Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-02-26
ADDREs S


people, having had their rights as such rodden in
the dus1 by the arbitrary application of physical
power, to the utter abrogauon Of the rules and
regulations consttuionally established for the
purpose OF protecting the rights OF the members
oil The House, and ensuring The freedom of debate
and discussion; and feeling impressed with the
solemn conviction that the attack made upon the
sacred laws for governing the proceedings Of the
House of Representatives, which have been esab-
lshed by The rules and orders expressly adopted
and by the parliamentary usuages which have
come down TO US, refined by the wisdom of GEN.
tutIes, extends far deeper and wider than their
own rlsh's or present measures are concerned,
and strikes blow at the liberties of the people
are, by a sense of their duty, constrained to
make an appeal 10 the people of the Common.
wealth.
1t is proper that we should set before the peo-
pie clear explanation of the extraordinary pro-
eeedlngs which have recently engrossed the prn-
clpai attention of the Legislature and of the ex-
raordnary measures which the dominant maori-
ty give evidence Of disposition TO press TO a con-
summation by extraordinary means. When we
have done this, it will be seen that the minority
Of the Legislature have not opposed by fac
uous means the ordinary progress OF legislation;
and we feel fully justified in asserting that there
exists among them no disposition 10 clog the reg
ular order of the business of the legislature
The dominant majority Of the Legislature have
determined to repeal the ''secret ballot law. -
This law has proved so safe in its practical oper.
alton, and has been so satisfactory 10 the people,
and Is, witha, believed by US to be so essential to
the purity and independence of the ballot box
that we cannot give our consent TO the passage of
bill for its repeal without the fullest and ireest
discussion of the whole merits of the question:
II an ordinary bill repeating the ballot law, after
such discussion, should meet the approval of a
majority of the Legislature, we should cheeifully
submit to the decision, till the people should will
lis reversal But it Is not merely a repeal of the
secret ballot law that the dominant majority have
determined upon. They have determined to
make the repeal apply to the election of delegates
TO the Constitutional Convention, which is about
to take place. When it is considered that but a
few days at most Can intervene between the pas
sage of this act, and the day of the election when
the people will be called upon to vote under the
provisions of the new law-scarcely time for the
official notice OF It's enactment to be given to the
people of the several townsville passage of the
law must be admitted to be a most extraordinary
procedure. But when it is further considered that
the act calling the Convention took its vitality,
not from the Legislature, but, from the vote of the
people, and that it is therefore unrepeaable and
unamendabie by the Legislature; and that the
people did by that vote decide that the delegates
should be chosen by secret ballot ii will be clear
ly seen that the efforts to force the application of
the open ballot law 10 this election are revolution
airy and disorganizng.
Notwithstanding his proposed law outrages the
conscientious convictions 0l so many neople. who
believe it would be an Unconstitutional act. the
minority of the House of Representatives have
not made, nor do they desire or intend to make.
any factlous opposition to It's passage in the regu-
Tar and ordinary course of proceedings, which
IT is proper should be adhered to IN a matter of
such signal Importance. But when ATTEMPTS are
made to force through law affecting the indie
pendence OF the ballot, and tending TO throw con-
fusion INTO the pending election of delegates to the
Convention, by pressing it forward in hot haste,
out Of ats regular order, it is not only iustiGa.
BILE, but 1t Is the duty Of the minority TO resist by
all themeans secured to them by the rules of the
House, and by established parliamentary usages
Mmorities OF legislative bodies have right to
discuss, and also to sufficient time for examination
aud preparation for debating all subjects upon
which they ale called upon to vote. 1t will ap-
pear that upon this ground the minority Of the
House OF Representatives will stand justified in
their efforts OF Saturday last to secure proper time
for dellberation upon this question of transcend
ant importance.
The bill TO repeal the ballot law was reported
from the Committee of the House on the l4th of
February, accompanied by minority report land
was taken out Of the regular orders of the dan,
and assigned for consideration on Friday The 18Th
On Friday the report had Just been printed and
laid before the members The Chairman of the
Committee who reported the bill was not In his
seat, and the House, by decided majority voted
to postpone It's consideration to the next Tuesday.
Tuis would have given but four days. including
the Sabbath, for reading and rejecting upon the
report. But the majority were dissatisfied, and
made motion TO reconsider the vote ofpostpone-
ment, 50 that the bill might be Immediately press
ed forward, near the close of the week, when it
has never been customary to decide upon impor-
tant measures. On Saturday, in order 10 reach
the ballot law, another question, which took pie
cedence oil 1t in regular order, and which, having
been logger before the House, it was better pre-.
pared TO consider first, was summariy laid on the
table. The question OF reconsldering the post
ponement OF the ballot law then came up, and
Immediately a member of the majority moved
the ''preUi0us question:
The minority, thus cut off from a single word
of debate upon the merits of the important main
| question pending, had no alternative but to sub
NIT IN silence TO the suppression of the right Of
discussion, or to resort TO the means secured tC
them under the rules Of the House and the para-
mentary aw,to obtain their rights by an adjourn,
ment. The motion to adjourn was negatived, as
was also subsequent motion TO lay tine subject
on'the table A second motion was then made
to adjourn, which the speaker ruled out of order.
The ''Preylous question was then discussed at
some length, and then motion was again made
to adjourn. Discussion and confusion iuowe ed
and several motions TO adjourn were made and
ruled out Of order. Appeals we're taken from the
decisions of the Speaker, and he decided that an
appeal from his decision DaS not in order
From this moment there was Of course an end to
all law and order in the proceedings, and an end
to the freedom ofthe House. The Speaker hay-
ing refused TO entertain an appeal, another ap-
peal was taken from that decision, which last APP
peal the Speaker decided to be in order and stat
ed then TO be upon that appeal. This was de.
bated for some hours, and ralincidentaI ques-
tions touching II were decided by vote OF the
House, when the Speaker reversed his decision,
and ruled the appeal out Of order. A member
then arose and commenced speaking upon the
"preyious question:" when he was called to or
AT. 81 OIL al