Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-07-16
Antf.ROfattOn.

The people of Ohio seem disposed to adopt
the wise course in regard to their members of
Congress, in returning those of them who are
willing to accept denomination. Without
reference to political considerations, it is to b..
hoped this course will be pursued in the dis
tricts where conventions are yet to be held,
and especially is it to be desired on public
grounds in the case of Judge Welker, repre-
senting the 14th district This gentleman, by
his intelligence, industry, and fidelity, has
become one of the most useful members Of
the House, ond has won position honorable
to both himself and bis district, position
which his experience will enable HIM to rem
der still more useful and commanding.
The same remarks will apply with equal
force to many Of the other honorable gentle
men in the present Congress, but we happen
to name Judge w., because he has, as a
member of the Committees on District of CO.
lumbia and Retrenchment and Reform, brot
himself more prominently into notice here in
a local as we'll as 9 national way. AS rule,
members Of Congress only answer any of the
purposes for which they are sent, after one or
two terms of service; and for their constitu-
ents to trade them off for new material as soon
AS they are really able to accomplish anything
is nearly suicidal That they are beginning
to find it out is a hopeful sign.
The above We clip from the Washington
Evening Star Of late date. Apart from
all political considerations, the views there
in expressed have ever met our most hear
ty concurrence 1t cannot be doubted
that any amount of general intelligence.
or the possession of undoubted legal know
ledge and judgment are not of themselves
sufficient to fit representative in Con-
gress for the most efficient discharge Of
his duties; but to these must be added an
intimate knowledge of the routine Of bust
ness which an enlarged experience only
can confer. The interests involved in
congressional legislation are SO vast. vari-
cd and diverse-the rules and orders so
muftiform--the minutia SO complex-the
body so numerous, and the individuals
composing it so different, that years, of
laborious study are often required to OBJ
tain familiarity with its proceedings or
any influence in the House,
The great influence heretofore exercised
on this government by the South was un-
1oubtedly in great measure due to the
long training she gave her representatives
Her policy. it is we'll known, was, where
representative was not Objectionable per-
sonally or politically, to retain him as
long as he was willing to serve. Here,
as we before said, was tn, secret Of hcl
preponderance in shaping the administers
ton of the government. During the same
period, the Middle and Western States
pursued totally different course. They
adopted che policy Of rotation, consequent
ly, although numerically outnumberine
the South, they failed in far greater de-
gree to stamp their influence upon gov
ornamental administration than their weak
or sisters of the South. Of course we do
not contend that this was due solely to
this fact but we think it cannot be de-
MED that it had great influence in produc-
ing this result. To any one familiar with
the history Of the government from 1920
to this day. it is apparent that more In
fuence was exerted over congressional
legislation by the States of Massachusetts
and South Carolina, than by any other
two States of the Union. This can only
be satisfactorily accounted for by the fact
that these two States continued their re-
representatives. longer than any of the other
States and thereby trained them. 1t is
true the influence thus acquired, was often
exerted for evil and not for good, yet it
was influence still. Every constituency
is doubtless solicitous that its representa-
tives should occupy as influential posi-
ton as possible, in the legislative depart
ment Of the government. Yet in adopt
ing the system of rotation the very policy
hoe heen r,,ra,e1 most calculated. .ta i'm