The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-04-26
Public Outrage In the Legislative Halls Of
Congress.

The legislative halls of Congress have
been again desecrated by brawl and fight among
the members. The whole proceeding was as dis
graceful the enemies of our free systems of go.
vernment could desire. According to the state
ment OF the proceedings in the public Journals it
appears the subject OF debate in the house was the
tariff bill. Mr.. White, who had the floor, OBJ
served, IN reply to Mr.. Rathbun, in relation to
what Mr. Rathbun said he could prove, that il he
could prove bargain between Mr.. Adams and
Mr. Clay, in the year 1925, he would prove a
damned lie" Mr. Rathbun said, ''do you intend
to apply the lie to me personality" To which Mr.
White replied, " do, God damn you" By the
time these words were out of his mouth, each had
aimed blow at the other The members sur
rounded the combatanls, and cned, let them fight
II out" man by the name of Moore, from Ken
tncky, interfered, and attempted to turn out of
doors, the Sergeant-at-arms, who was endeavoring
to separate the combatants. In the melee he fired
his pistol, and wounded severely one of the police
in the thigh. The wounded man was taken away,
and the fight terminated, and peace was again gra.
dually restored But this was not all. AS an APP
propriate farce to this melo DRAMA the two honor
able personages, who had called each other liars,
and struck each other with their clenched hands,
made speeches to the House, confessed their folly,
shook hands, and swore brothers ever after-a OF
which was duly sanctioned by the House, and then
the business of legislation went on usual.
To the patriot and lover of his country
and its free systems of government, these
things are most humatng they deeply wound
his national pride, and lessen his attachment to
free institutions of government, when he sees them
run into RIGHTEOUSNESS. These horrid outbreaks
have been common in our Southern and Western
borders. We have been comparatively free from
them until recently, but they seem to be spreading
North and East over our land, and threaten us
with riots tumults, and disorders in our courts of
Justice in our temples of religion, and in our halls
OF legislation! All! how Notifying and degra-
ding is it to the American patriot, and to the true
friend of his country, to witness these things. These
evil things spread abroad, and are magnfed they
soon find their way into the journals of Europe,
with comments unfaverable to our private and po-
litica morals. The monarchists of Europe feed
upon them with the avidity of the hungry man up
on his favorite food. The honor and dignity of
our government has been materially affected by
these frequent outrages, RIOTS disorders, and tu-
muts in country, in the different States of Eu-
rope, and, indeed. all over the world. The licen-
tiousness of liberty is the greatest danger eur free
governments have to fear. Every good man, and
true patriot, must feel anxious to do every thing
he can to lessen this evil, and diminish, if he can
not destroy, this disposition to turbulence and dis
order so rife among U.S. Every well wisher of his
country will naturally ask himself what is the re-
medy for these great and growing evils?
How can we protect the free institutions of our
country from violence and disorder? We will
endeavor to make some suggestions that we hope
may have beneficial tendency to preserve our
halls of legislation and our temples of Justice from
dissertation.
In the first place, If we wish to preserve our liber-
ties, and enjoy the blessings of our free govern
ments, to our latest posierty, we must send the
schoolmaster abroad and keep him abroad. We
mean this, in the largest sense. When we say the
" schoolmaster, we mean the intellectual, moral
and religious instructor We mean the use Of all
those modern means, to reform the heart and i'm
prove the mind that has been adopted and applied
with much success in many parts of our country.
We look upon the Sunday school teacher as one of
the most powerful instrumentalities of the age in
which we live, for the incubation of good sound
wholesome, moral principles and virtuous affec-
tons We have common, district and private
schools, where elementary knowledge is i'm
parted to the rising generation. They may
be termed the pillars which support our re-
publican edlfice They are, indeed, the sheet
anchors to preserve our vessel of State from
laundering upon the rocks. Knowledge among the
people is essential to the permanently of free govern
ments This truth is as common among them as
the common maxim that " honesty is the best po-
Icy" Still, however, this is not enough, prtue is
essential to the permanency of free governments
The experience of the world, as stated in history
proves this truth to be equally important with
knowledge, in maintaining and sustaining free sys
tens. The Sunday school teacher, the moral and
religious instructor, are, therefore important preser
vatlve instruments in our social and political sys
TENS. If these are abroad, a"d kept abroad, we
may safely rely upon the good conduct of our PEG
pie, and the permanency of our free institutions
Without them, riot, tumult and disorder, will pre-.
vail, until we approach state of anarchy which
lnfaEbly ends in tyranny and despotsm. We hal
these silent and unobtrusive instruments of our So
cial and political welfare with notes of Joy ant
gladness, and with the warmest sentiments of gra
tude for the good they impart to the rising genera
ton. The Sunday school teacher the moral and
religious instructors, we consider as sentinels tc
us. May they multiply and increase beyond the
growth of our population, until all the dark places in
our country shall receive the light of knowledge
and moral virtue
There is still however, in the second place ,anothe
means of allaylng this great evil In our country t.
which we wish to direct the attention of the pub
lie. 1t is the abuse of the eectipe franchise. w,
think great improvement might be made in TIT
exercise and application of this important right.
is, indeed, one of the greatest and most responsible,
privileges that freeman enjoys, and its abuse o
neglect cannot but be followed by the most lament
able consequences. Our government is republic
and we live under the reest Institutions on the face
of the earth. All we have to do to secure t.
ourselves the enjoyment of the greatest blessing
that government can besow, Is to carry out in the
true spirit, the principles of our free institutions
No one among us finds fault with our system of go