Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-12

tput IL NeCttSU N tnS oSBl,lNcs NhS Du-
siness shall progress as # the previous
iqaestion had not been called"
On a previous question there shall
be no debate" -r.- -.-.~ -r. e..
/ Mr.. Livermore moved 20 strike out
the arst of these rules. ..u
! This motion was s supported by
j, Messrs. Liv~rmore, GARDENER, GUN
4 CIV, Shelley, Ely, Pickman, Wheaton
Dana and Emott, and opposed by
ilessrs. Rhea, Basse5, Ross, Smile,
\ Southland, Bo, d, Findiey, w. Aston,
! Root and Johnston.
: The arguments in fvour of strik.
q ing ont the rule relating 10 the prevI-
GUS question were, generally, that it
bad FOR its object the abridgment Of
the freedom of debate, and was fol-
& lowing too closely the practice ofthe
! British Parliament; That lhis House
\ being constitutionallv deliberatve
assembly, it was notfDr the Maiority
to say thus far shall d bate be permit
& ted. aud no furth, for, If thev could
z do this, they had the same right 20 say
3 ti,at che minority should have no voice
y that it.would preventive minority from
8 shewiag the enormity OF the doiogs of
Y the majority, and would STROUD their
; acts In the mantle of darkness that at
= present much time might indeed be
& consumed in useless debate, but that
this evil ought TO be regulated by a
3 sense of PrcPriety and not by rule
81 Of the House that if this rule were a.
s dopted, the most important measures
{ might be deci led without word Of
debate, although on hearing arguments
gentlemen might have changed their
iopinion of them that this rule might
remind the House of the circumstancc
THAI when the Aboe Sieyes had pre-
scented constitution TO the considera-
ton of Bopaparte, the conqueror was
Icharuled with the feature of Dunno
Legislature that legislation without
debate was always favorable TO rYran-
ny; that the introduction of rnlr pro-
viding for the previous question was
not even necessary for the purpose
which its advocates had in view, for,
from lale experiences, it was known
that whenever ths majority were dis
posed 10 force question they had It
in ih@ir power SO 10 do; that such a
rule was unconstitutional, because the
, constitution forbade Congress 70 re-
strain the freedom of spesch, and ii
? they could not restrict the people IN
the freedom of speech, much less sure
ly could they abridge that privilege in
this House, the sanciury of hberty
: that every member of this House had
a r;gh. - deliver his sentiments on any
: subject before the House, and could
not be deprived of it; that this priv.
s lege, like the freedom of speech, was
productive Of some evil, but the mo
: nent either was restrained, such re.
i sraint was an invasion of the princi.
pies of free government that the rule
: however colored, amounted TO this
: that no member of the minority should
. be allowed to speak until a vote of per
: mission for thar pu pose was first OBJ
: tanned from The MAJORITY. Twas ask.
: ed, would the renovation In the public
councils have been effected if the
freedom Of debate had not beer
permitted at the time when every
thing was going to ruin If ch I
rule had been proposed in 1898, the
nation would have been told, by
those who now support this rule, that
it was The vifal stab to liberty. That
which had been wrong Yesterday, was
wrong to-day /; that which would have
: been wrong in one majority could noi
: be right in another. 1t was also said
3 By several of the supporters of Mr.
Livermore's motion, that the rule pro.
posed to be stricken out was at wal
: with political liberty, incompatible.
with freedom OF debate, and in def
auoe OF the spirit of the constitution
that majoritics, vino could not be sup
posed TO be wholly exempt from the
inhr,nitics Of human nature, nigh
! from the influence ofpassion rush Head
long into measure without the leas
T consideration; that rapidity was not SC
- much n object in legislation as wis.
: dom, and d multitude OF laws otter
: proved 40 evil finally, that this rule
: at the present time particularly oueh
not to be adopted, as the House might
lpt, ,.fl.. Il II =