Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-16
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER,
MONDAY M6RNING, MAY rs, 1874,

~~~~~~-N-N~S~~-~~~~~
BY RlrCllIES " PRYOR.


The country com!enplatcs the progress of the pre-
sent extraordinary struggle in the House Of Repre-
'enatircs with intense anxiety, not simply hcru,rse
its result will determine the fate Of the Nebraska hill
but because it involves also the infinitely more mo-
mcntous isSur ol the stability OF the. tninr. The
course "f the minority whn oppose j:n:iious resist:
alrrc /" the progress Of the p3': h9<incss, and
,hwart the wcll-asccruinod will u t'inarrss by vio
encc, is rebellion agains the spirf nid' intent il not
against the forms Of Republican, government; and
must terminate, if successful in disuni"n and civil
tlunult Ii is not contemplated i'll the theory nAr Is it
Thought l'nssble in the practice of our institutions,
that the passions OF faction should prevail over the
will of tho majority, and the moment such an event
happens rlc supremacy of Inv and the authority IF
government arc ovcrtLrown. One instance of size
c,.ssful resistance lsy the minority would induce fire.
quent repetition Of. the experiment, and the govern
nc,lt would he at The mercy al inct"n. And thus
upon the courage ;snl iirumcss "f the true who
have rcsoucly s;no on, against the revolutionary
resistance of faction in the House "f Representa-
tvcs the stability III the government and the destiny
i tho Iuinu lel,csd. We can have II" doubt of the
issue of the struggle. We cannot believe TINT Con-
rcss will bctray tic interests "t the Union into the
hands ci faction We believe the majority appreciate
the RESPONSIBILITIES oi ;hcr position, and that their
conduct will JUSTLY the hopes of the country. But
they cannot triumph with their present tactics. En-
,rcmc cases demand extreme remedies. and il becomes
the duty Of the majority, if necessary Ia rcpcl rio
cncc by viu>ncc, md I" trample under foot the ar
htrurv inr1notcs nt parliamentary Inv, rather than
suffer them to hI converted INFO engine in the
hands of faction t'r the overthrow of the govern
mcnt There is Il great law nf -cll-dci,mcc above all
conventional regulations, which not only nstiiirs but
demands the Disregard of or,luary restraints, il mc-
rcsSarv the execution of ils supreme decree. The
principle of the power of the majority is essential 10
the authority OF government and should moi bc Sacri-
feed To those tcc<ica rules which ordained Tor
the protection of ic rights ui minority. The STA
hility Of the Cninn and the welfare nl the country
ARE the ends for which government was instituted,
and it would bc absurd ana suicidal tu suffer my
ovcrscrunlut,s regard fnr mere incidents and ucccs-
sorcs to defeat The great object OF political sy>
fem. The regulations OF parliamentary law nrc de
signed to facilitate cgislationSlal they be prrvcr-
cd to the purposes of iucrus obstruction! Let the
majority cut the a,r,lian knot. Let them appeal Ia
the ultimate end at government nIid Ia The supreme
law of srlf-lcrncr against the revolutionary resist
arrce Of the minority. If the majority will resort To
the bol olh,Npc,lieni uf SllspcndiuS ovcrrlng tnsc
subord Hate and arbitrary forms "f parliamentary
proceed ns, of which tactic" "vail' itself t" carry out
its mis,hcvous purposes, tile country will ratily and
appluutthc conservative Innovation and the salutary
rrrguarity.