The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1869-04-09
Mr. sprague Throwing Hot Shot in the
Senate

Mr. sprague Throwing Hot Shot in the
Senate.
The discussion in the Senate on Friday
over the tenure of Office act was the oeea-
sion for very lively interchange of ideas.
The whole affair was a warm one, but had
the usual pettyfOggiDg characteristics un-
Ill Mr.. Sprague, with more blunt common
sense than polish, opened his batteries and
gave Congress a few solid ideas and I'M
palatabe truths, which occasioned some
commotion. Sid he ''The great evil in
both FOuses of Congress is that too many
of the members are lawyers-men educated
only in one line, in one range of ideas and
experience, and, therefore, incompetent to
represent the diverse interests and neeessi-
ties CT the great mass of the people," This
a shot in the right direction and told
with tremendous effect. 1t is something
that the different States will do well to
think Of The petty wrauglers. who be-
come noted ward room politicians, finally
work themselves into power, and are then
sent to Congress to befog every question
that arises and to study how best they can
get fee from the different rings that have
certain jobs to shove through our legisla-
tive halls. Therefore, when Mr.. Sprague
states that ''of sixty-six members of the
Senate forty-fve are lawyers, and of the
twenty-One remaining FIVE have received
legal education, and most Of the few re-
naming are governed by lawyers and their
teachings" he states fact that accounts in
a great measure for the miserable theoreti-
cal Legislation that has been given to US for
the past four years. How little this or
ganization is disposed to forward the true
interests of the United States is well shown
in the further true statement that 'the pol
iticians have never been willing to let the
people know the true state of the country"
= The object Of the majority in
Congress appears to be rather to perpetu-
ate the existence of party than to promote
the welfare OF the people,"
Here is sound logic from a man who
can, through his ow vast business inter-
ests, feel the palpitating desires of the mas
ses, and being so closely linked to them,
can also feel strong in the bold words that
he enunciates. Still denouncing the Sen
ate "In the tenure of Office act they ex-
pend all their ingenuity to befog the ques-
ton at issue, and seize additional power
under the Disguise of securing the equi-
poise of the government. All sham in sub
Cto nEo s
other legislative body has half the power
possessed by the Senate of the United
States /; and yet the Senate clamors for
more, and for why Why, to build up an
aristocracy of power, and Oligarohy of ty-
rants and monopoly of legislation. He
said that be preferred the tyranny of one
man with some humanity in him and occu-
plying responsible position to that Of an
irresponsible body like the Senate,'' and he
therefore earnestly pressed the repeal of
the tenure of office act.
A speech like this does the country good.
1t is a long time since one of equal out
spoken and clear sense has been heard in
Congress. Mr.. Sprague echoes the voice
of the people when he derides the lawyers.
How little their legal knowledge availed
them is shown in their complete ignorance
of the law of 1889 which prevented Mr..
Stewart from occupying the Treasury De-
partment. We require other men in addi-
ton to Mr.. Sprague in our Congress who
feel the effects of their own Legislation
and until we have them this terrible mud
die into which the lawyers have thrown
the country will not give place to good
government.-N. Y: Herald.