Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-09
llOMMUNICATED.

BODIES POLlTlC-BY }. b. JOHNSON An
asscmblagc of the represen ratives of the people
is always an interesting body, aud the electors
whom such an .ssemblage purport to represent,
too often find themselves disappointed at real
iziug the manncr Of thought and want of in
teerity Of purpose of many of those whom they
have chosen to do the dcllberative business of
their bodies polite. This feeling of disap-
polntlncut in their representatives causes the
electors to grow impatient with their course,
and. after some inquiry, conclude that their
representatives are not the men they promised
to be before their election; and deciding that
they have been miSrcprcscntcd rather than rep
resented determine to elect an entire set OF
new men, hoping thereby to effect the accom-
plishment of the desired object Of pure lcgisla-
ton and conscientious representation; but IN
this, they are again deceived, for they find
there is enough of the old leavcn left to keep
in perpetual aud injurious existence, these
evils which electors strive to eradicate. Hence,
the continued and unsatisfactory changes which
popular sentiment is constantly making IN the
election of those who promise and seek to be
the servants of the people. This difficulty arises
from TWO potent evils, viz; The people will not
always select the most upright aud honest men,
and those whom they do select, will not con-
fine themselves to duties purely representative,
but engraft in ali their acts selfish and personal
designs, which often bring into contempt not
only the wisdom, but the rights Of their cleo
tors SO gross has this practice become, and
so robust has it grown, that it is almost expect
cd as q matter of course; and some representa-
tives Of the people show no shame in Haunting
the advantages SO obtained, or in boasting of
the amount of money and influence they have
received for lobbying through, u deiberatiye
assembly, special measure, which, for all
they cared, compromised the best interests of
their constituents This is the secret, or lobby
power of body polite; and success soon ex-
pands it into an influential 'rtng," which
gathers rapidly within its charmed circle all
the corrupt material within the scope of its at
traction. The honorable representative who
essays to expose the designs Of such detri-
mental influence, becomes marked man, and
must prepare himself to be sandered aud de-
cried for his opposition to those measures
which have DO deeper or substantial basis than
the cupidity Of their selfish projectors There.
tore, such position is anything but pleasant
to a conscientious representative; and be who
has once passed the ordeal, feels how wcarl-
some is the task to contend with those who
have no higher motive in their public duty
than sordidncss, and no other impulse than
sefaggrandizement AS it has been, and is,
so will it always be; aud fortunately for the
economy of human associations, it is very rare
to find an asScmblage of the representatives OF
the people without having within its midst
few noble spirits, who, if they cannot stem the
wild current of corruption, like buoys in dan
gcrous waters, point the true course Of the
ship of State; and whose warnings go along
the rush of time, ages after the bodies polite,
Of which they were once part have moulder-
ed in the cemetery Of persisted nations.