The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-11
Curiosities OF Congress-The True Posi-
ton or JOurn alIsts.

l
| Curioslties OF Congress-The True Posi-
tIOn OF Journalists.
During the proceedings of the House of Rep
resentatives on Tuesday very curious Incl
dent occurred. Mr.. Washburne, Of Illinois,
read an extract from Massachusetts paper,
edited by Mr.. Baldwin, a member Of the House,
which charged that railroad bill that had re-
Gently been passed was designed to relieve the
| Illinois Central Railroad from its obligation to
carry the mails and troops of the United States
free of charge. AS the bill passed by the
House provides that any railroad shall perform
government service and receive compensation
therefor, it certainly has the effect Of relieving
the Illinois Central and all other roads that
entered into similar agreements in regard to
government transportation in return for dona-
tons of public lands although those who
passed it may have had no such intention. Mr.
Washburne having engineered the bill through
the House, naturally felt aggrieved by Mr..
Baldwin's charge, and hence his speech and
the debate which followed. But as the
debate proceeded the fact was developed that
the bill had been passed under the previous
question, and that but few of the members who
had voted for it knew anything about it's pro-
visions. When Mr.. Baldwin was asked why
he did not state his objections on the floor of
the House, instead of writing them in a letter
to his paper, he replied that "he had sought to
obtain the floor to make statement, but it
was impossible to do &c." Having thus ex-
posed their own ignorance; the folly Of hasty
legislation aud the nuisance of the gag law Of
the previous question, the members of the
House concluded to send to the Senate for their
bill, and to make it the subject of some intelli-
gent consideration. Whether or not they will
again pass it is their own affair; but we at
least hope that they will endeavor to under
stand what they are voting upon next time 1t
is all very well to strike a blow at the Cam
den and Amboy monopoly; but 1t is not neces-
sary to build up other monopoies by the same
means. The Illinois Central has contracted to
carry government mails and troops free Of
charge in consideration of certain donations of
land, and the land has been given TO the COM
pany. It seems very singular that there is no
body in Congress wise enough to draw bill
that will enable the government to use other
roads for fair compensation without rele as
ing the Illinois Central from its contract obi
cations.
But there is another equally curious phase
of this Congressional incident Here we find
Mr.. Baldwin, of Massachusetts,, appearing be-
fore the House in the dual capacity Of editor
and memher Of Congress. He 10 called to.ac-
count % Q member Tor what he said In. his
paper. Several other gentlemen are in this
same position, and are equally liable TO- find
themselves In the same difficulty. In our
opinion the duties Of an editor and Congress-
man are totally incompatible. No man has
q right to assume 10 discharge them at the
same time. II he devotes himself to the public
business and becomes good legislator he will
| neglect his duties a. q journalist; and II he
| gives the necessary time and attention 10. the
conduct Of his paper he will be Of very little
use as q legislator. In the past period Of Anne
rican journalism people were accustomed 10
take the EDITORS chair as q step TO some
political Office. They had no idea Of
the importance and the responsibilities Of the
| profession, and employed It as temporary
tool to aid their political advancement II by
serving party or by opposing IL they could
write themselvesinto an Office they were per-
| fectly content But since tho establishment Of
the HERALD journalism has become o regular
business, recognized profession 1t now fur
nishes it's own rewards, and there are none
higher for which any man can aspire. II
supplies wealth enough 10 crafty those who
desire to make money and honors enough 10
satisfy the largest ambition Instead Of serving
politicians and parties it now manufactures
them. II can place President in the White
House, or condemn Presidential aspirant to
obscurity. At its word parties rise or fall
Next to the people, whom 1t represents, II il
the greatest and the grandest power in THU
free country. No journalist who properly
appreciates his profession would barter ii
advantages and it, influence for the highes
Office In the land. Those who attempt to make
IL mere tender to Congress try to degrade II
but only injure themselves. No edito
can 20 into Congress as member
and maintain that independence Of OPT
Mon as journalist which is the in
dispensablc requisite Of his success. In Con
gress he is bound by party ties, whereas b.
should be above oil parties. His paper cal
no longer criticse Congressional action, or |
IL does he IL at once called upon to explain
and apologize. His double position may Civ
him certain apparent advantage, rs in tn,
case Of Mr.. Baldwin-for he may be able 10 "a,
in his paper what he is not permitted to say II
Congress this advantage is, after all, onl.
apparent, and Is accompanied with many dis
abilities. The result is that we often find
paper holding one view, while its acknowledge,
editor in his seat in Congress processes TO In
terrain precisely contradictory opinions. A
recent instance of this remarkable antagonist
L l.. h. ai..La az ih1 1