The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-08-13
G A G GING.

Inc means aoopied by the Wing majority in the
House OF Representatives to silence opposition are
we believe wilhou' precedent in this country or
any other where delberalion is tolerated.
The old mode of stopping debate by the preyi-
Gus question, is not sufficient TO satisfy the rotor
merS of this day. That could be applied only in
the House after subject had been fully discussed
in committee of the whole. To expedite the repo-
luton which this extra session was called TO ac-
compsh, it seems TO have been thought necessary to
stop debate in committee Of the whoie also. To
this end two expedients have been restored to-
FIRST, the adoption of new rule by which it is
provided, that no member shall speak more than
one hour IN committee on any one bill. The effect
OF ihls Is to stop members in the midst of their
speeches, though not half through their arguments.
TO expose fully and clearly in one hour, the prn-
ciples and effects of the measures now before Con-
gress, is as impossible as it is for man to make
world.
Secondly, the passage Of resolution in the
House directing that debate on any given subject
before the committee of the whole, shall cease al-
together at fixed hour. When that houi arrives.
no member is permitted 10 say word more in the
way of debate. Amendments may be offered, but
cannot be discussed Members cannot give their
reasons for voting for or against any particular
proposition. The minority neither explain their
own amendments nor show the delormy of those
offered by the majority. The consequence is, that
an essential part of the business of the House is
done withOm the least discussion or deliberation.
Propositions of as vital Importance as the bills
themselves, are offered by the way of amendment
after The hour of silence has arrired, and voted on
instantly.
But this is not all. The majority do not permit
The minority 10 hare their amendments entered on
the Journal
The triple gag now in use operates as follows:
| bill is taken up for discussion in committee of
the whole House. Any member who eau get the
floor, Tor rather the decision of the Speaker that no
is entitled TO it,) is permitted to speak Just one
hour and no more.
After discussion ola few hours, some whig
member moves resolution in the House, requir-
ing that the debate in committee of the wholc, shall
cease at certain hour calls the previous question
and the resolution is Immediately adopted.
So eager are members to speak, that no oppor-
tunily is allowed for offering amendments until the
hour of silence arrives.
The amendments offered by the majority are
then adopted, and those offered by the minority
generally rejected,
The bill Is then reported to the House.
Some wing member who is generally, if not al
ways, fortunate enough to be in the eye of the
Speaker jumps up, as soon as the report is read
and moves the previous question, and the majority
sustain him.
This not only prevents all debate in the House,
but excludes from being offered, and consequently
from being entered on The Journal, every amend
men which was rejected in committee ofthe whole!
This is WING REFORM!!
Under this operation, no member can speak
more than an hour upon the main subject, however
comprehensive and important, and scarcely one in
| ten tan GET a chance 10 speak at all!
| Al. IL
than the main subject ITSELF no debate trhaierer is
practicable; nor are the minority after being thus
THOROUGHLY GAGGED, permitted eren 10
hare their rejected amendments entered on the
JourRaH
The men who worse than wasted days, ueeks
and months in slanderng the last administration
under the shield of legislative privilege, will now
scarcely allow debate Of tcenty-fonr hours on
measures affecting the vital interests, if not the
personal liberty, Of every man in the country
So low have they sunk the House in public esti-
nation by their own iactious wranging, that they
now expect the country to sustain them in rushing
to the other extreme. They take advantage Of
their own wrong to gag their adversares, while they
impose debts, banks, and taxation on a country
taken by surprise, relying upon the strength which
the command Of money and men, and the reorgan-
iznlon Of the money power in connection with the
i
of the people and perpeluate their usurpaiions and
their power
1t appropriate that this TYRLN:aR Y should
come from House in vhich tteo States are
mhOVy uarepresentea, and four millions of our
people hare not their just constitutional freight
Those who are conscious of the injustice they
are nhcting, are always the most thorough-going
iyranis.
The House of Representatives has virtually
ceased TO be deiiJeratire body. 1t registers the
deceased of a secret caucus as subsequently and
almost as quietly as the Parliament of Paris did the
edicts of Louis XIV.
The Senate is now the only body in the Gov
eminent which is really delibera,i,e. There LIB
ERTY is making noble stand. Will not her
voice, raised by an unterifed minority there, be
echoed BY the Virginian whom "God and his coun-
Try" have placed at the other end ofthc Avenuc'
We hope so-we believe so.-RendaUS En-
pot.Or..
SOMETHING. WORTH KNOWING.