Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-13
Our Congressional Representation.

Editor Morning Meas: Favorable &C.
counts reach US of improvement in the
health Of our present Representative,
Col Geo. r. Black, and his immediate
personal friends say that the indications
are that he will be able to resume his
seat by the next session in December
with activity almost completely restored.
If this be so, and there is prospect of Col.
Blacks restoration to the physical
strength necessary for an efficient dis
charge of the duties of the Office, am
decidedly in favor of renominating him
for the next Congress.
But if these rumors of returning vigOr
prove TO be unfounded, l am for a
change in the character of our represen-
tatiOn. For Savannah, Darien, Bruins
wick and st. Mary's have become, since
the war, important commercial towns,
and now need the services Of a business
man who will be qualified to represent
in Congress with knowledge, judgment
and experience, their important CONNER
cial interests. Every one familiar with
the Congress of the United States knows
that its work is done in committee, and
not on the floor of the House; and if we
wish to be ably represented, we must
send a skilled working man and not an
orator merely, and especially not a
novice of only clever sophomore attain
ments, whatever his age may be. The
North, East and West are wiser in their
selections than We have been, sending
their competent merchants, maDufac
turers, and practical men of other in
dustries las we'll as their lawyers, who,
understanding the wants of their
districts. can, with the sound dis
cernment of experience, provide for
them. The spouters on the floor of the
House are rarely men of weight, though
of abundant show in decorating the bills
prepared in committee, where all the
real work has been already done. The
present is emiRently an era or practi-
cal legislation. and we must keep time
with it in Congress or lose adequate ap
preparations for our seacoast, river and
harbor improvements. We should there
fore send, l think, az able business
man, vino needs no pruning and cram
ming by others, but who, familiar
with commercial details, knows how to
carry them on; and who can present his
views clearly, senDiblY and Iofcibly, in a
few words. BENJAMIN Franklin's
speeches were limited to ten or fifteen
minutes; and the Duke of Wellington's
rule was mot to speak unless he had
something to say and then say it and sit
down" That's the character Of the
representative we 1oT require, and if
We take the trouble to look for him, l
think we can find an able merchant who
can best take care Gf CUR Interests
and measure wisely the steps
needed for fostering, to the best
advantage. the hundred million OF dol
lars invested IN trade and commerce be-
tween the Savannah and the st. Mary's
rivers. Our agricultural, manufacture
ing, and industrial interests combined,
are small in comparison, and weigh but
| little against lne somMereiaf millions in.
vOlven. Of course, popularity and poll
tics are elements of consideration to sc
cure success for our nominee but may
we not find them in our mercantile and
| business classes { If so, it seans to me
that one frolp these classes is now the
man for the occasion.
DEMOCRAT or THE OLD SCHOOL.