The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-03

NO sINECURE.
There are many people who effect to think,
and some do think, that the position Of mem
bers Of Congress Is a sinecure. Such notions
and surmises are wide Of the mark for there
are no men In the country who work harder,
or who are engaged more consecutive hours
out Of the twenty four, than members Of Con-
gress who attend to their Legitimate duties,
besides doing what Ia imposed upon them by
their constituents.
We have watched the course Of many faith.
full members for some time, aud we know
whereof we affirm when we say that their
labors are immense.
All members are on some committee, and
many of them are on several, and on com.
mittecs, too, which demand their personal
attention. The public interests Of the ma
ton, and the private interests Of their con-
stituents must be looked after. Then, In
addition to this, there are the labors on the
floor when the House and Senate are |
In session. A faithful and efficient men, /
Der must be posted. He must under
stand all questions which come up and
uoon which he must vote. He must read |
aud examine reports and bills, that he
may form correct Judgment, and cast his
vote understandingiy and In behalf Of the
great interests Of the nation. We do not say
that every man does this, but we do say that
every one who intends to serve his country
and constituents faithfully must do 1t, and
many members of Congress, to our certain
knowledge, do this very thing. 1t re-
quires no fancy sketch to set forth the real
work OF a faithful member of Congress who
does his whole duty in this particular; and
many there are who do ii, as VIC very well
know.
Tho people have scarcely any conception
of the amount OF correspondence which de-
wolves upon a member of Congress. A cor
rcspondence, too, that must be attended TO
promptly or there is a row at home, and 1t
is at once given out In tho district that Hon.
Mr.. - does not attend to his duties, for he
ncglects to write to his constituents who
have addressed him upon important private
and public questions, aud forthwith Ii Is
recommended that somebody else must be
brought out as his successor who will attend
promptly to the wants and wishes Of his
constituents. Aud then he must not neglect
his constituents, male and female, when they
come TO Washington for au Office or for
pleasure. He must consent to be called out
to the lobby any number Of times during the
day, and must show these people the way to
the dome and other parts of the Capitol and
direct them, II not go with them, to see all
that is to be seen in the city.
Several days ago we overheard u CONVEX
satIon among crowd Of ladies and gentle
men in one of the corridors Of the Capitol,
and it consisted in pretty sharp rebukes upon
"a poor member who did not come out to see
them at once. They did not stop TO con-
slider that the member might be at that mo-
mcnt very busy, and that 1t was hardly pos
siblo for him TO leave. What was the use
Of sending such a man to Congress unless he
would pay some attention to their requests
and come Immediately TO the lobby at their
call
We had occasion the other evening to call
on a Congressman for a few moments, aud
We observed on his table sixty letters re-
ceived that day, all of which he was ex
pectcd TO answer promptly, and he said Il
us that each day his mail was on par as u
numbers with this batch which we saw.
All these letters must be answered, whicl
is no small job in itself. Many members ar
not able to employ private secretaries, ant
must therefore do all this correspondence
themselves. They not only have to answe
letters, but to go to the departments ant
transact business for their constituents, OBJ.
tain seeds and send them, frank books and
direct them, and answer many calls upon
them at their rooms at the Capitol, and also
there Is q world Of work of which their con.
stituents at home little dream.
While we were present at the room of the
member the other night the door-bell rang
fifteen times in as many minutes, and caller
were ushered in-persons who wanted office
wanted the member to sign papers, wanted
him to 90 with them and see this and tina
Secretary, and especially did they wish tc
be introduced to the President.
Now all these people must be treated
cOurteously, and what eau be done for them
must be done or the member will find that
there Is trouble at home. We say to the new
members "Let not him who putteth on the
harness rejoice like him who putteth 1t off,
Time would fail US to note all these va
rious annoyance, which, disagreeable as the
are, still are nothing compared to the reu
and necessary labor which must be per
formed. There Is an indispensable work
and that work must consume a large spac
of time. Talk of eight hours for a lega
days work. 1t is all very well, and perad
venture 1t is enough for any man; but woult
not any member of Congress be glad to com
promise so far as he Is concerned in thi