The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-13

iorty and do not hesitate show their resistance ~
sorting 10 expedients which the deliberate Judgment Of
the nsople win regard as factous If not absolutely reyou-
tionsry.
=, oula be any doubt the predetermined pol
lev ~ the minority 10 rely upon physical rather than intel
l,ual resistance TO the BILL il is entirely removed by the
fact that the proposition Of Mr. Kerr not only rejected
but from that time enemy Of the bill sought to de-
bate il but all chose rather to waste the intervening
tvepty-four hours in the faeous routine of making
motions and calling the ayes and noes. During these
twenty-four hours there was OF time when
the friends of the bill would not have readily yielded to
any opponent the privilege of debating it Without pre-
senting the spectacle OF devotng the whole
night to the repetition Of motions and that all must
regard cous fourteen speeches on the bill could have
been delivered With these facts before the country what
be its judgment upon the pretext that the proposition
terminate the discussion was effort TO curtail the
privilege of debae Let il be borne in mind that the rule
proposed to be enforced the motion of Col Richardson
to terminate debate is the ordinary rule OF the House.
which resored by both parties on all occasions
when the majority sought to give effect to their rights that
the motion only made after the question had been more
thoroughly debated in Congress than any other great
measure for years that the plea Of the minority on the
score Of their desire TO debate the bill SO far yielded TO
as to induce the majority through Of Its number to
propose TO extend the period Of debate through another
week; that instead of accepting and acting on this
generous proposition, the minority Immediately COM
menced and persistently kept up through thirty con-
tinuous hours (down TO present writing,) series
of motions and expedents which could hare other OBJ
jec than to drive the majority not into giving further
time but into abandonment Of measure which they
had determned to be necessary for the public interests
These the facts of this as exhibited for the popular
Judgment by the proceedings Of Che last two days in the
House Of Representatives That the minority have kept
within the letter of the parliamentary law in their exped-
en question: and so long as their expedients ana
indicate wish to secure further discussion
respect the spirit of our opponents There is point
however, beyond which parliamentary resistance cam
not go without being ctous The facts to which we have
adyerted exhibit the minority having ceased to rely
upon the legitimate weapons of argument and reason, and
such necessarily be the judgment Of the country In
view of these proceedings the question involved in the Ne
braska bill rises in Importance 1t must triumph in
company with that other great principle of popular gov
ernment that The majority shall rule The enemies of the
measure have doubled the responsibility which they
sumed opposing the principle of popular sovereignty
applicable to the Territories they have incurred the
sponsbility of denying the right Of The majority 10 gopen
II the minority shall succeed in holding to their present
ctiou expedients until under the rules of the House.
other subject shall spperede the Nebraska BILL the issue
presented to the country viii lose Of its interest
importance from the positions assumed by its opponents
during the last few days The friends of the Nebraska bill
will go before the country upon the high ground Of being
the advocates of principles essential to the maintenance OF
representative government its opponents will be held
sponsble as the enemies of these principles.