Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-04-25
CONGRESSIONAL DECORUM.

The present session of Congress has been re-
markable for restitution of the first elements of
well regulated body-order and decorum. This
remark is applicable equally to the Senate and
the House; but more applicable to the Senate
than the House. The opening scene in the House
was a disordery And while the Senate
opened more orderly, it has advanced towards its
close with less order. This is to be regretted.
but 1t is the fact. And a fact which will not and
cannot produce favorable impression ,4on the
people of the country, and which will not elevate
the character of the nation abroad.
The recent Infringement upon the laws Of de-
corum, made in the United States Senate, by
MeSsrs. Foote and Benton, is not only action des-
ttute ofcourtesy and good order, but is conduct
highly censurable, and disgraceful in the greatest
degree. We expect, very naturally, that legs-
lative body proceed calmly and deliberately
The laws which they have adopted for their own
regulation, we have been accustomed to see OBJ
served. In fact, if legislative body dispises and
disregards its own laws, they rob of their moral
force the laws which it makes. If the members
of a legislative body are unres.raned by their own
laws, they need not expect that the people will
respect the laws which they make. Intelligent
men will not submit to such gross infringements
upon the rules of proprety and good order They
will neither respect the men who make them,
nor will they value the work Of such. This is
the effect upon the country
/ Other nations have appreciation enough to adj
mre our form of government. And what is most
remarkable in the operations of our government.
is ITS peculiar power of maintaining good ORDER
The ma ority triumphsi it enacts laws of its own
choice and laws to which minority is opposed.
Yet the minority submits The war of opinion Of
ten RACES very high, and the greatest excitement
prevails during the contest for the ascendency.-
But when the advocates of an opinion have pre-
vailed, the friends of measure have gained the
ascendency, the excitement dies away. The la
is made, il goes into operations; and being made
a law, it becomes the law of the entire nation. 60
ing into operation, it operates over the whole ma
ton. There is no revolt, no insurection; but all
is submission and acquiescence. BY this course
of conduct, the American people have become
proverbal for their love of order; and have secur-
ed for their form of government, the admiration
of all the nations of the earth.
The tendency of the recent conduct of Sena-
tors is to counteract these good impressions. The
American Senate is pursuing acouIse of conduct,
which is directly opposed to the law. The rules
and regulations of the Senate, condemn this con-
duct. And they not only condemn it, but have
been instituted to prevent it. And if the grave,
dignlfied and learned Senators of the nation, dis
respect law, the nations of the old continent cam
not, will not expect its observance upon the part
of the rabble. This manifest dsrespect of law
VIII DC regarded as sign Oh ueSeherdcy' Anu
the disrespect will receive additional force from
its character. A fight in the United States Sem
ate, during lis deliberations. A fight? No, not
fight. But bullying and threatenngs. pre-
tended show of the disposition TO fight, and an ac-
tual exhibition of cowardice. One Senator adj
vances towards another, with angry air and hos
tile gestures. This other, who has come into the
Senate armed, draws revolver, which he per-
mits TO be knocked out of his hand, before he
fires. They strike not blow, but sit calmly
down with nothing but the hideous frown of the
angry man to tell of the transporting of the dis
graceful scene. Such conduct would not have
been tolerated in gcnteel oyster cellar. And
yet we see it in the American Senate.
The lime is also unfortunate. Northern aboll-
tionsts and Southern fanatics, in their struggle,
each for the ascendencv Gifts clique have threat
ened the existence Of tic Union. The American