Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-23
vAsH1HsroH KKws AND GOSSIP.

WASHI00IOQ N6W6 AMI 0OSBJ.
The 1lsth Rule Of House Proceedings
was the key which yesterday unlocked the
door of the Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, to permit the Nebraska
bill to stalk back into s'the House. for final
action. Long since, We informed the readers
Of the Star there were various very legitimate
methods to enable a majority to work their
will, constitutionally, over a rampant and
pugnacious minority. This was zone on EN-"
as the result proves. This 119th rule provides
that motion to strike out the enacting clause
of bill is always be in order at such time,
and that, if it prevails, no other amendment is
in order. Or, in other words, that the next
motion in order shall be one simply to rise and
report to the House the fact that having had
the bill under consideration, the Committee
Of the Whole had stricken out the enactipg
clause.
When Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, made his
motion to strike out, devoting his five min
utes to explaining how, under this 10th rule,
it would clearly lead to the prompt enactment
Of the bill, the minority were dumb-founded,
| at least until the question upon it was put
Such policy on the part of the majority was
not anticipated, it being thought by them that
the majority had determined to make no ef-
| fort to take the bill out Of committee before
sun rise this morning, as the earliest moment
for such o movement
We have every reason to believe that such
was the determin alton of the majority up to
the meeting of the House yesterday morning
1t was then, however, clearly ascertained thai
the minority had arranged relays to offer
amendments, and make FIVE minutes speeches
upon them, in order to delay the reporting of
the bill for month, if the majority would per-
NIT them to work matters after that fashion;
and next, to prevent its passage. by renewal
of motions to adjourn, for calls of the House,
to be excused. &C., ad infmituns, to the end
of the session, if possible.
Having become positively certain, therefore,
that the min ority were playing for delay-not
for amendment or discussion-they deemed it
their duty to let no motives Of false delicacy
| induce them to lose time in" fighting the
d. with fire." They knew that the measu1
had been more thoroughly discussed than ever
before was bill discussed in the House hail;
and they knew further, that if they allowed
another day, week or month, it was the settled
and pre- arranged purpose of the minority to
rscommence the work of resorting to "parlia
mentary expedients," to prevent the majority
from exercising their right to enact the bill
whenever they, (the majority should essay te
bring the controversy over it to close Unde,
such circumstances, they have only discharged
their obligations to their several constituencies
in proper way, in promptly availing them
| selves of all their rights under the Constitu
ton, the laws and rules Of their proceedings
| to enact the bill in business like manner
over the efforts Of opponents whose course Of
proceedings they look upon as exceedingly
factious.
After the Committee Rose-the contest owe,
| the Nebraska bill was conducted at least unit
p. M, with great apparent good feeling
though both sides struggled manfully: the
majority to bring on q final vote, and the nj
nority to defeat any such communication. The
running majority was about twenty, on full
| vote. Twice, ere p. m, the House overruled
decisions Of the Speaker, on points wherein
! that action greatly circumscribed the oppor
tunities of the minority to defeat action BY
parliamentary expedients." Thus the Speak
or decided motion ''to adjourn OVER to be
in order, after the question on a similar mo-
had been unsuccessfully put in the course q
| the day. This decision the House oyerruled
The majority have the strict letter of parlia
l mentary law and Of the rules in favor of theil
| overriding action, though the decision of the
Speaker was in accordance with the practice
| of the House.
The Speaker also decided it to be in orde,
| for member to move that he be excuset
| from voting, on an appeal from decision
| OF the chair. The majority also overrulet
that decision; on the ground that the rul,
authorizing member to be excused from vot
ing by majority vote of the House, " as no
contemplated to be applied to any such ques
ton, but emily to votes on measures before til,
House, to which a member asking to be ex
cused might have some direct personal rela
ton rendering it improper that he should vot
upon it. or something of the sort We car
have no doubt that the majority action in thi
| case was also in strict accordance with parlia
mentary law. The rule in question was no
made in order that it might serve as a direc
| hindrance to the transaction of business, I.
which purpose alone was it the design of Thu
member asking to be excused, to apply it
This fact is not pretended to be denied. Ha,
the action of the House been otherwise, i
would be in the power of minority foreye
to defeat majority in the transaction of al
business, at their will and pleasure
The Closing scene.-The long agon y is a
length oyer-the child is christened-and biz
name is Nebraska" At an early period O
yesterdays session, it became apparent, par
| ticularly to the initiated, that the bill wouit
be put on its final passage before adjournment
The opposition put in force all the stratageu
which had, and which had not, the authority
Of precedent But, alack and alas. they wer,
| completely out-maneuvred and out-fianked b,
q majority, flushed with the consciousness O.
coming victory. Mr.. Stephens's motion wa
quite equal in originality, brilliancy and effec
to Napoleon's celebrated coup detat Ate
"a IL l.