The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-07-04
The Re-Liection of Members OF ton +.
gress.

1t is generally Acknowledged that the
South was indebted for its former in-
fucucc in Washington, very much to lis
practice OF giving its Representatives in
Congress long terms of service, Wheth-
er this practice was deliberately adopted
upon considerations Of Foley, or whether
it grew out OF peculiar social condition,
it is not material to enquire. The prac-
ticc existed as a matter of fact, while the
contrary practice Of rotation in the choice
Of members OF Congress has gcuerally ob-
tanned at the North. The consequence
was, that the Southern Representative,
with no advantage III ability. and inferior
in respect to education and general intor-
nation, had an undoubted superiority in
parliamentary experience; and the i'm
portance Of superiority in that particular
cannot be orer estimated.
The interest Of constituencies to be ei-
fectiveiy represented, is consideration
of vastly greater moment than the pre-
tensions of aspirants. The first is public,
and effects hundreds Of thousands. The
last are the concerns OF only lew indi-
yiduas
The real question to BE- considered by
Il constituency, is, who can best repre-
sent them and their political principles in
the national legislature. The mere fact
that an individual was selected two years
ago, does not prove that it is now wise to
re-elect him; but SO also, ii is no ground
for assuming that the selection of an in
dividual is inadmissible to-day, that he
has been selected once, twice, or three
times before. The true question is al
ways, who is the best mang--taklng all
circumstances Including experienced in
to the account. 1t is unwise to say that
member of Congress shall have two
terms as a matter of right, without re-
gard to the capacity for usefulness which
he may develope during the first term.
And il is equally unwise to say that any
number OF terms of service should exclude
anybody from the lists from which the
people may choose Representative. The
true question, We repeat it, is always the
same, who is the best man. and expert
ence is never disqualifyinS circum-
stance, but always the reverse.
Without spending any more time and
words in generalzing, We hope to see a
large proportion Of the true men in the
present Congress reelected by their con-
stituents. They have deserved itby their
courage, fidelity, persistency in we'll do.
ing, and the vast results which they have
accomplished for the country. 1t is a safe
rule, to conclude that the point of attack
by all the eyil-disposed, is precisely the
point which the well-disposed should rally
to support That point, beyond all ques.
ton, is the present Congress of the Uni
ted States, It has been the target &c Il,
abuse Of every sheet in the country in the
interest of secession, or in sympaty with
secession, and not few Of them have
gone the length Of threatening to drive
it out of the capital with the bayoncts 81
the soldiery. And it is in the same spirit
ahat they have been insisting for months
that Congress should abdicate its power,
and adjourn. Does any one fail to SCI
why that body is SO offensive to the Wash
ington Star, to the Baltimore Sun, to tho
Boston Courier, and to the Herald, th,