The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02
THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE.

Tho resolution submitted In tho Senate last
Monday, by Mr.. Cas-, requesting information
from the President respecting any correspond
ence which may have taken place with the
Government of the Papal States, touching a
mission to tho United States, was made the oc-
casion of quite a number of Buncombo speech
OF. Senator'S were filled with regret that 80
distinguished man as Monsieur Bedini should
have been 30 inhospitably received. Law was
magnifed, and tho People were sharply re-
buked for having been too froo in the display
of their hostility to that gentleman. Solemn
homiles were read upon tho mischiefs of mob
violence, and the high duty of maintaining and
enforcing subordination and order. One might
have supposed, from the tone of some of the
speeches, that tho whole country was convulsed
with excitement, and the arm of the civil au-
thority was powerless AS usual in such cases,
we were assured that the eyes of the world were
upon us these scenes of violence would scri-
ously damage the reputation of this unparal-
leled Republic; but this exhibition of Senate
rial reverence for Law, would at once save our
good name and induce better sentiments among
the erring People.
The People will be apt to regard this Sena-
torial demonstration rs rather impairment
They can have no objection to the passage of
such resolution as that introduced by Mr.
Case but they may desire to know by what
right they are arraigned for misconduct before
the American Senate Has there been any
such commotion in the country as to justify
procedure so extraordinary? The Pope's Nun
clio has been received graciously by tho Presi-
dent and treated in Washington with distin-
guished consideration. In few cities that he
has visited, popular assemblagcs, composed
chiefly of naturalized citizens, under the belief
that he was the murderer of noble Italian
patriot, have manifested their hostility to him
by public demonstrations, but the municipal
authorities have always interfered in time to
prevent violence to bis person, had this been
intended. In ono case indeed, in their zeal for
the Law, they outran the Law, and by their
premature and extreme action have subjected
themselves to prosecution before the courts.
Had the Law been generally set at defiance,
had tho States and the municipal corporations
proved themselves incompetent to the work of
REFRESHING violence and maintaining order,
there might have been some rretence for this
extraordinary display in the Senate. AS it is,
the action of that body is uncalled for, insult
ing to the People, and calculated to mislead
that portion of the world that happens to take
an interest in Our affairs, into the notion that
VIC are a very turbulent and dangerous Democ-
raoy tending TO riot and anarchy, requiring
tho strong arm Of Executive Power to keep
us in subsection. 1t should have satisfied these
Senators that the Police has been fully able to
secure the ascendency of Law, and protect the
person of the Nuncio wherever he has been
Their concern for the cause of order in this
case is the more extraordinary, because not at
all characteristic. We rccollcct the time when
the spirit Of popular violence ragged in this
city, right under their eyes, and bade defiance
for nearly three days to tho efforts of the Po-
lice to suppress it. Liberty of speech and OF
the Press was sought to be subverted, per.
sons and property were menaced, and at one
time there was danger that the capital city Of
the Republic would fall under Mob-Law
General Cass was calm und still as moonshine
in those days; and among all the grave and
reverend Senators. sublimely bearing aloft the
Dignity, the Law, the Order of the Model Re-
public, but one man John p. HALE seemed
to think it necessary to call attention to the
| Disorder about them!
Let no one suppose that we would counte
| nance popular violence We have suffered too
I much from it to set mp excuses for it, OuI