Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-14

l.,
How, then, il be said with any propriety, ,na'
these resolutions are III any sense The same, we'' o
was for suspension Of the rules the other was !" en-
force rule existing: One required vote OF Two
thirds Of the members carry IL, the other mere
majority: one IN fact, made TO defeat the opera
non of The other and to overthrow that protection 10
,he mnnriiv the other secured On the great point !"
which we objected, the two resolutions, INSTEAD OF be-
mo similar are III reality antag"nsilcal.
And look, too, gentlemen, 10 the circumstances,
under which these resolutions were introduced con-
tanning us they do, most vivid exempt caon OF Their
operation and principles. The independent lreasu'
~ bil-ior the purpose oi drawing winch out OF 'hf
Committee of the Whole Mr.. Clifford introduced
his resolution 10 suspend The ruies-had heen u'oe
debate one month and five days, consecutvely; ana
the resolution proposed to allow three more days ior
continued debate. Scores Of speeches had been oe
vered OH i; and by a computation MADE ny h.'h
Der then on the iloor two-thirds Of The time taken
up in the debate had been consumed by The m'no
rity opposed 10 the bill. IL was this TAR scope "f
free debate-lhe ample time and liberal indulgence
given TO the minority TO express their ophions' wa"
doubtless nue those members OF " VINO Joiheu 'e
majority in suspending the rules 10 orng the ueoa'e
10 close Now turn 10 the circumstances nnuer whch
the resolution on The Fiscal Bank bill was introduced
.st SATURDAY The amendment which the bill on
which we were to VOTE containing thirty eiglt pages,
had been introduced into the House but the day be-
fore The BILL yet wet from the press, is on our Ia
bles and it is gravey proposed to take It out oil the
mass il. The excitement this proposition obviously
produced in the House, induced the mover, presume,
as spna specimen OF Wing generosity, to give one
dov lonoer; and he changed it 10 A o'clock on the
Monday ensuing The Independent Treasury bill
contained very lrlng appropriation OF money for
erecting safes vaults &c; but this bill established
mighty corporation, and contained an approprla
tion of fifteen millions of dollars And mark how
beneficai To the minority was the few hours allotted
for discussing this gigantic measure, striking at the
first principles OF the Constitution, and penetrating
every corner of the land. Not a Democrat was able
10 utter one word in the deba,e-not one could oh.
tain the floor. The whole debate, short as II was and
worthless as the opportunity, fell entirely from
the lips Of the majority. Who w.l say, under such
circumstances, even If the principles on which onh
rested the same, that those who voted Tor MT
Cliffurds resolution, stand on the same platform win
those who voted Tor the resolution OF Saturday: Irac-
tically, under the former resolution, iere was ifee
almost licentlous debate. Under the latter, practical
w. there was ciiecual gag to the minority. Nei
Their in operation, circumstances, nor prlhciPie men,
can they with any proprety, be sad to be the same
Under The rule adopted by this Congress- the ancient
security en,oycd BY minority to the right OF Tree de-
bate in COMMITTEE Of the Whole, IS taken away-
They have no riuht in the matter. They speak but
nv the permission OF majority: and permission gives
no rirli When majority even OF one only, says b
they may speak and VIXEN II orders otherwise, they
must 10 dumb. The enforcement OF this rule Ill tins
case j, magistrates that if majority chooses. they
NAV pass any measure through the House VI Repre-
sentatves without one word OF debate being uttered
concerning IT, IL allowed but six days, (and IT may
as we'll on great measure, have allowed not onr,
to discuss the Distribution bill, which had never be-
fore been considered in r House, and which disposed
of hundreds of millions OF the peoples property. IL
allowed but FIVE days for the consideration Of the Loan
bill borrowing twelve millions of dollars ii al
lowed bu, one week for the despatch Of the first Bank
BILL sent by the Senate where II was considered one
month. If such legislation consistent with orr
form Of Government 1t would be sufficient 10 turn away
all nations from III disgust and contempt. Against
such legislation we have demonstrated. Against such
tyranny by majority. az one Of the minority, have
protested.
