The sun., 1873-02-05
Sit Down. Mr.. Sargent.

Mr.. SARGENT of California is Il person to
whom opportunities to be ridiculous come
pftener than to most men. He never misses
one One came to him IN the House OF
Representatives on Monday, TO which he
was fully equal and which he made the
most Of.
Mr.. RoBrRTs of this city offered n resclu-
lion declaring it to be the opinion OF the
House that il is not wise or eNpedient or for
the public interest that any part Of Goat
Island in San Francisco harbor shall be
oeded for railroad purposes. Goat Island
is landed property upon which the Gem
trail Pacific Railroad Company of Califor-
mia has heretofore cast covetous eyes. Not
that the Central Pacific Railroad Company
proposes to go into the goat business by
any means; for that extensive corporation,
though Il owns goats and buys goats, does
not need islands upon which TO cultivate
them. But the Central Pacific road wanted
Goat Island for depot II had got rather
in the way of taking whatever Govern
ment land il had an itching for, and it
seemed very proper that il should take this.
This company is great philanthropy.
IL has developed the resources of the
country. For about three times what it
costs on other railroads il allows the
citizens OF this great and happy land TO
he carried over its line. 1t has relieved
the United States Treasury of several
millions of surplus and taken great
many thousand square miles of Govern
msnt land and is to-day allowing the
Government to pay interest on its bonds
without any opposition or hindrance. 1t is
one of the loveliest institutions that ever
pinched the weasand of u great and grow
ing nation. More than all this, it bought
AARON A. SARGENT n number of years ago
aud paid for him, and maintains him
handsomely as one of the law makers of
the republic. After SARGENT became dis
tnguished, and was so eudcared TO his
constituents that they made an expensive
memorial of him of fine wearing apparel
and cut straw to hang up in public place
where all could see and admire him, and
then took it down ami with appropriate
ceremonies committed il to the flames. the
company bought him a nice little seat in
the United States Senate. On the fourth
Of March next he will 90 over there in
company with several other persons
whose seats have likewise been paid for q,
and sit down i'll II.
Meantime SARGENT stays in the House
and bays the moon and endeavors TO do
something for his owners. II would not
he benevolent to say he makes an ass OF
himself; and yet that seems to meet the
case. On Monday, when this resolution
came up declaring il to be the sense OF the
House that Goat Island should not be
given away, SARGENT lost his head. Not
that ID was much of q head TO lose ; but then
IL was the best he had, and was worth
saving on account Of the ears, If nothing
else. Losing his head, he pitched in and
moved 10 lay the resolution on the table.
The House, being stupid enough 10 suppose
there was some sense in the declaration
that the Government would not give
away this valuable property 10 the Central
Pacific croad, voted down SARGENr's s motion.
Thereat SARGENT ragged worse than ever.
He demanded that u gentleman from Cali
fOrnia, formerly member OF Congress,
who was entitled to the privilege, should
be excluded from the floor. SARGENT said
nc was lobbyist, from which wo judge
that he was interesting himself in oppos-
Ing the giving away of Goat Island. SAR-
GENT made point OF order of it. Two or
three members took the unnecessary
trouble to show SARGENT that he was be-
having in silly manner The Speaker
ruled against him and made him sit down,
and then the House adopted the resolu-
ton while he sulked in his seat.
We hope SARGENT means well. But he
tsa very stupid individual. Perhaps when
he gets into the Senate with the other fel-
lows who have just bought in, he will
show TO better advantage; and mean
while we bid him farewell.