Washington sentinel., 1854-05-19
1.-THE RIGHTS OF THE mrNoRrrY.,

"THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY.'
The National Ltteliigencer, Of yes terday, con
tains an article with the caption quoted above,
which is clearly intended to shield and protect
the fanatcal opponents Of the Nebraska bill
from the legitimate consequences Of their revo
lutionary conduct in the House of Representa-
tives.
Wemust confess that such an article, coming
from such source, took us by surprise. The
hostility of the National Lltelhgencer to the
Nebraska bill was well known to US; vet we
regarded that Journal as so coldly conservative
and so firmly welded to order and decorum,
that it could not be induced to countenance or
encourage the factious proceedings Of slim
minority, no matter what might be their object
But we find that we were mistaken. We find
that the old, as well as the young, are sometimes
misled by pride Of opinion, and carried away
by undue excitement and by partisan passions.
If our memory is not at fault, the chief and
prominent reason which the National L,telli-
gencer urged at the outset against the repeal
Of the restrictive clause Of the Missouri act,
was based on the probability that such steI
would lead to sectional agitation. That pro
phecy seems to have enlisted that journal il
the struggle as an earnest if not a fierce and
heated combatant. As its blood grew warm
its efforts were Of a character well calculated
to produce the evil consequences it had fore
told. But still we hoped that it would shrink
back instinctively when it witnessed the fanati
cal spirit which was manifested last week
and the extraordinary proceedings by whicl
small minority attempted to thwart tht
wishes of large majority, without pretending.
in justification, that they were resisting a medl
tated violence to the Constitution, or an ex-
travagant or corrupt application of the publ,
money
The National Intelligencer is prominent
organ of school Of politicians who woulc
practically annihilate the qualified veto give
by the Constitution to the President A wee
has not passed since the Latelligencer af6rme
that it was generally agreed that the veto shoul,
only be interposed to- arrest unconstitutiona
legislation. The Lntelligeacer, and those VIII
follow its lead, urge, in defence of their anti
veto position, the high consideration and bind
ing force to which the will of majority
Congress is entitled. 1t seems, therefore, yer
inconsistent, in our judgment, for that journa
to proffer apologies for and undertake to shiel,
and protect thin and meagre minority il
Offering violent and factious resistance to IT,,
known wish of majority of the representative
&c IL ,aorla Cnraly tho Nui;auUI TlJeJl;1p,
Ger must be either mistaken as to the tru'
source of its objections to the use of the vet
power, or its defence Of the minority was dr-
tated rather by feeling than reflection.
g Rules are devised chiefly for the protectio
of fminorities," urges the National Intelligence,
Some rules are devised not only chiefly, bl
entirely for that purpose; but the parliamei-
tary rules, by which the minority in the Hous
of Representatives succeeded in arresting
gislation for season, are not OF that class. The
were framed with view to the promotion
order and decorum, and to facilitate the tran
action of public business, to encourage fal
and reasonable discussion, so that the issu
might be fairly joined as fully explained, All
then submitted for the decision OF a majority.
When minority makes use Of parliamei
tary rules to obstruct the public business,
uses them for purposes they were intended I
thwart, and not to further. There are cases
which such course may be perfectly legi,
mate, because dictated by patriotic motiy,
and having for its object the defence of th
Constitution. We have conceded thus muc
in our previous structures on the late revolt
tionary proceedings of the House Of Represel
tatives.
1t must be clear, however, to every candi'
observer Of those proceedings, that they di'
not arise from desire to protect the Constiu
ton from meditated violence, nor from d'
sire to arrest hasty and inconsiderate legisla'