The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1858-08-05

Among the recent standing rules Of the
Senate, was one so manilestly unjust and
oppressive, 80 destructive Of every principle
upon which our government is based that il
is a matter Of surprise that it was ever
adopted. This rule, commonly known as
the "two.third rule" places power in the
hands Of a meagre minority, sufficiently am
pie to secure the defeat Of legislative meas
ures called for by a large majority of the
people and Of the Legislature. Hitherto,
under rule 30 Of the Senate, any Senator
could move call Of the Senate, and thereby
IL member was absent, either purposely
or accidentally, block the wheels Of legisla-
tion-defeat the will Of the majority--tram-
pie upon the rights OF the people Of the
State--until twO-thirds of the Senate sus-
pended proceedings under the call, and thus
enabled that body to proceed with its busi-
ness. While the Republicans held the De
mocracy accountable for the character Of the
legislation passed on by the Senate, under
this rule they could exercise as complete and
binding control over the proceedingsof that
body, as il they we're in a majority. twas
only by securing two-third vote for any
measure, that the party or individual pro.
posing it, could rely upon its success in the
face Of captieus opposition. To argue the
injustice OF the obnoxious rule, is to commit
an absurdity.
On Tuesday, Senator CowAs, of Nicollet
rose in his scat, and moved reconsideration
of the vote by which this odous restriction
upon the rights Of the majority was adopted
The motion was seconded the previous
question called for and ordered, and under
its operation, the vote reconsidered. The
following is the official record of the pro
ceeding, taken from the journals of the
Senate.
Mr.. CowAS moved to reconsider the vote by
which rule 80 of the Senate was amended
March llth. 1858, which was seconded by Mr..
JosEs.
Upon the above motion, Mr.. CowAS moved
the previous question.
Which motion was seconded.
The question recurring upon ordering the
main question.
And the yeas and nays being called for and
ordered there were yeas 10, nays o, as follows;
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Adams, Banhl, Baily, Cave, Cowan. Day,
Dunwell. Hall, Hull. Jones, Mixer, Moreland,
Murphy, Northrup. Richardson, Rolette, Skin.
ner. Streeter and Van Etten.
SO the motion was carried and the mani.
question was ordered.
The question recurring upon the main ques'
ton to reconsider "A moved by Mr.. CowAS.
And the yeas and nays being called for and
ordered there were yeas 10, nays }, as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were,
Messrs. Adams. Banfl, Baiily, Cave, Cowan.
Day, Dunwell, Hall, Hull, Jones. Mixer, More.
land, Murphy, Northr.p, Richardson, Rolette,
Skinner, streeter and Van Etten.
Those who voted in the negative were.
Messrs. smith, Somers and Watson.
SO the motion was carried
While the above proceedings, so clearly,
truly and succinctly narrated in the official
record. were going on, the Republican mem.
bers, with but few exceptions, disgraced
themselves as legislators and gentlemen, and
dishonored the State, by conduct suitable
alone for the brothel and the doggery. AZ.
ter the previous question had been ordered,
and, As consequence, all debate and dila-
tory motions cut of, they commenced hoot-
ing and hallooipg in the most uproarious
manner. No respect was paid to the posi-
tion they occupied, as Senators OF q soye-
reign State their sole aim seemed to be to
re-enact, in the Senate Chamber Of Mime
sofa, the disgraceful scenes 80 often witness
ed in Five Points political caucus, where
whiskey and rowdyism rule triumphan,
The 6rmness OF Lieut.. Governor IIoLcoxp.
however, foiled the Senatorial rowdies and
the order Of the majority Of the Senate was
carried out, despite the shameful action Of
the Black Republicans.
Yesterday morning, Immediately upon the
meeting Of the Senate, Mr.. Nosrox, Of Wi
mona, moved to expange from the journal OF
the day previous, the record Of the proceed
imgs in relation to the reconsideration Of the
vote by which the ,wo-thrds rule was adop-
ted. Upon this motion, q debate sprang
up which occupied the entire morning ses-
sion. and which Was participated in by
Mosrs. Nosros, LrxpaKv. Hupsox, and
sxrH. Republicans. and Nexr. cowAx
and Hall, Democrats.