Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-05
THE GAZETTE.
CONGRESS FIFTY YEARS AGO.
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 5, 1860.


The press and the people have been loud
in their condemnation of the manner IN
which Congress trihes away the time when
ought TO be devoted to the public business,
and not without Justice. This fault OF the
peoples Representatives however appears
to be one of long standing. There lies be-
fore M \ number of the Commercial Adver-
tiser dated February q, $780, just half q
centnrv AFRO. from which we gather that 1.-The
House, was little better then than it is now.
This number of the Commercial contains a
repert of the proceedings in Congress on the
fifteenth Of February-six days being occu-
MED in the transmission of the report
The House was engaged in debatinga reso-
luton 10 90 to school to Mr.. Fulton" as
the report saws. In other words, TO grant
! the use of the House to Mr.. Fulton for the
delivery of a lecture on a new mode Of de-
stroying ne-ofbattle-ships by means OF q
torpedo invented by him, and TO attend
the lecture.
The resolution had been under discussion
the day before, and the debate was recon-
Inenced on the morning of the 10TH A
motion to lay on the table was carried, the
House divided again and it was lost Mr..
Ross moved to strike out "}scture" and IN
sert provision that Mr.. Fulton might
"erplaiu the practice and utility of the tor
pedoes." Mr.. Dana thought the amend
ment made the resolution 'less exceptional
BILE: that the House of Representatives should
receive lecture from any Individual how
ever eminent for genius and science was an
idea which he could never fer one moment
admit -" Mr. Quincy agreed with Mr..
he ri III
ton. but opposed the resolution also, as AL
the. boys and all the girls of the District Of
Columbia would flock to the House on Sat
urday to hear Mr.. Fulton lecture the mem
bers of Congress! !" Mr.. Ross amend
ment was adopted without discussion. and
then Mr.. Fisk opposed the resolution as
4 amended, declaring that the House was
trihing away its time. He also felt his dig
nifty as a member of Congress assailed, and
concluded rebuke of "Mr Fulton extra
ordinary request" by asking, Shall we re-
solve ourselves into committee OF students
10 receive Instruction."
Then followed some tall talking by Mr..
Ross, who logged in Columbus, the Kings
Of France, England, and Portugal and
1.-THE celebrated Isabella" and declaring
that the American people were aspiring
above Kings and Emperors. exclaimed,
CHANGING no doubt at Mr.. Quincy, "none
are so likely to remain in ignorance as those
who are too proud TO receive instructions"
and further opposition by Mr.. Muntord and
Mr.. Quincy, and finally the whole matter,
which occupied the House till 4 o'clock p.
m. eliminated in snarl as to what had
become of the resolution, ana in appeals
from Speakers decisions. &c. In some
very unintelligible way .the thing was at
and end" but what the end was it is impossi-
Bile to get at. As Mr. Fulton delivered his lee
ture next day to the popuace in the street,
the inference is that the resolution was some
what smothered. 1t was brought up again
on the following day, and SO occupied the
House three days. We do not see that the
olden times were much better than the pre-
sent, if this be fair sample.-N. !. Conn
n,ercial Advertiser.