Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-09
RICHMOND WHIG.
AMERICA AND ITS INsTITUTIONs.-THE RIOT IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UPON THE
LOVEJOY SPEECH.
From the London Times, APril 2l.

LON EJO1 SPEECH.
From the London Times, April 2l.
EVERYBODY may observe on the floor of the House Of
Commons the distance of about couple OF feet from
the benches that confront each other on each side, two
parallel lines wrought into the mating by which the
feet of the members in some degree protected from
the subteanean blast which, rising from the catacombs
beneath diiuSes cloud of mpalp1be. but not Invisible
dust over deliberations already sufficiently dry. These
streaks trace according to ancient traditions the line
bevond which it is not permitted for member to ad-
in the of debate aud are placed at dis
arce so great to prevent pugnacOus ancestors in
the very hottest of debate from having TO their
swords In modern days the line has Outlived its uses,
aud has b, come rudimentary the wings with which
the ostrich longer attempts TO fly. Sometimes an ac
curate observer may perceive member, in the eager
OF debate gradually sliding away from his proper
position and edging himself off beyond the limit assigned
20 his motions But such eccentrices have never pro-
voked more than passing smile or momentary cor
consciousness in the mind Of the member that he has
placed himself in ridiculous position Things are taken
more seriously in America and the which recently
took place in the Capitol OF Washington may enable US
to comprehend those tOrmer times of which the streak
the floor OF the House of Commons is now the only
abiding trace
1t seems that on a recent occasion certain Mr. Love
oy decaimiug with all the ardOr OF an en ghened
patriot in committee of the whole House on the state
OF the Union against the manifold evils and abomina-
tions OF negro slavery. His elOquence moved not ouy
his audience but himself He gradually edged away from
his proper positions his motions became more rapid as
his defamation grew more torcible, until, at the very
climax of indignant oratory he found himself gcstcua
ting violently and inveghiug furOusly in front OF the
Democratic benches aud, Democracy IN America Is
essentially slayehodiug institution, in front OF tue very
whose most valuable property he was sedulously
deprecang Dark grew the faces OF the Southerners at
this unwelcome and irritating sppariuon. Their hands
we're cenched their teeth set their eyes flashed
FIRE and all things seemed to announce the coming OF
what in the land Of liberty is usually known as free
fight Mr. Pryor. prngng to his feet, protested against
the conduct OF Mr. LOytOy IN crossing oVcrto the Dem
oc,a,c side of the Hall aud shook his fist in Mr.. Love
Joys face Nor the Republicans their side, slow
back their champion in his uroad on the stronghold
of the enemy The noise and tumult neIpresSibe,
and it appeared at oas moment if the representatives
of the people about to add one more 10 the nume
rous fights which have already given classical repua-
ton 10 the Hall in which Congress assemblies. The
chairman of committees strOye in vain TO restore
order he called to his aid the Speaker, and the
Speaker called upon the SerseautatArms. Nor did he,
far as can ascertain, answer the call or involve
himself in the pers Of the scene The Deputy Sergeant
alarms did indeed appear but he was ordered to stand
aside by the intuIiated senator's and pugisc encoun-
ter after the fashion Of the recent battle near Adershot
seemed inevitable Honorable gentlemen were beginning
10 pair oft and place themselves in hostile attitude. Some
encouraged tie intending combatauts, while others OF
geucr and less warke nature, yentured even at that
stormy moment like Mr. BRGHria the fervor OF the Cri
mean war to speak the language of peace At last
temperate counscls prevailed and premnaIies Of peace
we're agreed TO, condition that Mr.. LoyEJoY should
leave the position that he unwarrantaby occupied and
speak either from his seat from the Clerks desk
An English Senator would probably have been not little
abashed at playing prominent part in such scene
but Mr. LOvEJOYS nerves made Of serner stuff. He
had speech deliver and that speech he proceeded to
make without being in any way dscompOsed by the tu
mutt through which be had just passsd. He finished his
denuncatiou Of slavery and Shareholders utterly regard
less OF the running fire of comments and ine sctions
with which he greeted by the Southerners from the
othe- side OF the House.
