New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-07
thusiasn. In the evening Rome was Illuminated as
during the greatest solemnites."
A SLAVERY DEBATE IN CONGRESS.
Fyos The London Tmes Of Ipri2l.

parallel lines wrought into the mating by which the
feet of the members in degree protected from
the subterranean blast, which, rising from the caa-
combs beneath diliuses cloud OF mpalpable but not
invisible dust deliberations already sufficiently dry
These sreaks trace, according to ancient traditions, the
line beyond which it is not permitted for member 10
advance in the course Of debate, and placed at
distance great to prevent our pugnacous alces-
tors in the very hottest moment OF debate from having
recourse TO their swords In modern DAYS the line has
oulived is uses, and has become as documentary as
the wings with which the ostrich no longer attempts to
fy Sometimes an accurate observer may perceive a
member in the eagerness of debate, gradually sliding
away from his proper position, and edgng himself on
beydhd the limit assigned TO his motions But sueh &C.
cenricities have provoked more than passing
smile or momenary consciousness in the mind OF the
member that he has placed himself IN ridiculous POSI-
tion Things are taken seriously in America, and
the scene which recently took place in The Capoi OF
Washington may enable us 10 comprehend tnose
stormier times Of which the streak ON the hoor OF inc
House Of Commons is now the only abiding trace. ~,
IL seems that OH recent occasion certain Mr.
Loveoy was declaming with all the ardor OF an eh-
lghened patriot, in Committee OF the wnole iiouhe
on the state of the Union, against the manifold evls
and denominations of Negro Slavery. lis eloquence
moved not only his audience but himself He gradu-
ally edged away from his proper position; his motions
became more rapid az his defamation grew more Tor
chile until at the very climax of his indignant oratory,
he found himself gesticulang violently and lnveignng
urously in front of the Democratic benches ana, az
Democracy in America is essentially savehodlng m
property he was sedulously deprecating Dark grew
The faces of the Southerners az this unwecome and
irritating apparition. Their hands were clnched ther
teeth were set, thereyes flashed lire, and all thngs
seemed TO announce the coming of what IN the land OF
liberty il known as free fight. Mr.. Pryor, sprng-
ing TO his feet protested against the conduct OF Mr..
oyeioy in crossing 10 the Democratic side OF the
Hail. and shook his fist in Mr.. Loveloys face: Nor
were the Republicans their side, slow 10 back Their
champion in his nroad the stronghold Of the enemy.
The noise and umult were indispensable, ana II APP
peared at one moment if the Representatives OF the
People were about TO add one more 10 the numerous
fights which have already given classical reputation
| TO the Hall in which Congress assemblies. Inc
| Chairman of Committees stroye IN VAN 70 restore
| order; be called TO his aid the Speaker, and
| the Sneaker called upon the Sergcantat- Arms:
Nor did he as far as we can ascertain, answer the cal
or involve himself in the peris OF the scene. The
Deputy Sergeantat-Arms did, indeed, appear but he
was ordered to stand aside by the Infatuated Senators,
and pugsc encounter, after the fashion OF the re-
cent battle ness Aldersho seemed inevitable. Hon,
| orable gentlemen were beginning to pair OH, and
place themselves in hostile attitude. Some encouraged
the intending combatants while others, OF gentler
and less warlike nature ventured even at that stormy
moment like Mr. Bright in the ervor OF the Crlmeaii
| war; to speak the language OF peace Az Lsst more
| temperate counsels prevailed and performances Oh
| peace agreed to, on condition that Mr.. LoVeJoy
should leave the position that he 20 unwsrantably oc-
cuped and speak either from his own seat or from the
| Clerks desk. An English Senator would probably
| have been not little abashed at playing so prominent
made of steIner stuff He had speech 10 deliver and
that speech he proceeded to make without being IN any
way dscomposed by the unult through which he hal
just passed. He finished his denunclaroh OF slavery
and shareholders utterly regardless of the running re
of comments and inter- with which he was
greeted by the Souherners from the other sde oil the
House.
this present month of April 1862 and such scenes are
enacted in the Legislatures Of some thirty States, TO
saw nothing of the Territories which make up the great
American Union. Great indeed has been the change
since the DAVIS of the first Congress, when It met III
doubt and uncertainty TO rally the energies ana stmu
late the exeriions of great nation struggling Tor nde
pendence. Those great men would have as nttie
dreamed of interrupng their deep and solemn denoef
tons for the emancipation of their country by scenes
ike the one we have Just described the Roman Sem
ate when awaited the approach OF the Gauis, or the
| English House of Commons when King Charles came
TO seize the Five Members. The American Revolution
was led by gentleman OF honor OF il2h courage, ana
| of education and there little likelihood Of
vulgar brawl taking place IN the hall OF the hrst Con-
g1ess beneath the splendid roof Oh our own House
| of Lords. Whence has arisen the difference The
answer is only TOO plain; the institutions of Washing
ton gone and with them the manners and habits of
the who created them. The tide OF Democracy
has SWEPT over the land and eveled everything that
stood above itself. The rich have learned TO be
ashamed of their wealth. the learned Of their knowledge
the refined of their refinement. The standard of every
thing is altered, the tone OF everything Is lowered
Lord Grey gave OF Thursday night TO the House OF
of America. Indeed, we do not know that we have
ever seen the same subject treated with equal power
| and completeness. He did we believe, no more than
Justice 10 the American nation when he showed that
the present state of things does not aTse from the deb-
crate choice of the multitude is far too bad for that
The real cause OF the amentble scenes which Disgrace
American public life il, that the franchise is SO low and
the constituencies large, that they do not really
exercise the power OF which they are the nominal de-
postaries The task of selecting the member for whom
the votes Of the party TO I've given dev0ves not on
III agfh ls nusflf
each other but certain obscure and irresponsible
pcrons, whose business Il is to relieve the elecior from
The care Of considering who is TO he ms representative
The franchise may be leased out like any other poyees-
SION and the people il would very ndug-
ent landlords Content TO trust their interests often III
the hands Of the most worthless OF the community They
do not inquire the name oi the man whose voting
ticket tx placed in their hands. They never him. he
never sees them. Between him and them there Is IA
little sympathy intimacy and intercourse as between
them and the member for any oiher electoral
district The popular sovereignty mas De- De-
an ogarchy consisting of men, obscure, uneducated,
| and corrupt who have forced intrigued themselves
into the position of commanding the suiages OF the
people Therefore II Is NOT To be wondered that they
bestOw their patronage on men oi Their own class, ai
that they should brIw and light according TO the man
nefs and habits Of the class from which they spring.
| America has need of ostTacism. Osraclsin was
leveed at dangerous greatness, and her institutions
effectualy provide that such greatness shall exist.
No orator ought be allowed 10 assume, even for the
lustngs or The platform, that the institutions Of
america have succeeded and that the only question 10
whether possess the same elements OF success ~
America. The institutions of America have failed and
failed most signaly with every possible advantage in
| their favor. They have failed mainly for TWO rea-
sonsbecause the franchise has been too low and tile
constituencies of the electoral districts have been too
numerous. Ii is at least not unreasonable that when
| we propose 10 lower our electoral franchise and
greatly to increase the numbers included in each con-
stituent body we should require security that the
,4 .ha hot