Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-12-29
WHOLE NUMBER l35,
Ohio LEGISLATURE.


mend the rules o. the. Senate in relation to.
the reading OF papers. The rule offered
llby Mir Lewis as an amendmnnt to the rules
I u the Senate, provides, that, "When The
freading OF paper is called for, and the
safpe is objected 10 by any member, it shall
De determined by the vote of the Senete.'.
7 Mr. Olds opposed the udoption Of the rule.
1 X uses, were not made 10 govern q majority
80 much as to protect the minority in their,
sIIgGts liafopted, theemajorify
prevent the minority Trorrf vrisz5 r.iry pct
per read, upon which Senators were called
upon to vote.
MI Lewis said that the rule as proposed
was adopted and made part Of the standing
rules OF the House Of Representatives Ia
! Congress, and was very similar TO stand
ing rule III the Senate Of the United States
Mr. l.. read from the journal to show that
similar course had been pursued two years
ago in the Senate. While lie was willing
to admit that the rule might act oppressive.
y upon the minority, yet he thought rules
were made for the protection olthe major.
ity as well as Of The minority.
A motion to refer 10 the judiciary com.
mittee was lost by q party vote-yeas IT
nays 10.
Tho Question then being on the adop.
ton OF the rule.
MIR. Recmelin said that it had been
matter of congratulaton, not only by the
members Of the Senate, but also by The
members of the House of Representatives,
that ,hus far, the utmost parliamentary
comfy, and the most friendly intercourse
had prevailed between the two opposite por.
tions Of the General Assembly. That com.
ty and friendly feeling had been only once
broken into, when the majority, in viola
ton Of usage universally followed, had
attempted to smugg e 10 q committee re.
port made to the Legislature Of Ohio, in
stead Of laying the same on the table and
printing it. / hat unusual and discourte.
Gus proceeding, discouorteous not only to
the members Of the Senate, but doubly so TO
the House Of Representatives, for which
the report was intended as we'll as for tho
Senate, had produced, as was to be expect.
ed, good deal Of unfriendly feeling, and
in addition tho assertion of the reserved
rights Of members to insist upon the read.
ing of the report. That reading had con.
sumed good deal Of the time OF the Sen.
ate-aside from the discussion that took
place in consequence, all Of which arose
from violating an honest, good old practice,
to lay upon the table and print the reports
made to the General Assembly, by tha,
body to whom, when as there was but one
copy, it was sent.
Bat that was not the only injury arising
from the unusual and false course of tho
majority. Far deeper injury resulted to
those whom that course was intended to
shield. Treasurer Whitehill would find
that the bilterest enemies to his official ard
private reputation, were his pretended
friends in the Legislature. The obvious
hesl,ancy of the wings here, in laying the
report OF the investigating commissioners
before the public, and the strong efforts
made to keep it from the House of Repre-.
|senlatives, and to get it to q committee, had
already given the report far more impor-
tance than it ever would have receiyed1 f it
had been permitted to pass through ts reg
ular course. And Mr. w hitehll would find
that the tyranncal factions, and in addition,
foolish course Of his pretended friends, had
given public opinion direction which all
their efforts would never change. The
public will now take it for granted that Mr.
Whitehl's honesty is impeached in the re-
port, and many who will never see the re-
ing the wings taking such unusual precau
ton to protect that officer.
And this impression would receive add.
tionai confirmation when it is seen, that the
refusal TO print is followed bya rule plac.
ing it in the power Of the majority to re.
fuse even to have it read. People will
take it for granted, that such active zeal to
keep the mutter dark, must have some rea-
son. Fraud has ever had tyranny as its
hand maid, and such tyranny rs is propos-
ed in the rule before US, cannot be intend
ed (people will say,) for an honest purpose.
Some one had suggested that this rule
was intended Is salyo to the feelings Of
those who, few days ago, were SO shame
fully beaten, when appealing from an hon.
est decision of the Speaker. The mover
Of the rule was one of the disappointed, and
his friends would no doubt vote for the rule,
to save his wounded feelings
Blu: tho real intention Of the new rule
was, to hold it as rod over members, and
to curb restless minority. Now, said
MIR. X, il that is your object, it will entire-
ly fail, rs all similar measures have inva.
riably fniled, whsn adopted. AL tyranny
oegets resistance, and all shackles do but
chale the spirit Of him whom they were
intended to bind.
We came here to be on friendly terms
with our opponents. we were willing that
political aninosites should be hushed for
season; but if you invite war, you shall
have it to the knile,-if you desire strife
you shall have enough of it. We know
our rights, and, rules or no rules, we will
have them. The majority then can choose,
they may have continuance of good
teeling,-but ifthey will attempt to curb
US, and to lie US down with tyrannical rules,
they will find that even apparently strip
ped fall power by your rules, minority
can assert and maintain their rights at all
hazards.
Mr. Backus said that the rule was not
intended TO curb the minority more than
the majority. He had heard Senator,
not on the opposite side of the House, u.s.
sert that he intended to call for the reading
OF every petition and paper presented 10 tae