Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-13

RICHMOND, Va, TUESDAY,, july Is, 1911.
1iil. GAG.

isiSifiio4'b' ~, TUESDAY, july 13, 1871.
the GAG
me majority IN The H. Of Il. are applying the mos,
ntoleraole and understandable Gags to the Minority
that ever were imposed under similar circumstances -
Never was there more important era in orr LepsIa
tive annals-Sever were more momcntous chanoes pre-
jected by predominant parly-Neyer were such dar
ing efforts made To change the whole character of our
Institutions Never, of course, it more necessary
10 survey every step that is taken TO discuss every
measure; TO debate every proposton-to throw open
the whole field for consideration and discussion And
yet IT IS precisely Mt this moment that arrogant Par
ty abusing their success and traInpling upon the
norlty, have introduced new rules, which are cacu-
lated IN the most important degree to feer the free
dem and limit the scope of debate. In the lst place,
resolution has been adopted, TO limit every speech
10 one hour, when the ivory hammer OF the peaker
knocks down every orator, as If with the fiat OF
the anctloneer In the second place, another rule
has been adopted by which bill is not 10 be discuss
cd than SIR days in Com oil The Whole; and then,
when the bill brought hack into the House. the
of the previous question is In be applied There is no
for such an outrage the conduct of the minor-
~ speakers. They have manifested no disposition TO
spin out the tlme or abuse the patience, of tie House.
For, hear what decided enemy of the Republican
Party, the Washington Correspondent Of the ~ Y
Courier ~. w Webbs paper) says of the conduct OF
the Republican members:
"WAsHIsGToS, July 3.
"Ihe discussion again resumed Several speech
were Dotn SIDES from none oil when can
thing be extracted of especial interest. There was
some talk OF an attempt to take the question tonight,
but from the first regarded il unjust and in point
Of fact, ridiculous The Chairman of the Committee
| on Public Lands introduced this bill tn speech run
ntng through great part Of icO dayS. Since then
nave had only TOUR Parliamentary days, and there are
many members on both sides yet anxious to express
their sentiments, and wis 0ugdt to have the opportun
ty of doing do not think tha: anything is 10 be
gained by violent application Of the screws. II Gre
atcs III Blood and It drives TO that most irritating
OF all resorts talking against time. do not know that
exhibitions yet 10 come but this will say-that
from the very moment Of the final organization OF the
House, The mtnoray hare trhLittd rOurtcous aRd
dfrty maanr and course Of proceeding irhich hare
nerer Scen surpassed, and for whieh Mry nGded 10
all credit The remark is especially applicable TO
the discussion on this Bill. la two Instances
only have gentlemen wandered from the line Of
debate and on being called TO order by the Chairman,
they have courteously acquesced in his decision, and
returned 10 the track prescribed by the rules. So
nesty true !: this, that man who has been listen
or TO the debates fail TO have It. Equally true
il is, that from the very commencement Of This Con-
gress, the tedious gabbers have been the Wings. Two
weeks ago ar opposition member made the charge, and
il instantly sustained by John {. Clarke in spi-
rted appeal, which, Tor the time being at least ef
icctivc. Ii will be time enough resort 10 these
sures of compulsion which the Wings themselves have
thousand times literally denounced, when il shall
appear that there any deliberate design the part OF
the minority 10 stare II action. To the present
not the remo,es indication Of such design has been
observable. And have always taken the ground, az
do now, that all troubles the commencement Of
The session, had their origin in the neverending garru
lily of two or three men who protested themselves TO be-
but reality not the reat friends Of Wing ascend
daney and Wing principles
The BILL to which the Courier Correspondent refers,
is Mr. w Cost Johnson s Distribution Bill The screws
,rere put the passage Of this BILL and it forced
through the House, by only majority oeSseyeral Of
tho Wings, called voting mantully against -tIrce
of the Democrats being absent at the lmeand Mis-
sissppi and Illinois being totally unrepresented. ndcr
such circumstances, was il decent 10 force bill
through III such mad haste, and with such outrageous
Grspo,sf, II IS bill Of the utmost Importance. 1t
changes the entire appropriation OF the proceeds OF Tie
public lands. 1t dverts every cent Of three or four
millions from the Federal Treasury into the Golfers OF
the States, at the very moment when the Government
is said 10 be in debt and they have loan bill before
them to originate funded debt. THIS bill too wall
throw upon the Congress The necessity OF aug
men,tag the Tariff from three 10 four millions.
Was il decent % clap the gag upon the Opposition,
on 50 important measured Is it possible that the Sc
nate Of the l.. : can sanction such bill: Can The
acting President .ign IL Already we hear from Wash
inrlon some doubts expressed, whether he 1rit, and
rnn sign bill, which strips the public Treasury Of the
millions Of which il may stand constantly in need
IT he does not veto IL then will he have forgotten The
firm and luminous objections which he urged against
the Bonus Bal OF l.l7 in the Address 10 his censtl
tuents which recently quoted III this paper.
Where are the majority 10 stop in their calling ca
rcer: The manner in which they are nop abusing
their power is the most odous desposm BY the force
OF the six hours debate, the one hours Speech and
the previous question, they will deny The minority the
freedom of discussion and even the privilege Of COM
plant Such inlo!erable oppression must re act upon
the heads of its authors /
Measures so dangerous in their consequences, and
consummated by such gag laws, cannot receive the
cheerful acquescence of the People "RErEAL's the
cord with every Republican