Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-12

half Of freedom, in behalf of iastice and I'm.
mainly, resistance to the last. Better that /
confusion should ensue, better that discord
should reign in the national councils better
that Congress should break up in wild disorder
nay, better that the Capitol itself should blaze
by the torch OF the incendiary, and bury all its
inmates beneath its crumbling ruins-than that I
this per6dy and wrong should be finally ac-
complished.a
One would have thought that such infamous
sentiments would have been received with uni.
versal disgust and adherence, and that the
demand which accompanies them would have
been spurned and trodden under foot by every
member Of the American Congress. But the
proceedings of yesterday tell different tale.
The command of the New York Tribune-the
organ of abolitionism, socialism, Fourierism,
spiritualism, and of every sect which wars
against society, and Of every delusion which
promises proit-has been promptly obeyed by
portion of the members of the House Of Rep
resentatives.
Soon after the House convened yesterday,
Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois, the chairman of the
Committee on Territories, submitted motion
that the debate in the Committee of the Whole
on the Nebraska and Kansas bill should close
to-day at twelve o'clock. A movement was
promptly made to lay Mr.. Richardson's motion
on the table. This proposition was voted down,
although some voted for it who honestly de-
sired to submit their views on the main ques-
tion, and who intend to support the bill when
ever it comes up for decision. But, even before
the vote was taken to lay on the table, call of
the House was demanded, and the yeas and nays
demanded on the call. Nearly three-quarters
of an hour were consumed in taking the yeas
and nays, and when the result was announced
the call of the House was refused.
The motion to lay on the table was next put
and voted down, as we have already mentioned.
Then the scene opened in earnest
Another call Of the House was moved, and
the yeas and nays demanded on that motion.
Then the member from Ohio, who demanded
the yeas and nays, asked to be excused from
voting. Asouthern anti-Nebraska member i'm
mediately moved that he be excused, and the
yeas and nays were demanded on that motion.
With a view to still further delay, embarrass-
nent, and resistance to the plain will Of the ma
iority, it twas proposed to lay that motion on the
able, and the yeas and nays we're demanded.
This proposition was ruled out by the Speaker,
| md the vote on the motion to excuse the mem
Der from voting was lost. Next there came a
motion to reconsider the vote by which the
House refused to lay Mr.. Richardson's PROPOSE
ton on the table. This was ruled out Of order
by the Speaker; and then motion was made
to reconsider the vote by which the House re.
fused to excuse the member from Ohio from
voting, followed by motion to lay the motion
to reconsider on the table, and demand for
the yeas and nays, which was sustained
This brief sketch of the proceedings during
the first part Of the session Of yesterday shows
the line of tactics which portion Of the anti
Nebraska minority have resorted to fer the
purpose Of delaying, if not defeating the Ne
braska bill in the teeth of majority in its
favor. 1t is the line Of tactics which the New
| York Tribune recommends, and it has been
carried out thus far. The object is to pro-
uuSc ucidI, ~ tnht ldudtlcdi may
have time and opportunity to fan the flames Of
excitement in the north and northwest by
manufactured facts, false statements, and fren-
zied appeals. By constant calls Of the House,
motions to adjourn, to reconsider, and every
other possible motion on which this tedious
process of calling the yeas and nays can be
demanded, the minority hope to accomplish
their ends. If they can prevent action until
a day when some particular measure becomes
| the special order, then they can have rest for
a while to gather strength to renew their eff:
forts to carry out the policy of the Tribune.
Whether they are so infatuated as to be willing
to 60 the full measure of the Tribunes fanati-
cism and break up the session Of Congress by
making legislation impossible, or by applying
torch to the Capitol, remains to be seen.
They have already gone far enough, we trust,
to open the eyes Of the people to the depravity
Of malign fanaticism when it pirates of freedom
for effect, and wears the garb of philanthropy
to conceal cold, pulseless, and sordid heart
We hope, at all events, that those men of the
south who have opposed the measure now
pending will pause and consider, since they
must see now in what companionship they will
be thrown.