The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-22

The right OF spectators in the gallery Of the Sem
ate or lower house 70 applaud a speech, involves
decorum and propriety which should be promptly
rebuked and put down by the presiding officers.
II 10 than breach OF decorum; il is danger
Gus to the freedom OF debate, and may lead TO riot
and disorder, to quarrel and STRIFE and TO violence
aud bloodshed. Congress is not public and pro-
mscuous assembagc of persons, an electonecfing
shamble, or political husting, where partisans
may meet and applaud and cheer their eide of the
question, or hiss, prescribe, denounce their op-
ponents- And yet it will come 10 that unless
lncipient steps are taken TO prevent such manfes-
tauons the moment they are made. Nothing
should be allowed to disturb the solernntv die
ny' ana proPriety OF the proceedings Of the great
representative power Of the nation. Admit the
people to hear the Debates and sit with closed doors
Is seldom as possible; but spectators in either
House should observe a silence equally as solemn
as in place of worship-for tho proceedings are
sanctned by prayer--or in court of justice,
where the dignity of the bench is not to be over
awed by popular claInor. This course is particu-
larly cxpedient and proper in popular govern
ment, where precedent to-day becomes doctrine
tomorrow; where the people may not exactly un-
derstand the limits of their own rights, and may
unintentionally exceed the bounds of safety and
decorum, particularly in times of excitement
Suppose, for example, that u fanatic Abolitionist
is determined to make exciting or reasonable
speech on the subject of slavery; he has only to
NOTIFY chosen band OF cotemporancous lunatics to
assemble in the galleries and cheer and applaud
his rabid emanations; and this, if not put down
promptly, goes forth TO the world as "publc opin-
ipn. go, also, some radically disposed member
may mold forth on tho necessity Of a separation OF
the Union, and he also may have his clacquers--
those who applaud and cheer him on.
we can imagine nothing more dangerous to the
liberties Of the country and to the current of orderly
ana just Legislation, than to find Congress over
awcd by hired bules braves in the galleries.
We have only to cast our eyes back ON the scenes
OF i'93 in the national convention Of France, to
now revolutionary and excited mob could take
charge OF the chamber and direct the Of legs
lation to bloody issues; how fellows with red caps
took their seats in the presidents chair and the
benches of ministers how fish women, chiffoniers,
and the lowest cast of characters, armed to the
teeth, marched into the hall, and at one time,
placing the head Of distinguished member on the
desk of the president, gave way to cries of blood
and vengeance. But it may be said, do not COM
pare our law and order people to such fures Ger
tainly not; but this was all done in the name OF
the republic, and the engaged in it were "radi-
cal democrats" and the origin was clapping,
hooting, applauding, and Kissing, in the galleries.
One of the approaches to this tepf things receiv
ing reasonable petitions under the finsy plea Of
sustaining the right of petitiona right just as tan
gible as that of senator biting off the nose or
ear of his neighbor.
All this ought to be repudiatcd and rejected. and
solemn stiffness, order, and dccorum insisted upon
in both houses; and every disturber of the peace
should be brought before the bar and properly dealt
with.--Noahs Sunday Times.