The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-26

s~enAAse ~9"ee In re gar0 70 the ecuo1 oi
he Naval Retr ing Board; then, again, inAam-
natory narsp gues on Kansas and the Niger
question, IN serspersed with offensive psrsonali-
les, and .nding with scene disgraceful to
Any DELI .erative body. But as for any busi-
ness ID. furtherance of the interests Of the
'ountrg, there was none done. 1t was appa-
rent = one of the last things to which that
gre we and reverend body thought of devoting
y Aelf
How WASH. in the House Of Representatives,
the members Of which hold their positions d.
rectly from the people? Why, two months Of
the session were consumed in the struggle as
to whether q democrat, anigger worshipper, OF
aKnow Nothing should occupy the Speaker
seat. And as If it were to make up for the
public time so squandered, the dominant party
has ever since unvaryingly shut of all debate
on the propositions and bills on which the
House has been called to vote. This has bseA
done by the means Of q parliamentary proot-
dure technically known as the previous
question. No matter how important tie
proposition is, whether it be in ref
renee to an appropriation bill covs-
ing millions Of dollars, or to q grant u
millions Of acres of public lands to railroad
Spectators or to pension of eight dollas
q month to the widow of Revolutionary so-
der, the mode Of practice is the same. Tn,
member introducing it moves the previous
question, and, if he gets majority of the mem
beers to support his motion, the previous ques
ton is declared seconded, and all debates
and amendments are precluded. It is an
easy matter in such body to manage a
thing like that There are few of the MEM
bers who have not some little scheme Of
their own-for building Custom Houses, e.
tablishing marine hospitals, making grants
to corporations, or something of the
kind-to effect; and as this is the sim
plest and easiest mode of attaining their
ends, they very naturally lend thei support to
the establishment of the principle Aud SO the
gag law is enforced; but their scheme sue
ceeds Freedom of speech is de'ied; but the
national treasury is depleted. The very life
and essence of deliberative bdy is choked
ont; but the lobby is triumphant. The mea.
sure to which it is applied nay be such as,
though its principle might command the sup.
port of the majority, would med amendment
in it's details; but even the POOR privilege OF
suggesting amendments is .enied, and the
House is called upon to votetor or against it,
with all its imperfections.
What pretty system of legislation that is
Under it we have already lad several appro.
priation bills passed, and tie public domain
despoiled to the extent of some eight millions
Of acres.
By it an unbounded prospect of public plum.
der has been opened up, and the few honest
men who Get their faces againE it-almost all
old members no means Of exposing its
righteousness to the country. In word, the
arbitrary rules of the previous question, as it
operates in the House Of Representatives, is
IS openly at variance with the principle of
free discussion which underlies the idea Of a
parliamentary body as is the Sat Of any des
potism known among men. It remained for
the Thirty-fourth Congress to develope and
utilize this hitherto unknown or unused tactique
and under its cover the treasury has beer
robbed, and the lobby enriched.
If the voice Of the few honest representa-
tives who happen to find their way into Con
gress lie to be thus stifed, then the national
Legislature is sham and cheat, and repub
licanism q stupendous failure. But if the PEG
pie of the United States would perpetuate the
government which the fathers Of the Revolu
ton reared and tostered, they will exercise
much more care in ,he selection of the persons
into whose bands they coDfide the sacred and
responsible duties of legislation, and look to il
that their agents are men who will not subor
dinate the public interests to their own per
soDal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, nor bring reproach up
Oh the name of American representatives In
fine, they must send men to Congress who fee
that they have higher aim and mission than
the attain ment OF spoils, the advancement Of
party, the sitting of discus sion, or the obtain
ing notoriety by foul mouthed abuse, or the
resort to brute force. Let US have reform iu
Congress, and down with the gag law!
LAND JoBs.-More land jobs are before Con.