of position, before the whole mass can be
put into anything ike harmonious shape few
of the more prominent men fall naturally into places
but even here there is more or less rivalry and OF
course more or less disappointment and heart
burning never known to the public at large.
When it comes to the adjustment of subordinate
details, the difficulties and riyalries multiply at
every step.
The House, in adjournipg over to allow time to
settle these Details follows a usual custom, and
succumbs to an inevitable necessity. The most we
are allowed to do, while we wait the reassembhng
of the body is to trust that when the work is done
it will be well done. For upon the proper consti-
tuition of the Committees everything depends, as
regards the business of legislation. There are too
few business men in Congress at all times, and I'M
less they happen to be talking men, possess
national reputation, they are very apt to remain
unknown until it is too late for the Legislature to
avail itself Of their eryces. There is no class Of
,ner an much hooded III congress rs the verg men
who are sent there in small numbers. There are
ALWAYS enough, and more than enough of politicians
and speech makers. And there are never enough
of quiet, Trustworthy, conscientious, and efficient
working men, who know what ought to be done and
20 81 70 n-L apAor otaf
aticalIy and perseveringy discharge their duty as
legislators. If Congress could be uncovered, 80
O speak, and its inner machinery disclosed, and the
useful members seen and the useless exposed there
would be some surprising reversals of the public
Judgment in respect to who are really important
members. Some men with tremendous national
regulations would be found 70 be merely slip. shod,
selfish, document Thanking wndbags, of earthly
use except for an occasional dramatic effort or for
keeping up their own political line of succession at
home. Others on the contrary, whose names are
almost wholly unknown to fame, would SHINE out
with surprising luster as Woodworking, intelligent,
useful men upon whose shoulders the real work Of
legislation almost wholly rests.
Such disclosure, if it could be made, would
lmpTcss ulOst ipOItout icooVh vi tno VioiCt CVu-
stituencies of the country. 1t would Il ach them
very different rule in the selection of candidates for
their Congressional Representatives than they gen.
orally adopt. 1t would teach them to look for eff
cheney and integrity and business talent, instead of
those more snowy qualities that are too apt to daz
zle the multitude. 1t is grave and important
truth, that is usually quite overlooked, that the con-
kof, off 10 a afa hns
ness, requiring good judgment and mental energy,
rather than argumentative ability or captivating
elocution. Our great lawyers AMI best orators,
have often been the very pOOreststcks as legislators
that ever found their way into Congress.