Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-16


God mAnifesting better conception O:
their duties to their patrons aud the codu.
try than they have heretofore manifested.
There has been too much hesitancy on the
part of Administration papers to speak of
the manner in which Congress ts doing its
duty, or rather of the manner in which it
Is failing to do its duty. Some time ago
Wenoticed their hesitAncy, saying then, as
We do nov, that while it is very natural
that papers friendly to the government
should be slow to furnish arguments to
Copperheads aud other adversaries Of the
Waraud the ADMINISTRATION, yet neverthe-
lesSr in our opinion, it is very mistaken
policy to hesitate to say what is obviously
necessary to rouse aud stir up Congress
to It's duty. The true policy is to say, and
keep saying, all that is called for, aud trust
to the people for vindication as between
honest and patriotic criticism aud dishOn-
est aud dislOyal niSaPprOPriariOuS of it.
The New York Tribune, aud the TTmes,
have suddenly reused themselves to their
duties in the way of speaking out, and We
must confess that they speak out in rough
shOd style, showing that while they have
not been saying much in the way of eriti-
ciSu upon Congress, yet nevertheless they
have been keeping up mighty thinking
on tie subject. After showing how miser-
ably small has been the amount Of neces-
Sary legislation done SO far, although the
session has lasted eighteen week, the Tn
btins devotes itself to q Wrathful e1claimer
against the kind of meu-so deficient Ia
mental and moral calibre-thAt are sent TO
Congress. We quote its remarks on this
head. 1t says:
Why do We speak Of these thingsf
Simply to warn the people that they
must resolve to stop eIecting to respon-
sible positions such men as Few buy
or bore their way into Congress, or the
country is lost beyond redemption. 1t
cannot OutlaSt ten years more Of such gov
erumenL as we have had for the last teu;
and, weak or wicked as our Executives
have often been, they have generally been
better than the average of our members OF
Congress.
OF course, there are, aud always have
been. good men 10 Cougress-large. mind.
ed, Ar-heRded, capable, worthy and pat.
riotic-but one Lot could not save SOdom.
We are now 10 the grAndest crisis of our ma :
tional history; and We choose dwarts 70 dc
the work which might we'll employ angels
There may be forty men in the Two Houses
who richly deserve to be there; but there
are at least a hundred who would be in
business lully up to their capacity IL one
halfOf them were trying twenty dollar suits
AB justices OF the peace, with the other hall
PsIIitogging before them.
The above is true, but it is not new
Such talk is old. 1t has been said and re:
said times without number, and yet there
IL scarcely an apprsciable reform.
1t has been q question for many years
whether reform 10 the matter of sending
better men to Congress was or was not q
practical thing. There are not few IN.
telItgent men who have expressed them.
selves as about hopeless Of reform. And
the reason is that while the people say .'all
right" in echo to such sentiments as we
have quoted above, they turn right about
At the very first election and give their in j.
hueuce aud their votes to second, third OF
fourth rate candidates for Congress. To
select q mau for his real Intrinsic merits.
on account of the foil belief that he was
hoLest aud capable, and that be wonld do
his duty without regard to party or clique,
would be one of the most refreshing ex-
bibftioOS In the shape of a popular cleo
ton that this country has ever Wit
messed. There would be hundred
men where there are now ten who would
have hope and faith In the ultimate Of
I popular government. 1t SO happens, how
ever, And We can scarcely see why il Is &C, |
that the unfit aud unworthy among thsi
men In congressional district who areI
recognized as being in some degree sharp
aud smart, are generally the most snereet. \
ic. Take man like Sam. Cox, of the Co.
lunbuS. Ohio, district. he is noted a,
being one Of the most untiriug demaROgues
that ever was In Congress. He probably
has not had his equal as eanVasser. And
yet In all essential respects he is a small
man, tricky, ehangeable, touug pad
Such men as hin succeed, while man
With ten times his merits, mentally and
morally, remains at home, doomed to per.
pstual defeat. If the Tribune, or any one
else, can tell US the remedy for this evil
for IL is sore evil-ws shall write them |
down as practical and original aud extra.
ordinary bene6ttsrs of their race. We see
no remedy that has not already been uu-
susesSstally suggested. 49, a7l,s :.