Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-03

Of the Cincinnati Commerce
81 A SENSIBLE PROPOSITION.


A SENSIBLE PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Niblack, of Indiana offered a resolu-
ton in the House few days since, COM
mending the Presidents recent refusal 10
accept the handsome present Of carriage
and pair of horses rendered him. Mr..
Schenck offered an amendment, that il was
to be regretted that members of Congress
could not congratulate themselves on their
refusal to accept railroad passes. The
House laughed, Of course, but there is really
something too serious about it to be laughed
at. II is a matter worthy of serious atten-
ton. On the street railroads in this city,
the spectacle presented in Congressional
dead-heading is positively humiliating.
rode in one Of the Avenue cars the other
day, and, although il was crowded ~ ex-
cess, and there was scarcely standing room
in or upon 1t, the conductor collected only
about twenty-five cents in money for the
entire trip. All but four passengers were
Congressman and their especial friends
with chalked hats. Another subject
touched in Mr.. Niblacks resolution is
worthy of more serious attention than il is
likely to receive-the condemnation of the
practice, now all but uniform, Of Govern
ment clerks and other employees making
presents periodically to the heads Of their
Bureaus and Departments A few weeks
ago the city papers we're being constantly
filled with accounts of presentations from
subordinates to their superiors. The clerks
in every Bureau Of every Department
seemed to be suddenly and simultaneously
struck with admiration for the gentleinanly
attributes of their respective chiefs, and
their affection and veneration were being
crystalized into silver pitchers and gold
watches and plated tea sets. The practice
il an abominable one, and ought to be for
hidden and abandoned in the Departments
here, and in custom-houses, possofiiees, and
other Government establishments through
out the country where it prevails. In nine
cases out Of ten 1t is well known that the
gifts are bestowed from other motives than
that Of sincere respect for the receiver.
CONsTITUTI0NAI.A AMENDMENT
II must be cause for great surprise, to every
intelligent reader, that some propositions are
not introduced into Congress, looking 70 the
amendment Of the Constitution Of the
United States. True, there are sixty or sew
enty amendments, already pending, but what
/ mean is that it is astonishing there are not
mere. There are neatly two hundred mem
bers in the House, and fifty in the Senate,
and the average Of amendments i, therefore,
only one to four Congressman. Surely there
are subjects enough upon which the organic
law might be fixed up little, 50 as 70 make
il equal to the requirements Of the day and
generation. This can only be done by ilmend-
ments, and the fact that only seventy have
already been offered, after Eve weeks Of the
Of the season have passed, affords striking
proof of radical dilatoriness, while, at the
same time, il offers q splendid opening for
distinguishment in the offering Of a couple Of
hundred more. Is this country 10 pine away
and die for lack Of constitutional amend
mentsg Heaven forefend such catastrophe
as that. MACK