The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20
former period Of their history. In the name Of
God and Humanity, how long shall these things
PROCEEDINGS In THE HOUSE.

Ii is impossible to convey to those Mt a distance
true idea of the state of things in the House of
Representatives during the last week. 1t con-
tains majority of at least forty in favor Of the
admission Of the new State of California, as q
separate measure, but their will is baflled by par
iamentary expedents. In fact One-third Of the
members, by the aid of rules made for the pro
lection Of the rights Of minorities and the pre-
vention of haste in legislation is enabled TO vio-
late the rights of the other twO-hirds and prevent
any legislation at all There is no way provided
by the rules Of the House, of extricating itself
from this condition of anarchy. 1t can be termi-
mated only by the submission of the majority and
the triumph of faction, or by force If Force be
resorted to, there is an end of our present form
Of Republican Government The Constitution
is superseded by the sword; the country is at
once plunged into q revolution II Faction tri-
umph over the majority the freedom OF Congress
is gone the vital principle Of a democratic rep
resentative government, that the majority should
rule, is repudiated the Peoples representatives
no longer OK gislate in obedience to the will OF
their constituents, unless allowed TO do so by a
few men who, taking advantage Of parliamentary
rules, may exercise complete veto upon all legis-
lation. In short, the National Legislature be-
comes the mere tool of faction, which will govern
the country as absolutely as a despot who should
require legislation to be the mere transcript of
his will.
The mode of procedure now attempted by
| o. L. hoo fafa cd w
are sorry to say has. been recommended by politi-
cal presses at the South usually distinguished for
their moderation and fairness. They proceed on
the assumption that, by preventing action upon
the Appropriation bills, or any measure OF gene
raj importance, and by obstructing any proceed
ing on the Slavery question till the demands OF
the South be complied with, the minority will be
able to compel the North to submit-for, say
they. the Northern People will yield sooner than
have the wheels of Government stop. Is it fact,
then, that the Northern People have more patri-
Itns more nationality, than the. S"~bsSN 3
That they feel . -dseDer concern e. the honor
and good faith Of the Government, and the repu-
tation of the Nation abroad, than the Southern
Is it nothing to the Southern People, and every
thing to the Northern, that the Government
should cease practically to exist !? These jour
nails pay very poor compliment to their own sec
ton.
Suppose the North, sooner than see the cause
of Republicansm disgraced by the cessation of
Government, should yield to the demand Of Fac
ton, what lesson to future malcontents, who
may choose upon any other question to array
themselves in actual rebellion against the MAORI.
ty of the People! If forty men may block legis-
lation on one question: the same number may on
another The members of the minority that &C
complishes this year its unhallowed object by
an abuse of the privileges secured to it by the
rules of the House, may suffer next year vital
detriment from similar abuse by another mi
nority.
Besides, they will gain nothing by such con-
duct The American People are practical, rea-
sonable people. They will recognise the right
of minority to resist the action Of majority by
arguments and votes, and by so using parliament
airy expedients as TO delay action and secure time
for due deliberation but they will brand as fac
tiOus, dsorgsnizing, and revolutionary, such a
use of these expedents as shall be manifestly in
tended to coerce a majority into absolute submis-
sion to a minority. The cause that is attempted
to be sustained by such policy must suffer in
the public Judgment
People win naturally begin to calo~i@te tha
value of q Government whose powers are sought
TO be controlled by Sectional Interest What,
they will ask, is the use of a Union, under which
no national want can be satisfied, till the demands
of Slavery be complied WITH Why send repre-
sentatives to the Federal Legislature, if they 60
there merely to register the edicts of the Slave
Power2 How is q Democratic Representative
Government to be maintained by Union Of
States, if the will of the majority, fairly ex-
pressed in constitutional FORMS is to be thwarted
by the factious opposition of o minority who will
bankrupt the Government sooner than yield their
views of policy2
For ourselves, we have no hesitation in saying,
that if this policy of Obstruction, as it is called
is to become usage whenever any question in
volving sectional considerations is concerned the
sooner the different sections of the country dis
solve federal connection with each other the
better for ALL Union is worth nothing, If one
interest is to possess veto oil other interests
if the minority is to be suffered to impose an alb
solute check upon the majority. A necessity
which should justify this would justify revolu-