The Cecil Whig., 1882-05-20
THE CONGRESSMAN.
Duties Incumbent Upon a Member.
EG WILLIAM MORAN.

it has its duties and responsibilities. is
yet of an easy and pleasant character,
having but little real OF genuine labor
attached thereto. To the masses the sal
ary is regarded as more than equivalent
for the services performed, and the mem
Der of Congress is esteemed rs a lucky
and fortunate individual. Many are of
the idea that the honor of the position in
connection with its influences in secur-
ing positions for friends and political ad-
herents is sufficient payment, and that
but little or no salary should be demand
ed. True, there is a preponderating de-
talented and most trustworthy men elect
ed as Senators and Representatives
they wish statesmen in the halls of Con-
gresS, but at the same time they have
not the slightest idea or conception Of
the arduous labors and severe trials
which men i'll such positions are COM
PEELED to undergo. When the manifold
nature of the duties Incumbent upon
member of Congress is considered, and
the numberless Interruptions he is called
upon to encounter through visits of ap-
plcants for office, let alone the heavy
amount of correspondence which he is
obliged to carry on, it is to be wondered
that SO much careful thought and atten-
ton have, as a general rule, been given
to Legislative measures affecting the in
terests of both government and people.
We are prone to moralizing over the de-
cay of statesmanship-to regretting that
nowadays there are no Clays, Websters,
or Calhouns, while partisanship instead
of craftsmanship and narrow minded sec
tionalism instead OF broad nationalism
we do not ask ourselves what opportuni-
ties have congressman for displaying the
abilities with which they are endowed ?
Attendance during the sessions of Con-
gress is but a small portion of the duties
they are called upon to peform. All can
not have the floor to make speeches or
give to the public their views upon this
OF that measure. Many go to the House
or Senate after laborious nights work
upon committees, of which they are
members, and, completely worn out, are
unable to watch the proceedings and act
with that vim and promptness which
they would exercise had they entered
free from Over-taXation and WEAKNESS.
The most and best they can do at such
time, when measure is being acted up
on to which they are cOnscientiously op-
posed. is to vote negatively or strive to
postpone action until such time as they
will be able to discuss it with power and
impress their views upon their fellow
members.
At every session of Congress there are
question is never heard. They answer
roll-call, listen to the speeches of others
and vote as party feeling, principle, or
conviction guides them. These are they
to whom the master minds direct their
attention (for in all legislative assemblies
there must of necessity be few active
and leading spirits), and whom they aim
to convince. Votes are required for the
passage or rejection of resolution OF
statute, and double share of duty is
thus forced upon the Congressman who,
having a superior education, the knowl-
edge to dissect 4 proposed measure and
weigh its ultimate effects, and the gift of
expressing his views and conclusions in a
logical and argumentative manner, has
to bend every energy to bring his fellow
congressman to an Endorsement of his
opinions, who remain quietly in their
seats, not venturin@ to speak forth their
IDEAS upon the subject matter UP for con-
sideration. We do not intend here to
comment upon the too prevalent feeling
among Congressman that all legislation
should be guided and dictated by re-
gard for partisan influence and power.
We will not refer to the multitude of
propositions introduced by small men for
the mere sake of sensation and buncombe.
Neither will We speak Of the evident
want of ability upon the part of some
who have been too highly honored by
being given q 5 at i'll Congress. What
we desire to say is simply-first, that the
position of Congressman is one which
should be held in high esteem and which
should be delegated only to men of sterl-
inCr pp n raaSnninu
of ability, Of education, of business ex-
perience, and knowledge of the world,
men able to express their views and their
reasons FOR entertaining them, and whose
opinions at all times command respect;
and second. that it is no sinecure, such
as the mass of the people enormously
imagine; that it is d post entailing upon
the occupant arduous and incessant labor
from which Cf he does his duty he can
not shirk. 1t is an easy matter to COM
plain of the neglect of a Senator orr Rep
resentatlve, but not one-tenth part of his
constituency ever thinks of the popula-
tion lie represents OF the number of ap-
plica.ions made to him daily. Is there
Il pension to be applied for, claim to be
presented against the Government, an
office for which an appointment is desir-
ed, the services of the Congressman are
at once asked for, and every petitioner,
every applicant, deems that he should be
first waited upon and attended to, never
for y moment thinking that there are
come l10, 600 or a00 900 others compos-
ing the Congressman constituency, and
who also claim an interest in his services.
Apart from the necessity of visiting
the various departments of the Govern
ment, and Of attending to an enormous
correspondence, not only from his own
district. but overy section of the coun-
try, \ Congressman is frequently a mem
| beg Of at least three committees, whose
lahors arc performed after the hours of
the session, so that he is really not the
particular property of his own immedi-
ate district, but that of the whole peo-
pie He is called out of the Senate or
the House, as the case may be, from
twenty to fifty times day by citizens
from nearly every State and Territory in
the Union. of the eight departments of
the Government, he is expected to visit
all of these every day. Then again, the
ambitious fathers of his district desire
their sons to be placed in the army or in
tho navy or to he sent to Wpcf Point or