Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-14
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ssSs5 "AkgSA A46hkk. kES
1t is notorious fact that legislation in
the lower hohse 81 Cong u u dds isl Weeks
past been much interGered with by the
absehos6 ID sikS Sef5! q II his Beeh, f6fasseI
almost impossible to get together a quo
rum. for the .traasacti6n Of business The
eyil,was never 50 fragrant as now. The
most mi ppblig Baisaeas $ delay.
ed, the wheels OF government ciogged,
the mOmentuops measures for the sup.
preston of the rebellion and the estab.
liShment &C liberty sfapeytaut aud
fEeighted with graver responsibilities than
any which have ever occupied the atten-
ton Of previous oougresscs-are neglect
cd, and meltbers 60 running over the
country, attending to- private business
ShdtsoR i fe per4oaai sndA a
A day or Two since, NJ quorum being
present, call Of tie House s.,Sa was ordered,
the doors ysrel looked ti.e-tqil pslled, the
Sergeant.Ot-arm, sent alter abseutees,
and each, as he VIA admitted, was called
upon for hiitexeqsq for absence. In view.
Oftbe hSghitGGo Of lbs SSSaiti5baiiiih ihterJIsts Ist
ieopariizOd by the evil to be corrected, We
should e1pels ille1oernmma to. be sol
emn one. Iu stead, an afternoon was
wasted in q rellieking way, the. members
soizing gths-6pB pBSrthnityt talventlata kHeiE
Wit 10 excuses and amendments. Here is
a fair sample Of the afternoons proceed.
ings: 'i,s
Ia The Speuker-Henry Winter Davis,
you baYe been ArreetedTfoE Icing absent
from The House without its leave and
against its order. Whit excuse have you.
to present ''-i -=''-''-- a5.' 80
MF. Davis Of Maryland-Peeeavi, sir.
Nj: steyepsZ1 nSys 't thait /. the tlbls1ps gentle,
man be released from arrest upon pay
mcnt of fees and u fine Of one shilling.
Mr.. KNAPP move to amend by mu-
king the fine two shillngs.
Sir. Pruyn-I rise tO question of
order. That is not American currency.
The Speaker-The Chair cannot enter
tain the question of order. @
Mr.. Cravens-I did not understand the
reason the gentleman gave. 80
The Speaker The gentleman said
"peccaVi," which the Chair supposes to
mean that he pleads guilty.
Nj. BEoOks-A shilling IN my State is
twelve and n haif cents, but 10 New Eng-
land where Was boru, 1t is oue-stxth OF
dollar, aud IT Is that, believe, 10 other
portions OF the cOuairy. How is the ex-
act amouus of the fus 70 be ascerlained.
The Speaket-The gsnLlsmal will have
to settle thSt with the Sergeant ut.A Arms.
IA Ms@Res< means; q, ERRlIsn shiI
Ir. Davis, OF Narylahd-2It it means an
English shilling, does it ipeldds, the ex.
change?
The sptGker-NO; IL muS. iSO paid In
lawful money, according to the bill of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania. LSugh-
ter
The amendment submitted by Mt. Knapp
was agreed. ;-t7'.
Now all ibis may be very funny, bot it
is hardly characterized by the dignity be-
fitting a National Legislature, nor is it the
manner which the evil ought to. be bau,
died. This abseutesism is not only dan.
gerous but positively dishonest. The sal.
.aried servAnts OF the people, selected to
prOlectIhe interests OF the nation. have
no right to neglect their duty aud abandon
their posts. In this most critical period
Of our nations life, it needs the fullest aid
from all, its public Oaeers.s Body !, imihdtI
and eoul should be devoted to its sacred
cause, aud when the national Representa-.
lives are SO careless and selfish that the
most essential legislation is distracted aud
delayed, thsevii 5ecUmts too gteat to be
fritied With or joked about .g5.