The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-28

In the course of debate in the United States
Senate on the oath, Mr.. 6prague administered
rebuke to the galleries for laughing at him, the
other day, for saying that they reminded
him Of the idiotic inmate of burning
dwelling, who laughed ct all warning and
persisted in the flames. He said he would. never
fheless, repeat the warning. The affairs of the
Congress were being mismanaged by lawyers.
He felt interested in the success OF the Republic
can party In the past, and had conribted to It, be
thought as much In character, and good deal
more in money. than other senators. Indeed, he
believed his contribution Of the latter had been
greater than that Of all the other senators COM
bined.
He denied that Congress had restored harmony
or prosperity to the country, and asserted that
the people in the South are robbers in q state OF
chronic revolution, and that there was no justice
for the poor man. protection for the rights and
liberties of the citizens in this boosted land of free
dom. immigration had fallen OF. The industry
and agriculture Of the country were 30 Frustrated
ct the West. that immigrants can not find remuner-
alive employment, for they can not sell the pro.
ducts for enough to supply themselves with the
niece ssaries of lfe The reason il, that legislation
and administration were DO shaped as to encourage
capital to speculate upon every industrial occu-
patton In the country. If this course was to be
continued, In less than five years there would be
q clamor for q tariff to keep ont foreign cotton.
But great as was the mismanagement OF our
affairs In every department, the greatest abuses
were 10 our uuhuCldl pObCys
That policy was directed and controlled BY the
bankers. They, no doubt. gave as good advice
as they could, but experience had always shown
dealers in money knew little or nothing about the
relation of money to other occupations and inte-
rests The bearing Of all this was, il the legisla-
tors Of the country had done their own work so
badly, how could they dare to assume the powers
and duties of the executive also The social
condition of the country was quite as bad as the
financial condition. There were less virtue
and morality in American society than
ia any other civilized 90 ciety on the
face Of the earth. The prevailing
decentralization was frightful. What mother could
send her son out into the world with any conf
dence that he would be able to resist the temptress
that would surround him, What husband could
close his door! Laughter.)
The country was on the brink OF precipice,
aud unless the people could be reused from their
apathy all was lost. He had wished for. and
aided in the election of Gen. Grant to the presi-
depcy because he believed he, president Grant)
had not been contaminated by the politicians
and had the capacity required to see through
and defeat their Vaccinations. He had listened
to the inaugural address with intense interest and
been pleased by the presidents expression OF his
purpose to be independent In the discharge OF his
official duties but when he heard the passage
asserting the sacredness Of the public debt,
he had gone away disheartened and sorrowful,
because il had shown him the csDker that pos.
sessed the American body-politic had got posses
sion of the president also. Still be was not with.
out hope. He hoped the president would yet
discover the great error into which bad advisors
had led him, and would turn away from this
policy Is from o chsrnel-house. With an inter-
esting biographical sketch of himself Mr.. Sprague
finished his speech.