Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-06-30
ALARMING EPIDEMIC IN con.
0RESS.

GREsS.
When the everlasting niger is up in
Congress, If the intelligence should come
to us that that body had broken up in
some scene Of disorder, or even assassina
ton. We should not be wholly unprepared
to receive it. But little did We anticipate
being called upon to chronicle the proba.
BILE disruption Of Congress from the fear.
full ravages Of an incurable malady. In
dividual members have occasionally exhi.
bi,ed symptoms Of the disease in mild
form, but prompt attention, with stimu-
lating and exciting appliances, has usu,
ally unloosed tho grasp of the destroyer
and spared the subject to his friends and
his country. Heretofore the patient
having recovered from the attack, curious
inqurers have not given much time to the
investigation Of the causes and character
Of this peculiar disease. It has always
been regarded as periodical rather than
chronic; constitutional. rather than conta,
gious or epidemic. But this singular
ma|ady assumed new phase, and more
malignant type on the sixth Of June as
We gather from the proceedings Of tina.
day in Congress. Ono or two were sud
denly attacked with this disease, but their
illness excited little or no unsasiness
among their most intimate friends, until
their symptoms we're such as to give rise
to we'll grounded fears Of their speedy or
even ultimate recovery. Besides, one
after the other 10 rapid succession was
Frustrated, until large majority Of the
members were in an alarming condition,
aud the belief WAS current tina. the disease
was contagious, possibly epidemic. OF
the symptoms Of this disease We believe
the most prominent are At FIRST the sub.
ject manifests an inclination to speak but
little-remain quiet-and treat others
courteously, which being so unnatural in
members of Congress that its first symp-
toms rarely escape observation. This is
followed by certain degree Of absent
m,ndedness, with an unconquerab'e deter.
minstion of the head to droop upon the
chest; the eyes loose their brilliancy, and
the ear their delicate sense Of sound. In
the more malignant form, such as it is our
painful duty to record Of Congress, the
subject exhibits great aversion to Con.
gressman's seat; and strange as it may
seem wholly forgets his constituency, or
that they have any interests to protect
He becomes very much attached to his
lodgings, where in blissful unconscious.
ness he whites away weary hours, utter
ing variety Of nasal sounds; or as in
many cases, if the weather is intensely
warm. has very keen appreciation Of
mint juleps. sherry cobolers and the like;
while others. 3" outstretched and sleepy" in
some retired spot, seem to find relief in
the latest Baltimore dispatches, or the
perasal of q thrilling narrative in the last
Ledger.
Unlearned in materia medica We arc
not competent to make any ineligible
speculation as to the nature Or scientific
name of this disease. We believe that
the Congressional reporter calls it absence
without excuse while the friends Of the
victims call it "absence on account Of
sickness" but watchful constituency
pronounce it culpable negligence
F." downright laziness.' If this be cor
rect the remedy readily suggests itself. =
Let the people be the physicians, and sub
ject all who are troubled with this disease
which has so th:nned the halls of legisla-
ton, to long term Of tranquil retirement
to private life where severe attacks of la
illness will not so materially interfere with
the transaction Of public business, or hin.
der and delay national enterprises of
" pith and moment"