Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-05-18
The BIZ Comes from Froe sta.,.

The BIZ Comes from Fres State
If any bill to impair the Missouri Com.
promise line of 1890 had been broucl,t
into this House BY a member from slave
state, or under the administration of .
President elected from slave state 7
should have deemed it my duty to have
met it at the threshi old and to have
made the motion which the parliamentary
Law prescTibes for the repulse of subjects
winch are not fit to be considered
should have moved its rejection at the
hrst reading. But the bill before ,lx-f,r
the two may be considered as one-does
not come from that quarter. 1T comes
from free state and under that .sncct
jot ITS origin. | deemed it right to wait
and hear what the members of the free
states had to say to it.
1t was proposition from their own
ranks, to give mp their half of the slavery
compromise Of 1920; and if thew choose
to do SO, | do not see how southern mem
bers could refuse to accept it It was A
tree state question; and TIE members
from the free states were the majority
and could 10 as they pleased So / stood
aioof waiting to sec their lead, but with
out the slightest intention of being gov
erned by it. | had my own convictions
of right and duty. and meant to act uncn
them | had come into political life uD
on that compromise. | had stood uDou
1T above thirty years, and intended TO
stand upon 1t to the end. " solitary and
alone" if need be; but preferrine compa-
ny to solitude and not doubling for an
instant what the result was to be.
| have said that this bill comes into
Congress under the administration of a
free state President but I do not mean
to say. or insinuate by that remark that
the President favors the bill. [ know
nothing Of his disposition toward it; and
If | did, | should not disclose it here
1t would be unparliamentary. and a
breach OF the privileges of this House to
d. 81. The Presidents opinions can on
iy be made known to US by himself. in
message in writing In that way it is his
risht, aud often his duty, to communicate
with us. Aud in that way there Is 40
room for mistake IN citing his opinions
no room for an unauthorized use Of his
name: no room for the imputaton of con-
Trajectory opinions to him; aud in that
way he becomes responsible to the Amer
lean people for the opinions lie may de
liver
All other modes Of communication are
forbid 70 him. as tending to an undue and
unconstitutional Interference with the
a5aa tf5sd t5 f apon g R8t rbhSSgS
constitutes breach of the privileges Of
this House 1t is an attempt to operate
upon members vote by any con7idera-
ton Of hope or fear, favor or affection.
prospect of reward. or dread of punish
ment. This Is parliamentary law, "a old
as English pariianents, constantly main
tainei by the British House Of Commons.
and lately declared in most signal man
ner Il was during the reign Of our cid
master, George the Third. and in the ia
nous case Of Hr Fox's East India bill. a
report was spread in parliament by one
Of the lords Of the bed-chamber that the
king was opposed to the bll-that he
wished it to be defeated aud bad said
that he should consider any member his
enemy who should vote for it. The House
OF Commons took fire at this report, and
Immediately resolved
That 10 report any opinion, or pre-
tended opinion of his Majesty. upon any
bill depending In either House of Parlia
meDts IL high crime and mi-demeanor
derocatory to the honor Of the crown. a
breach of the fundamental privileges of
Parliament. and subyersiye of the consti-
tuition of he country
This resolve was adopted in fall House
by majority of soventy-three votes; and
was only daclaratory of existing parla-
mentary law-such as had existed from
the time that English counties aud Dor.
oughs first sent knights of the shire and
burgesses to represent them in the Par.
lament House It i an old English
parliamentary law, and Is so recorded by
Hatseli aud all tie writer's on shat law
It is also american law, as old a. our
Congress. and. IA such recorded in JEFF
fersou's Manual 1t is honest law aud
as such existent in every honest heart -
SIR the President of the Uustei States
can send US no opinions except in written
messages. and no one can report hi, opin-
ions II influence the conduct OF members
upon a bill, without being obnoxious TO
the censurc which the British House Of
Commons pronounced upon the lord of
the bedehamber. in the case of the King
and the Fox East India bill
Ministerial Interference.
Nor can the Presidents Secretarcs-
his head clerks as Dir Randolph used 10
call them send Us their opinions on any
subject of legislation depending before u,
They can only report aud that n writing.
on the subjects referred to them by l.r
or by vose Of the Houses. Non-inter-
yention is their duty in relation TO our
legislation; and if they attempt TO inter
fere in any of our business, raust be al
lowed for one 10 repglse the attempt and
10 profess for il 10 higher degree Of res
pect than that MIR Burke expressed for
the opinions OF British Lord Chancel-
ior. delivered to the House of Commons.
in a ease In which be had 10 coacesn-
Sir, [ suppose | can be allowed to repeat
on this f5or any degree Of comparison. or
figure OF speech winch Mr.. Burke could
use on the floor of the British House OF
CommoBs-he was a classic speaker, and