The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-08
UT. ~nS,~-ysyvoN OF THE HOUSE.

49, I'ogfs7sy s7nuGa oe Admitted as a
free State. aa3 she T'vriosis- lyr'''.1ssa' 18th
constitutions excluding Slavery, was the great
Question which the last Congress was called
upon to decide. The Northern Democrats
generally took the affirmative were pledged
to sustain by every legitimate effort the af-
firmative, with few exceptions went into eau
Gus and bound themselves to support as a can
didate for the Speakership Southern Demo-
crat who took the negative, and was pledged
to sustain it! They thus placed the organiza-
ton of the House in the hands of their oppo-
nents, giving them the power to prevent the
admission of California and the passage of the
Wilmot Proviso
In this Congress they knew that the Question
of Slavery would again be agtated, and that
important questions would come up on which
their opinions would differ from those of their
Southern associates. They had the majority,
went into caucus and agreed to the nomination
for the Spcakership of Southern man, who
they knew would be opposed to them on every
question touching Human Liberty All they
obtained in exchange for this surrender of
power was, the laying upon the table of certain
resolutions respecting the Compromise.
Well, the first act of the Speaker was to or
ganize the most important Standing Commit
tees in such way as to place the control of
the business of the House in the hands of the
Slaveholding members; and whenever the
II e Al yIyI
on the state of the Union, where important
measures have to be discussed and matured for
action, his policy in all cases where there is
likely to be any sectional conflict is to call to
the chair precisely the man who, by his famil
iarity with parliamentary tactics and his de-
votion to Slaveholding interests, will be able to
give to Slavery controlling influence For
example, the opposition to Kossuth assuming q
Southern aspect, the Speaker, when the House
went into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union, for the purpose of taking up
the resolution for the appointment of a COM
mittec to wait upon Kossuth called to the chair
George w Jones, of Tennessee who could be
relied on for interposing all possible embarrass-
ments in the way of its passage; and more
vexatious unprecedented, disorderly decisions
than he made, delberative body was never
called upon to override. Even Faction itself:
in some cases, could not rally its forces to sus-
tain him.
Will the Democrats, will the members repre-
sentng the -Slaveholding States, never learn
wisdom, never be able to stand erect and as
sert their just claims? viii the Majority
always suffer the minority to dictate who shall
be Speaker, how the Standing Committees shall
be composed, what business shall be brought
forward, who shall preside when the House is
in Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union--in a word, concede to the minority u
entire power lodged in the organization of the
House? 1t puts the bit in its own mouth, sad
dies itself mounts the rider, f.stens on his
spurs puts the reins in his hands, and then be-
gins to fret and fume because he rcins it up. or
buries his rowels in its sides just to make it
serve his own purposes. What right has it to
complains Its asnine position is of its own
choosing. Balaam's ass complained of being
smitten, but what else could that respectable
quadruped expect so long as he permitted Ba-
laam to ride him?