The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-23
THE COURSE OF THE MINORITY VIEWED FROM
DISTANCE

~ the abest men of the Empire State sends his
views ofhe late proceedings in the House ofRepresenatyes
which are wen worthy OF perusal lie presents in bold
olors that invaluable feature in republican system
which comedies TO the majority the right 10 rule Tested by
this fundamental principle of seegovernment we have not
doubted that the minority raising an issue against
themselves which would prove disasrousto them than
the issue involved in the Nebraska bill Our correspondent
treats the subject as follows;
..TpE coSsHEssIosAL REVOLT. When hear of South
American revolutions turbulence and anarchy local political
pvuons shaking pieces splendid empires OF popular
eregnty we them as the dsgrace ana oPPro
brum Of repubcansn The bayonet against ths
hn he minority not satisfied the revolt OF INTERESTS
AGAINST general principles the OF the established
oeal SCIENCE are the fountain and origin OF all this
epubcan ruin bringing into contempt our common political
principle of selfgoyernmeht ~
nt what would we model republic have to boast of il
,h ecent action of congressional minority could hope for
popular support? Gos and bayones and
are not the most aentable OF revolution
and the destructive power which lives from existence
il more limited evil than the unprncpled and selfish VIII
which rampes to death fundamental element of popular
government or the constitution those pages which
trammel its wild and temporary impulses.
The will of the majority with certain consttuona! pro
ected rights the minority ultimate principle of pop
uar and if any minority, however abstracedy
right may and right by universal acknowledgement out
of the deberave assembly to which belongs shall be
Justified in palsying the will of the majority by resort to
6nesse and rickery, by peryerson Of parliamentary
privileges has anarchy taken the place of order pot
cal suicide has been the refuge from supposed ills and self
government but the dream of the enthusiast Desposm
nav smile if is permitted to the spirit OF mob law chang
ing weapons with its change of place. stalking into the
halls legislation and striking down organic law of pop
uIar Those however who, in the first place,
desire legislation which limits the right of the people
govern themselves have transition to practical de-
NAL of the principles of popular government.
ut the capacity Of hepeople govern themselves being
established truth il is Of course, incompatible with all
such legislative notification attempted by the recent
minority revolt Where would be the safety of the people
but in majority decisions Where the difference in principle
between minority control oflegisaton and minority
nopoy social and political privileges? What citizen has
ever acted public meetings boards and councils bu hi
has been under every conscientious conviction of being in the
right though the smallest minority and yet has felt that
the highest right submission majority decsonht
greatest wrong revolutionary resistance? The sagacty
which will detect the danger Of this parliamentary proceed
has been manifested in the contemplate failure OF all at
mpts override the sober deliberations of legislative udg
the turbulent desposm of local excited assemblies
Whateyes democratic people may think about slavery in
Territory State they not, If tit for democracy,
stupid to be led to make upon principle OF popular
sovereignty through their opinions upon another subject
I'm the hupbug and quack market it may be yerT telling
trick to the typographical machinery of black lines
around the of gentlemen who have had the daring to
differ in opinion with the individual who directs the lingering
Of those formidable lines But these lines of leads and
printers ink compared with those which the spirit otrue de
mocracy will draw the political existence Of who
have stricken at the life of conservative democratic prnc
Pies daubing to the mark Of the finger
the Almighty upon the brow OF Cain. Patriots Of every
ton and Of every party while they lament the
q the House of Representatives, would them bt
clements Of the destruction Of republican government they
did feel abiding confidence that the people would YET
redress the outrage which has been done that essential prn
cpe Of Law and ordersubmission the consuonally
pressed will Of the majority. W."