The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-26


on a. once and bring the body to direct vote upon the
SIMPLE and naked proposition. and nothing else.
say, sir that a more alarming blow, and one more
emnehy calculated TO cut c all the rights OF mnorlties
could not well be conceived and sir, II is idle 10 sup
pose and II IL idle for gentlemen 10 iaer themselves
that we are not in any danger here. and that we are The
wisest the most vuous, republican, and liberal minded
people that ever lived and that there danger OF a
proach 10 tyranny despotsm in this the other branch
OF Congress. Sir do not believe il human nature is
human nature, and power is power and human nature
IS always schemng 10 get The power from the hands OF
the many into those OF the few, and they viii exercise
It, But, SIR, we ought not to surrender any safeguard
which The experience and wisdom OF the past have
found and preserved and handed down 10 as for keep
ing and guarding these rights. M
Sir, feel for myself will not speak for anybody
else whether anybody else is in the same situation or
not do not know-but feel great delicacy and hesi
fancy in this matter. After having enjoyed this liberty
Tor hive and just am about leave the body
and 20 out among the people, and yacate this seat am
unwilling that be who sits in my seat after should
sill here hampered and restricted by rule which have
imposed upon him just about the time OF my departure,
and which have not thought necessary to govern and
restrict myself while sal here For this reason, de-
sire that this rule shall not be adopted al this time.
hope at all events, it will be postponed until order
OF hingsun at least, that problem which lurking in
the mind Of the honorable senator from North Carolina
[ Mr.. BADGERl shall be soved-wheler minores are
TO be malores, and najorities to be minorites; and
when thai day dawhs and this proposition is demon
s,raed, let those who have the power change the rule
but let us not do ii al this time
Mr.. MASON. Mr.. President, confess that the sug-
geslons made By the senator from Tennessee Mr. BELL
have addressed themselves 10 my mind with very great
force recolect the discussion which took place in the
Senate some year or two snce upon the proposition then
introduced TO ngrait the previous question upon the
rules, and although this is the proposition, set
il is modification OF il.
Now, sir, the rules Of Parliament, as understand
them, the rules framed for the government of this
body, only intended ggesed by the honor
able senator from North Carolina, Mr.. BApGERl to
facilitate The despatch OF business according 10 the will
OF the majority, but intended impose limitations upon
an absolute and arbitrary majority; and all those lin
taions founded in the philosophy the proprey
to some extent-of the rights OF minority.
What is the proposition' TIE proposition offered
by the senator IRON Kentucky [Mr UNDERwooDl is,
that il shall be in order TO propose 10 lay any amend
ment, or an amendment TO an amendment, upon the
table. and that the vote on laying such amend
ment upon tue table shall not carry with il The orgi
nal proposition Sir, these rules for The government
Of del,beratve bodies are rules founded in wisdom.
The rule is, that motion 10 lay proposition npon the
table peeudes debate because il il is the pleasure OF the
majority no longer 10 consider the subject it will be
less 10 debate il; and if they declare that shall be laid
upon The table, dspenses with the whole subject, and
takes from before the body for the time being But
you are at liberty 10 preclude the minority from making
proposition 10 modify bill. or from assigning their
reasons Tor such modcationsccordng TO The practice
~ all deberaye bodies-hen you not only deprive the
minority OF au opportunity for expression OF their
opinion that the bill should be modified proposed by
amendment, but il has been strongly and ably said by
the senator from Tennessee. you prevent the minority
from bringing the majority TO vote upon the PROPOSE
tlon.
lucky sntended to apply 10 all OF kind
description, that may be brought before the Senaei and
III il prevails you will deprive the minority OF the oppor-
unity OF modifying measure proposed by the ma
ority as 10 render II acceptable 10 them. II may be
important affecting the interests of the coun
try and one that the minority might have II IN their
power make acceptable by modifying il yet il the
majority have the power to preclude debate upon H. they
enabled to present themselves in the attitude OF insist
ing upon naked vote upon proposition as they pre-.
senled il, without opportunity The pau OF others OF
modifying or OF extending itin any degree whatever
MIR. ADAMS. Will the senator allow me for mo-
menl TO make suggestion When proposition is be-
fore The Senate, and amendment is offered, the ndl
vidual Offering that amendment has the oo and can Of
fer his views upon the amendment The Senate have
The benefit OF the views OF the individual who proposes
the amendment and then, they think proper 10 lay
upon the table. il can be done The individual who has
the floor, who proposes the amendment, does not make
the motion TO lay upon the table that must come IRON
other Individual So that the Senate will certainly
have the benefit OF speech upon the subject and II, al
ter the OF the amendment shall have made his
speech they then think proper TO lay IT upon the table,
they can do so.
Mr. MASON Well, then. the debate upon il will be
confined to the mover, and 10 the only. Now, il
may be that il is the only who desires that this
amendment shall 30 passed i may be ba, !, = no, The
only who desires that the enormy OF the original
propostion-if II be such proporton--shoud be ex-
planned an exposed By the amendment offered But you
take from them all only the right TO debate IT, but the
still greater and the inesnable right oil bringing the ma.
Iority 10 a vote upon u.
Sir, il has been said, and wisely said, that minority
10 all bodies have one right at least OF which they
ought not to be deprived-ihe right to complain and 10
LEI their complaint be heard. The honorable senator
from North Carolina Mr.. BADeER] says that he has
been for long time in the minority upon this floor and
IL may be he will continue and yet he is willing 10
give the majority this absolute and unresraned right TO
she the voice OF the minority, at least upon PROPOSE
ton 10 amend.
Sir, may feel mor sensitive upon this point because
come from quarter OF the Union that Is in minority in
another point OF view, and am here 10 deliberative
body, formed Of the Representatives Of the conederaied
States not body where majority has right by the
mere power OF majority 10 control the debae. This
body composed OF the representatives OF the coneder
rated States and there great questions which have
heretofore arsen and which may hereafter arise, and
with regard TO which may become matter OF the last
importance the minority OF this confederation 10 be able
to explain and expose IN every possible form IN the shape
Of amendments The objections which they bold TO the
measures proposed by the majority God forbid that II
should occur again But when these
before years ago, your table, sir, was covered
with amendments coming from the minority in this Union,
the objects OF which were, in the main either to expose
the measure Of the majority or to diminish and mitigate
us force Would It have been tolerated then that the
debates should be Gu, OF on such a subject
II he:e be any Inconvenience arising from this ca
co,ties spoken OF by the senator over the way, tMr.
MANGUM,1 apprehend that u is very small compared
with the injury which will be sustained by this body If
the minority have this power Of improving and modify
ing measures taken from them. Sir, agree with those
senators who have said that the time OF the republic
that The time OF he republic should be wasted in this way
than that the treasury Of the republic should be wasted
BY nordnate expenditures for we snler vastly more by
too much legislation than by too little will remark,
that although In common parance IL is said that such
time is wasted in debate--and think that senators will