Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-13
THE STRUGGLE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVE

The revolutionary command Of the New
York Tribune has been implicitly obeyed thus
far by the factious enemies of the Nebraska
bill. By incessant calls of the House, motions
to adjourn, to reconsider, and to be excused
from voting, they have succeeded for two days
in checking the progress of business. The
House was in session during the whole of
Thursday night. Indeed, there has been no
adjournment since Wednesday; for the friends
Of the Nebraska bill have opposed the faction
lists with steady resolution, and have manifest
ed fixed determination to bring the House to
vote if possible
The course of conduct adopted by the free
sellers and abolitionists is disgraceful and dis
gushing. 1t cannot fail to strengthen the Ne
braska bill, and heap mountain of merited
obloquy on those who follow it and on those
who give them aid and comfort. The revolu-
tionary proceedings of the last few days. which
have not yet ended, must awaken the people
of the north as well as of the south to the in
famous passions which lie at the foundation of
political abolitonism, and of the black hypoc-
risy Of those who are continually prating Of
freedom and philanthrophy, and always pre-
tending to weep over imaginary woes which
are afar off, whilst they will not give crust
of bread to real want shivering at the door.
When an effort is made to revolutionize the
government, and turn it away from its legiti.
mate functions by striking down some great
constitutional principle, patriotic men may
avail themselves of all the weapons furnished
by parliamentary law to prevent consumma-
ton which must be followed by bloodshed.
But the fanatical disorganizers of the House of
Representatives, with all their brazen effron-
terry and insensibility to shame, have not the
hardihood to urge such an excuse They do
not pretend that they are resisting meditated
violence to the Constitution. They know they
are only resisting the repeal of law which
owes its existence to Congress alone, and
which has never been acceptable to either Sec
ton of the Union. In the beginning, the fac
tionists pretended to justify their conduct by
the assertion that they only wished to postpone
action for the purpose Of affording an oppor-
tunity for needful discussion. This aimsy pre-
text was soon exposed by their own conduct.
It's dishonesty became so apparent that some
of the factionists abandoned it; and one of the
most prominent~confessed that it was intended
as cheat, by confessing the determination to
resist the passage of the bill, even if it were
postponed by revolutionary proceedings SINH
lar to those of the last two days.
There are a few southern men who give coun-
tenance and encouragement to the disorgan-
izers. They are few in number, but it is plain
that their conduct stimulates the factionists,
and encourages them to persevere. We trust
that the southern men to whom we allude have
by this time become acquainted with the bad
character and wicked purposes Of their asso-
ciates, and will, for their own sakes, and for the
sake of peaceable and orderly legislation, come
out from among them and aid in crushing their
reasonable schemes. The scenes Of the last
few days have already added strength to the
Nebraska bill; and we mistake much if they do
not arouse storm Of popular Indignation, the
like of which has been rarely witnessed in this
country. When it passes away there will hard
ly be vestige Of abolition left.