Such is a picture of a scene in Congress the 9th f
tis present month Of April, 500, aud such
enacted in the Legislatures oi thirty States say
nothing OF the Territories which make up the gTest
American Unol. Great indeed has been the change
since the days OF the rs. Congress, when it met in
doubt and uncertainty 10 rally the energies aud stint
late the exertious Of great nation siruggng into ind,
p,uGence Those great would have as lute dreant
of uerruptug their deep aud solemn deliberations for
the emancipation O their country 10y scenes like the one
We have Just described the Roman Senate when i
awaited the approach OF the Gau the English House
OF Commons when King Charles came TO seize on the
Five Members The American Revolution was led b,
gentlemen OF honor, of high courage and Of eduCa-
ton aud there little likelihood Of vulgar brawl
taking place in the halls OF the first Congress beneath
the splendid roof of own House Of Lords Whence
has arisen the difference The is only too paiu
hc institutions Of Washington are gone, and iciM
them the manners and habits Of the pbO created
tLeBl. The tide of Democracy has srcpt the land
and leyciied epcy'iuq that stood dj0re ITSELF
The rich haze learnt 10 be ashamed Of their reaith
the learned Of Hejr h,oir'cdge the refined of their
refinement The standard of everything is altered the
to e Of everything is lowered. Lord Grey gave on
Thursday night TO the House OF Lords admirable pic
iure Of the present political state Of America. Indeed
do not know that We have the subject
treated with equal power and completeness. He dii
we believe no more than justice to the American nation
when he showed that the present state of things does
not arise from the deliberate choice OF the multitude; il
is far too bad for tha'. The real of the aments
bic scenes which disgrace American public life j. that
the franch low and the constituencies large
that they do really exercise the power of which they
the nominal deposaries The task of selecting the
member for whom the of the party to be given
devOlves not the OF his constituents unknown
u him and each other but certain obscure and r
responsible persons whose business it Is relieve
eector from the Of cOnsi erng who is to be his rep
reseutavc. The franchise may be leased out like any
other poSs sSon aud the people as it would seem,
very udugent landlords Content to trust their inter
est often in the hands of the most worthless of the
muuy they DO not even inquire the name of the man
whose voting ticket is placed in their hands. Thev
never see MIN, he sees them. Between him
aud them there is little sympathy, intimacy IL
tercourse as between them and the member for any
other electoral district. The Popular Sovereignty has
become a name and is handed over TO be exercised by
an ogachy OF men obscure, un ducated and corrupt,
who have forced intrigued themselves into the position
OF commanding the suiirsges OF the people Therefore
not TO be wondered that they DestOW the pairOnag
on men of their class aud that they should braWl
and fight according to the manners aud habits OF III
class from which they spring America las no need Of
ostracSm. Ostracism leveled at dangerous great
uess and her institutions eectuay provide that such
greatness 81 all exs. No orator ought to be allowed TO
e. even from the hustngs the platform that the
institutions Of America have succeeded, and that the
" question is whether possess the elements ol
success as America The institutions of America have
failed sgnally, with every possible advantage in her
favor Ttey have failed mainly for two reasons-bc-
the franchise has been too low aud the consuen
cies Of the electoral districts have too
1t at least not ouabe that when propose to
lower ou franchise, and greatly to increase the
numbers Included in each constituent body should
qure some security that the result of change will not
be aSSmate condition to that Of America. That
security have yet received, and until we do We
act prudentlv hestating before venture step
which if alters very materially existing institutions,
must al er them very materially for the worse.
BALTIMORE CONVENTION.
AREANsAs-The Opposition OF Arkansas held State
Convention at Helena, the S0th ut, and appointed
the following gentlemen delegates 10 the National Con-