The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-15
WASHINGTON CORRESPOND
ENCE
The Mississippi Delegation.


WASHINGTON, D. c., May :, 1873.
Now that the time approaches at hand
+ for elecJing members to the 46th Congress
the respective merits and availability o.
candidates from our own State may be dis
! cussed with view TO select the best posi-
f bic material. From the present outlook
here, our MAORI y in the House viii not be
larger than at present-at least not meas
urably The Senate will be safe for the
/ Democracy beyond peradventure: This
! fact even Republicans concede. We shall
not only have maj ,rity, but a large one,
+ lacking little. If any, Of two thirds vote
for our party in that body.
If the House remain, in statu quo, we
shall have but bare working majority
hence the importance OF selecting those TO
represent us who are skilled in parliament
tary tactics, who are trustworthy. and be-
yond all, who will Remain at their posts
during the sittings of the House. This
may, at first blush, seem duty OF easy ana
common performance; but chose who have
watched the proceedings closely during the
past few months can see that "sbsenteefsm ~
is the bane OF this Congress. When, on an
impo tant vote, 4S and 80 mem bers fail to
answer it becomes evident that Sinking
the rksome demands of this duty is not
confined to few members nor to either
party.
II behalf of the present delegation from
our State, | challenge the Record to exhib-
it more uniform attendance. Again and
again L have examined tho votes as pub
l.shed in the procee iings, and the names of
CnIlmers, Hooker, Manning, Money, Null
drow and Singleton have appeared with
III re regularity and uniformity than those
from any other State. | recently mention
ed his tact to prominent gentlemen here,
aud was gratifed to learn that he had no
ticed the same circumstance. ''There is
not" he remarked warmly, "a more up
right. honorable, intelligent, hard working
delega ion in his Congress than the Mis-
sippians-and l only wish TO heaven we
had more like them" This is a most flat
tering and worthily bestowed compliment
from one of Nirginia's brightest intellects.
[ believe each of these gentleman is a
candidate for reelection. OF the six. three
have had only one term and as the almost
universal rule, the compliment of second
term is bestowed unless for obvious inca
pacity, there will likely be found no Dem
ocrat seeking the places of Coils. Chalmers
Muldrow and Manning, for the next Con-
oress. But their claims TO second, and
even to a third, fourth, or any mum Der OF
terms, if they shall consent to serve 50
long, are based on higher grounds than
simple custom. For my own part, | hold
il highly absurd. as we'll as injurious to the
public service, to turn out a faithful and ca
pabe official as long he honestly per
forms his trust. Ii IA member of Congress.
especially, is good the first term, he is far
more useful the second, third and SO on.
The business which occupies him is pro
fes-ion, and must like every other, be learn
ed by study and experience. ParliamenLa-
ry rules and tactics are numerous and al
ways perplexing to the uninilitte land it
is ii signal error to remand tirSt-class Con-
gresham to private life at a time when he
is far more experienced, and capable Of tar
more efficient service than at any time be-
fore That we will need our best and most
skillful legislators in the 10th Congress to
perfect the great reforms on which we have
entered, and to prevent our political enc
mics from turning back the dial plate of
progress, as they are burning for an oppor
tunity to do, need not be disc used here.
ATHoN.
At this point our able correspon-
dent proceeds to discuss the services
and merits of each member of the del