The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-15
THE M ADISO MA N


We have been panied to witness the unnecessary
consumption of time, and the delay of the impoitan
business for which the National Council has been
convened This session called for special purpo-
ses, at of the year when il must necessarily
be short. The people expect it to be They do not
expect to be prolonged by factious opposition to the
progress of business.
Time is money! said DIR. franklin and money is
not plenty blackberres. But timelnow is more
than money. Money cannot purchase back the time
that is lost The great measures of relief which are
demanded by the condition of the country and which
it cannot be denied entered into the contemplation of
the people when they, with almost one accord took
the political power from the hands of those who had
abused and misused it, and confded il to other hands
should observation-disclosures not be STAYED off and de-
feated by interminable debate and factious party
speeches having apparently no other object in view
The PEoPLE, have some interest in this mat
ter. They watching the progress of measures
with intense anxiety for their accomplishment. The
revival os business prosperity of the country de-
ponds upon it's waiting for it, Every thing except
vegetation and Gods mercy, is at stand still Every
body is waiting to what is to be. All are expect
ing that the country, whose destnes committed to
hands, is to be relieved from the incubus of as
miserable policy entered into the conception
otman corrupt lettering, subreasury polcy,which
has brought ruin upon the country, and banished its
authors and abettos forever from the confidence of the
people.
Well, what is now the aspect of thingsi What do
the people see going at the Capitol' What but
the majority struggling, day by day and week after
week, to accomplish the business of the session and
the minority, at the same time, avaling themselves
of all the expedients their fertile maginations can
suggest, to delay, and, by delay to defeat the de-
clared will Of the people in this matter and to con
tnue the evil which they, while in power, brought
upon the country. Must such state of things con
tlnueI How long is it to LAST
The Fiscal Bank Bill has been a long time under
consideration in the Senate. 1t has been carefully
considered and fully discussed in all its principles.
The whole ground has been examined over and over
again. Why, then, should not the Senate act upon
it, Why does ii not act upon it, Why, simply be-
cause minority of the Senate chooses to prevent it
minority in that body governs its action post
pones and holds in check the public willl--consumes
the time by party speeches and denunciations, and
boldly announces its determination to defeat if pos
sibe, the action of the body,
Complaint made at first about the course OF
things in the House; but that is adrance, and
public disapprobation has been transferred to the
Senate The character of the Senate Is suffering.
Is there way to bring questions to conclusion
The previous question: is not one OF its rules. Why
not adopt it, The House could accomplish nothing
Absolutely nothing, without it, The Senate has
now come to that post when it can do nothing with
out it, ,
In republican governments majorities must govern.
This principe lies at the threshold of all Democratic
institutions. Why not adopt the necessary to
enable the maj ority to carry their deliberate judy
msht into effect
To such extent have the public interests been de-
layed by long speeches about any thing and every
thing but the subject under consideration and by de-
termned and actious opposition, that the previous
question:, which substitutes action for talking has
become the most popular rule of any by which dcbe
rative bodies governed. The attempt TO render it
odious wholly failed 1t is most popular and ap.
proved remedy for universally acknowledged evil
Is it not the only remedy Poll the whole country
the question of its adoption, and it would be
ried by acclama,ion from one end Of the Union the
other. why, what's When carried out it is the
vote of the body that, hdrng considered proposition
mdtureiy, leW now proceed to take the question up
on il. The previous question cannot be sustained
except by majority Of the votes; and when malo-
ry concur in it, shall the body proceed to take the
question, or shall the minority govern The latter
alternative would be abandoning the fundamental
principle of Republican Government and permitting
the few TO have and exercise power over the many
Naortes must have power to carry out principles to
practical results, or abandon Republican Government
entirely, and 90 back TO state of anarchy TIL some
bold usurprr shall rise up to save the people from
themselves"
1t is given out that the Senate shall not have vote
the Fiscal Bank bill for two three weeks to comel
i this not insuflerable' Will the majority submit to
~ We shall
The House has recently adopted rule for which
the people will regard it entitled to all praise. il is
that in Committee of the Whole, each member in
speaking, shall be restricted to one hour The great
number Of mcmbc.s in that body who speak T" for
,Buncon,bc, TO dignifed phrase of the oppo'i-
tom rendered such rule necessary TO enable the
House to get along with the business at all. II is an
excellent restriction. II is corrective of great and
growing evil the making Of two three-day speeches,
not 10 be heard by the House but be read elsewhere
clectionccring speeches, which had better be re-
served Tor the stump.
Every say, in an hour, all that he ought TO