Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-01-08
Congress:

There is not, and has not been for weeks,
any Congressional news worth recording
The monotony Of the proceedings of the two
branches of our National Legislature has
been only varied, by infammatory Aboli-
ton speeches in favor Of e-nancipating the
slaves, aSolishing slavery in the District Of
Columbia &c. God help the American
people, if the preservation of their liberties
depend on the SOlons, now =" in Congress
assembled" in the Capitol buildings at
Washington. Like the money changers in
the Temple Of God at Jerusalem, they seem
TO have forgotten where they are, the sol
emn nature Of the trust confided 10 them by
the patriotic citizens Of the loyal States and
appear willing to convert the city which
wears the reveIei name Of Washington, into
den of Thieves.
In the mean time there i no limit to
the extravaganza Of the Agents. of the Gov
ernmeut, who are entrusted with the dis
Jursemeut of its fund. The contractors, the
1igidIy righteous Individuals, who pur-
chase the articles which Uncle Sam re,
quires FOX equiPping and supporting tht
army, and carrying on the war, are like the
the daughters of the horse leech. constantly
crying, give, give" Thus far they havr
not cried in vain. WEI it always be thus
We Opine not the day is fast approaching
when the people will enter their protes
against this system Of wholesale plumber
in language not to be misunderstood.
Washington correspondent of the Bostor
Trareysr in discussing this subject says =
4" Mr. Fessenden's speech last week starte,
quite fever in the War Department and a
last orders have been given TO stop the lea
caused by having authorized, at the eXpens
Of a half of million each, forty more cavair
regiments than Gen. Mcclellan has any US
for--Mr. Cameron has made contracts f.
l. 900 900 dollars worth of ordinance, /
regard to which the Bureau in the Depart
ment having that business in charge knoI
nothing whatever. Last week another cor
tract was made with parties in Ciucinna
for 8 900 tons of shot and she'll. in regard t
which also there was no knowledge on IL
part Of that Bureau. All these things, an
many others, showing similar proPensitie
on the part Of public functionary, al
awakening a spirit Of investigation and any
l-sS N--'~-4 ~ III VIC ito'-il ~ SUI
action in the Senate as must cause his rt
tirement from the public service.
Several Of the older members of that bod
in recent conference, came to the concll
sion that there was sufficient reason f
rigid scrutiny into acts Of certain official
and in case of their guilt, which seems
apparent, for their prompt removal. The
has already been too much timidity and T
luctanCe in taking care that the Republ
should receive no detriment , but l thin
it is all over now, and hereafter rogues al
spectators in Office Will be handled witho
gloves. Since the 1st of November the e
penses Of the Government have been ov
twelve millions Of dollars week, and fff
millions of dollars a month is trife mo
than Uncle Sam is able to pay. To be su
this has not been paid in cash, but it
been incurred and must be paid, and VIII
the day Of settlement comes it is feared th
noby will be able to furnish the circulate
medium. 1t is indeed time that the race
extravagance2and speculation should cea
and that all the present enormous expen!
which are not necessary for the vigorc
prosecution of the war should at once
.toPped.