The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-17

great questions and for enforcing by its Legitimate
authority prompt action upon them, II Is clearly
necessary that each member should have the right
to demand the previous question on his resolution,
and that a majority of the House should have q
right to second his decision. Without it, no reso-
luton in favor Of cheap postage. for example, or
instructng the Committee on the Post Office to
report cheap postage bill, could ever be passed.
Without II, no resolution touching Slavery could
be entertained. Mr.. Roots resolution at the last
session, which obliged the Committee on the Ter
ritories to report the Wilmot Proviso, was forced
through under the operation Of the Previous
Question Mr. Colts resolution against the slave
trade would not have been listened to for q mo-
ment. but for that usage Especially is it Deces-
gary, when minority Speaker, elected on the
strength of some sectional interest, has SO con-
stituted the Committees Of the House as to give
that interest undue predominance over all others.
This rule and the usage which "has become a
part of it," furnish then most important mode
by which the majority can assert its rights and
interests
We wish the reader to observe particularly the
statement that, when a resolution goes over, and
"gets on the calendar, nerer heard Of again ;" SO
that all the opponents of a resolution have TO do
! is to vote to refuse the Previous Question and
the resolution "would fan aH-bon-perish in
parturition" This is true-and in the light OF
this statement let the People read the conduct Of
Mr. Vinton and some other leading Wings in
voting against the Previous Question on Colts
resolution against the Slave TrSde--and by the
same light, let them hereafter read the conduct
of every man from the free States who shall vote
against the Previous Question ON any such reso-
lution-that vote viii be a pote TO Kill tie resolu-
ton.
The Republic proceeds in the rest Of its article
to illustrate its positions and statements by re-
view of the proceedings on Colts resolution
After naming the Democrats from the slave States
who voted for the Previous Question on the reso-
luton, it continues
"The Democrats from the slave States who re-
fused to sacrifice their integrity or to join the
Giddings phalanx against the peace of the Union
were, from Virginia, Messrs Bocock and Nc
! Dowell from North Carolina, MIR. Daniel; from
South Carolina, None! from Mississippi, Mr..
Il
Kentucky, Messrs. French and Peyton from
Tennessee, Messrs Hill and Thomas and from
Missouri, Messrs. Green and Hall-in all eleven
members, who refused to sustain the Previous
Question. The Wing members from the free
States who took the same course were, from Con-
necticut, Messrs Rockwell and Smith from New
Jersey, MIR Van Dyke; from Pennsylvania, Mess
Butler, Freedley, Hampton, Engersoll, and Irwin !;
from Ohio, Mr. Vinton; from Indiana Messrs
Dunn, Embree, and Thompson; and from ILL
nos, Mr.. Lincoln-in all thirteen members, who
refused to help on the gag, and 'rea against the
previous question"
That is, sought to kill the resolution 9 IN, pQrtu-
rai0n.n
Well-this is candid. 1t proceeds
"It is curious fact, that if the twenty five
Southern Democrats had been as much disposed
to settle this question reasonable basis as
they were to help on the Giddings faction in their
projects of disturbance and had acted with the
venerable Governor Mcdowell, (who never made
an irritating remark or gave factious vote in
his life, the result on the previous question would
have been SIS in the affirmative TO So in the mega
tive, and this would have thrown the disposition
of the subject into the hands of Mr.. Speaker
Winthrop; and, what he would have done any
one can decide who. Is familiar with the modera-
ton and sense Of justice which have ever charac-
terized his oourse.n
The Republic means that Mr. Winthrop would
have given his casting vote against the Previous
Question, thereby throwing the resolution over,
SO that, being placed on the calendar, pO~'d
neper be heord of again, This is the Republics
statement If any of the. friends of Mr.. Win
throp choose to contradict, shall be pleased TO
publish the contradiction.
The Republics account of proceedings on this
occasion is not always consistent with itself,
And then came up" it says, "what is called
the Previous Question-SAaX the mum question: be
nor ym? In this stage of the proceedings, the
Hon Mr. Vinton, of Ohio, ever distinguished for
his moderation, arose and inquired of the Chair
whether the resolution was open to amendment,
and received for answer that it would be if the
Previous Question was not sustained He then
expressed hope to the House that it would not
be, as he desired to amend the resolution by
striking out the worse than useless preamble
And how was he to accomplish this, when, &C
cording to the statement given by the Republic of
the rule, had the Previous Question been refused,
the resolution, as giving rise TO debate, would
have gone over? Indeed, five lines after this at
tempt to indicate the conduct Of Mr.. Vinton, on
the ground that he desired only to amend the
resolution, it says
:. "If the main question had been refused, we
have seen that the efea mould haze been precisely
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