Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-12
THE telegraph reports that there nearly occur


TnE telegraph reports that there nearly occu
rod persenal collision on the floor Of the Hou'
of Representatives on Friday last, be,weon tw
honorable members from Illinois. One Of then
advanced upon the other. while the latter. in tn
language of the Dispatch squared himself for
fight" The report Of the proceedings on TIA
INV reminds us forcib'v OF the details that we rea'
in the Northern Journals Of fights in the priz'
sing. by such characters IS Mnsr:ssNy, Sullivan
md the Bcnicia Boy.
A sy or two before that, symptoms Of fight
on the Same arena were exhibited, in which the
nrincipal characters were Mr.. Crawford, Of Gcor.
eia. and Mr. Stevens of Pennsylvania. Thus,
during the first week Of Congress, tho nation has
narrowly escaped the disgrace of two personal col
lisivus oon the floor Of Congress certainly.
and perhaps more. For, one fight, like one word
might have brought on another; and the whole
House be converted into faithful exhibition OF
the D,nnybrook Fair, where every man bclabors
his nciehbor whether friend OF foe, AID where
the fule is. "when you see head. hit 1t, nomat
ter if it belong to your especial friend Truly
judging from the promises Of the fr,t week. we
are likely to have lively time OF 1t in the present
Congress-
All this como. Of not having Speaker to pre-
side over the House, and to preserve order and
dignity. According to She newspaper reports
singular scene must be presented in the House Of
Representatives every day. Speeches are inter
ruptcd with applause" and daughter" not only
from tho galleries, but from the body Of the Hall
from honorable members themselves. We read
in the Globe the Official journal Of the House
such parenthetcal explanations as applause from
the Republican benches" and applause from the
Democratic bsnches"-whie applause from tho
galleries" a is common occurrence. Some of the
speeches, on both sides. are thickly ntcrlarded
with "applausc," as would be speech ly Capt.
Ryniers. on the night Of . successful election. he
fore the assembled ro~dyism Of hmmany Hall.
Is the House OF Representatives about to degencr-
ate into 40 irregular mass meeting, with respect
for.its own character and the character OF the ma
ton, 1t would seem 40.
One Of the reasons for locating tho seat of Gov
eminent at Washington was, that the National
Legislature might be placed beyond the reach Of
popular influence or clamor. At that time, there
was scarcely a village whore Washington now
New York. had felt the bad effects of holding its
sessions in the midst of crowded population, they
determined 10 avoid city in selecting the pcrna
nent location Of the Capitol But Washington
has now grown to DO large place city Of
eighty thousand inhabitants The evil which
Congress sought to avoid ct FIRST can now be cor
rectcd only by the most stringent rules. Such
rules do, in fact, exist. But the rules are inopo-
rative until the House is organized. And it seems
that neither the galleries" nor the "benchc.,"
have any disposition to observe rules which they
rould have to observe If the House were organic
cd, and which they know are essential to the or
derby transaction Of business and the maintenance
Of the dignity betting one of tho Chief Depart
mcnts Of the Government. In other words, be-
cause the rules are not yet operatiye-and,wll not
be until Speakers eiected-they think them
solves entitled to every license Of speech md be-
hevior. But We are OF opinion the great mass Of
the people will not agree with them--and will
conclude that gentlemen, whether in the gallcric,
or on the floor of the House, are just AS much
bound TO behave themselves without rules rs with
them.
In the Senate, where there is much more digni.
ty Of elaboration than in tho House, the sghtes,
demonstration Of applause is instantly checked
More than once we have seen the galleries on the
point Of being cleared, account of the foolisl,
misbehavior in this respect Of some ignorant indi.
vidual. The House. BY unanimous consent, may
adopt some such rule. even before organization =
and thus protect itself from the demonstrations Of
the mob in the galleries Or, what is better still
it may elect Speaker at onca, and save tho natior
thediscreditablc spectacle Of anarchy and contu
sion which is now presented by the lower House Q
the National lie gislature.
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