The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-13
The Duty Of Congress.

As retaining regard Tor what Is LETT OF the
old Democratic party, we hoped that the new
House of Representatives would organize on a
working basis, under the lead Of such OF
its Democratic members as were of proved
cleverness and to the manner bred. 1t is not
too Mte yet for this Rouse-so largely COM
posed of raw members-to assume the form
Of beings Of the highest order of organism,
and to advance with the head on top, and
with the other members each in their true
economic place. There has been, however, o
great deal of fustian up to this date.
We heartily applaud the proposition made
by Fernando Wood, that time ought not to be
wasted in merely ''buncomoe' resolutions, but
that the House ought to get to work. Among
the ''buncombe" was that early resolution OF
Mr. Holman, of Indiana, not to make any
appropriations or subsidies to railroads, etc.
Had we been member of this House, and
had we, ever so fxedly, been inimical to any
railroad grants, we would, most emphatically,
have voted against this resolution. s.s, on the
face OF it, improper. 1t is next akin to Con-
gresham pledging himself before his cleo
ton, for or against measure that was likely
to be brought for discussion before the legisla-
ture of which he swears to be an impartial
member. It is q very cheap show of virtue.
1t was particularly in bad taste in members
coming from the wide Northern regions, for
whose benefit such lavish appropriations
were made by former Congresses for snow
bound railroad lines to the Pacific. This
resolution of MIR. Holman had the look OF be-
ing aimed at the probable demands of the
Texas Pacific Railroad for aid from the
Federal Government. Its friends say, and
we think with justice. Congress with lavish
hand has aided Northern routes to the Paci-
fc, for which the whole country has been
taxed. Swindles accompanied those Northern
grsnts. Well; prevent swindles, but as the
South was made to vote for those Northern
routes, be equal and just in granting subsi-
dies for our Southern route, running whe~o
no snow ever blocks the track to the Pacific
Besides this, if, as they say, We are going to
have another small war with wretched Next
gives provocation all the time
this Texas Pacific road will be handy thing
to hold. But We have reason that influences
US more than those we have named. Emf
grafton is the likelihood of this country. The
stupid Know Nothings and Orders of Ameri-
can Mechanics, ETC., have not appre ciated
that the stream of emigration for the past
thirty years has fed all our American indus
tries, and made this country rich to reple-
tion--till our civil war, AID the return of
bigoted, high-tarif, sumptuary laws, med
ding with neighbors and general misery, set
lu0 Tue tuo UtuoI why, duu tuo DUu0 duu
sinew of honest labor for two years past is
steadily setting out Of the United States and,
Of course, reducing us to comparative poverty
as people.
The only exception to this general loss of
of able and willing laborers, is
Texas. A steady stream of immigration, es-
pecially of Germans, is setting in there. These
are generally agriculturists. Those that have
come are continually writing to friends at
home how they find things. To encourage
and promote this immigration should be the
grants go out to take up land, to raise cotton,
sugar cane, etc. They are first factors in the
wealth of the country. Now, we
know from our friends and subscribers in that
.ich region of Texas, that every fifty miles of
.ailroad, every twenty miles of railroad, open
Up new farms and plantations and invite new
immigrants.
For these reasons. though we do not know
Jol. Thos. 4. Scott even by sight, were We a
member of the present Congress, we would
lot only vote for aid TO the Texas Pacific Rail- |
Dad as matter of equal justice-other re.
,ions having had aid-even If badly used, but
ne would vote for it as vastly promoting the |
aking up OF wild lands in Texas by thrifty |
class of immigrants, and thus developing the |
Of the country. Ifanyone says this |
$ not according to the strict construction |
principles of Jeffersonisn Democrats, we will |
answer that, IN the politics of this country, |
he idea of adhering to principles, when there
s a reason for departing from them, is only .
oke and DOOR Joke at that