The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

The following apposite soliloquy is from the pen of a correspondent of the National Gazette:

Soliloquy of a Radical at the end of the session of Congress.

Ecod, we have had a fine time on it. Never expected to cut such a great figure in the House. Constituents tickled; holding up their heads—this is a glorious affair; gulling and amusing the people with the idea of saving their money, and selling the cats in the departments—Thought the people would snap at the scheme. To be sure, the friends of the "army candidate." [Mr. Calhoun] fell furiously foul of our report, but the balance of the House do not see through a mill stone. Said we did not come here to run down the Secretaries; but folks smelt a rat—not all the Secretaries—like the Treasury candidate [Mr. Crawford]—retrench, strike where it may, in order to save him from all embarrassments and miscalculations. It is said he disclaims any connexion with us—but that's no matter. Gave it to the stockholders in our Report.—Their manners are extremely offensive. They carry their heads high—turn out their toes—study polite phrases, educate their sons at colleges, drink claret and champagne in preference to whiskey, wear foreign manufactures, and like what is called polished society: extremely offensive all this. Relish good dinners myself, however—have no objection to the good things at the Palace, and among the Secretaries and Foreign Ministers. Cut down salaries of all Executive officers nevertheless—particularly the clerks and messengers—Let 'em eat salt herring and drink Potomac water or small beer. Queer that they should talk of the hardship of working all the year at their desks, with no other means of livelihood, in a dear place, while we, for our attendance here, screw out of Uncle Sam, a thousand or twelve hundred dollars a session, and have our farms and professions besides, to make money of when we go home.—Face it out though, that our case is the worst. Knew very well how the compensation bill would fare. All talk and no cider. Hang that Pittsburgh man [Mr. Baldwin] who wanted to reduce the mileage. The idea is a bad one and may come up again. If so, let the bill lie on the table—nail it, as Jack Randolph says. Afeared I went a little too far in telling that members are not fit to do business after dinner, and that some of them feign sickness at home or here, to get the per diem gratis. Ticklish point. High bred Virginny colts didn't stomach it. Must not fall out with them. They dock the powers of the government and we the expenses. They keep up a hubbub about usurpation, and we about prodigality. No Bankrupt law, no roads and canals for them—no armies, fortifications, aristocratick stockholders, well-dressed officers or fat clerks, for us. Agree in the main; all on one side.—What a clever fellow, that Tennessee General [Mr. Cocke.] How he tugged it about Fort Calhoun. The name stuck in his gizzard.—Made the most of the Mix contract. All wouldn't do. Not so easy to run down the "army candidate." Answered for himself too fairly and boldly—much gooption. A little funny that the Massachusetts Doctor [Doctor Eustis] should set up his opinion in military matters against the Secretary of War, the President and the Board of Engineers. Heard that General Bernard knows all about fortifications; but the Doctor's a match for him.—The House thinks more of the Doctor. If the President won't take floating batteries, why let New-Orleans go to the d---l. Wish we had more Doctors in the House.—They are true save-alls, economy-men; deplete the army and the departments. Should like to stay here in the General's standing committee of inquiry. The measure would not take. South Carolina speechifier [Mr. M'Duffie] very hard upon us—hope he may be killed off—hits roughly—no flincher. Take the Cumberland road going "home"—President scruples about toll. Tol de rol. Must have a western man, if the Georgy man won't do. Sure the Intelligencer will speak well of us all, after we have gone home, as before. * *