In one Of the grounds Of the protes, made against
this rule maintained that IL twas right in the peo-
pie oi the IT, s. inherited from their ancestors, and
loved and prac,ised time mmrnoria,, 10 speak through
their representatives 10 the taxes imposed upon them "
The manner in which this right Was enjoyed was, by
referring a.l bills, laying taxes appropriang money,
to the Committee ofthc Whole; that IS, the whole House
resolves itself into committee The advantage is IN
the privileges Of this committee. There The previous
question uhe,orm.oi cutting off all further debacl does
not apply. free conference takes place. and debate
unlimited and unrestricted On the great aud vital
subject Of taxes and the appropriation OF theta is not
presumed that there can b. too much elaboration or
considerations and these who 10 pav the taxes The
people, have the rish, freely IL discuss The manner and
the extent which they snail be laid, and the purposes
to which they shall be applied. Permit me briefly 10
show the origin and na;ire o. tbs great principle o An
glo-Amer;can liberty.
On the 18th Of February, 1867, coeva with the es.
tablishment Of l.iner'v III England hy the Revolution
Of l66S, by which James the Second, expelled
from the throne, the Commons Of England resolved
Ta any lie made the House fer public
ought pic>"tly entered upon adjourned mi,
further iay rar House shall iink lit To apicii
their "a"S e ported i.ie,ro before any resolution
Of the Hons. 10 pas ii,Taii
Upwards Of . century afterwards, in l7-!, Mr.. Hat.
sell, IN his Parliamentary Precedens, commenting
on this rule observes.
1h- I,s. Il Commons .aye. great wisdom imposed
these rules aud uon themselves III the exercise
that cea, aud important privilege the sole aud exclusive rrh
of granting aus and supplies !" the Crown IN order a
their dn'y when ry are imposing burdens upon their fellow
Ina, they ma. no 4, sudden and ay votes.
pen>cs hr induced approve Of which might
teriy II Is upon ,iS principle that long the
1867, the ilou lad da"n for rule that poo,
ton for an aid or chars, upon the people should be presently
rhat h. this means dur and sufficient notice Of the subject
should be given, aud that the mchc should he surprised
into vote, hut might prepared 10 suggest
which the Importance nf The question demand. Another
of the nrdcrthat such propositions shall their
first discussion ~ Committee Of hs Hhe HauSsis s
and prudent 7her' frrry member pt"k a hr .
necessary and is confined ia delivering his
rules which I" BE- observed when speakn. tie House:
which III matters nj account and comnaton wuud he
Is and womb necessarily deprive iioa.r az
much real aud useful information. This mode az proceeding
likewise gives Opportunity Of further and d.
brarion, when the resolutions Of The cporcd
which The House either ne, only dsagee ht &c
they are Of niinnn that the subject has been sufficient,
canvasscd they the whole part l!c re-
port, Tor the purpose "i reoci,In.
more narrowly ininr. into The rNr.l.mcy Of lie
proposed measure For these the
February! ' as e'n particularly late g,arS, rory srcg
tsrsd 10; and appears 10 tc Of
its foundation IA prudence, ami o the
people, "n! I" e, IN all Instances, nviuabiy observed"
Here Is the origin Of this erea, rule, with the rea
sons Tor lis exercise and in the British
Parliament - he present day. And beg you TO re-
mark, tha :n>''ad Of lis being relaxed in admins
lration II has been, according TO the testimony of Mr.
Ha,se, Ps,te"0'iy Of inte yc0rs, rery strictly ad-
hertdto The reason rs obvious. In proportion rs the
British Government has become more free and The IN
terests of the people regarded in its legislation
in the proportion has this great principle Of Par
liameh,ary law, introduced by the people for their
protection aud selfgovernmeni, been more sacrcdy
observed. 1t has become sanctioned BY usage and
haowrd int" great principle Of liberty and if any
Premier or King Of England, at the present day
should +nrr violate it 10 half the extent tins
Cong'.s' las Witnessed it would produce a revou
ton i.na! as that Of 1905 Nor has II been con-
fined "!"n" 10 bills Of supply. "The speech, mes
sag"s, md other matters Of great concerninrnt are
a ~.