Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-28

urdoubfed rigbt 70 fcsfst thsr legislation shall
proceed in its Legitimate course. and according
| 10 the rules prescribed. SAYS Mr. Onslow. one
of the abIess Of the speakers of the British House
Of Commons:
"If was q maxim BE bad often heard when be
VISA vounr man, from old and experienced
members that nothing tended more to throw
power into the hands Of the administration and
those who acted with the majority Of the House
Of Commons, than neglect Of. or departure from
the rules Of proceeding; that these forms a. nsti
tuted by our ancestors, operated IS q check. and
controlled the actions of the ms 1rity; and that
they were, in many instances, shelter and pro-
lection 10 the minority. against the attempts Of
power"
Says Mr. Jefferson:
so far the maxim il certainly true, and is
founded in good sense. that az il is always in the
power Of the majority by their numbers. 10 stop
any inproper measures proposed on the part OF
/ their opponents. the only weapons by which the
minority can defend themselves against similar
! attempts from those in power are the forms and
rules of proceeding which have been adopted az
they were found necessary from time TO time,
and are become the law of the House: By strict
adherence to which the weaker party can only be
protected from those irregularities and abuses
which these forms we're intended TO check, and
which the wantoness of power is but 10 often apt
to suggest TO large and successful maiorisies.
And whether these forms be In all cases the
most rational or not is really not of so great i'm
portance It is much more material there should
! be rule TO 20 by than what that rule is that
there NAV be . uniformity,a proceeding in bust
ness not subject to the caprice of the speaker or
captiousness Of the members. IL is very mate
rial that order. decency and regularity be pre-
served in dignihed public body z Hats S49;
| Jetferson's Manual. pages 10 to Ia
I But the majority of the House, overlooking
the fact that these rules, being IN pGri uaferiG,
must, for the purpOseO probation, be consd
cred together; they therefore refer Us to rule 81
alone. and insist that by the words unless the
House shall direct otherwise" the whole legisa
ton is at their mercy. Yet, is not its plain
! meaning when We consider il in cor nection
/ with rule g. that the House shall not direct 9th
erwise except pursuant TO its rules, which require
a two thirds vote. or (as in the course in con
gress that where a measure is reached in it, or
der il may be passed over by a majority, and
which OF itself does not involve a suspension of
the order Of business. The rule in congress upon
this subject No l27 } is precisely the same as
rule 63. See Jefferson's Manual. page l6l.
And we know of no precedent analogous TO
the present proposed action of the majority in
the legislation Of Congress since the adoption of
said rule: nor OF any in the legislation of lndi-
ana But if il is still claimed that rule D. war
rants different construction then We insist that
it is in conflict with rule g. which being the last
expressed will of the House, whom the subject
must govern But as the majority still insist
upon this alleged unnecessary and hurtful pro
! ceediDg. the only result OF which, II far, has
been To stop the usual course of legislation. We
most respectfully submit that the minority must
not. nay, can not yield 1t would be wrongful
10 themselves and not permanently advantageous
| TO the present ma iority.
The undersigned still further protest that il is
not now nor has il been their purpose to DELAY or
prevent any rghtful or necessary legislation. but
simply 10 defend their inherent and constitutional
! rights This was evidenced on FIVE several Occa
sions during last Saturday, and while the OBJ
noIiOus resolution was pending, where members
| of the minority asked the unanimous consent of
| the House to pass il over and TO take up the ap
preparation bills, but at each time were defeated
by the opposition of gentlemen of the majority
and that, notwithstanding said rebuffs, they are
yet willing 10 renew at any time such PROPOSE
ton 70 accede to il proposition from the
majority.
In conclusion the undersigned beg leave to
say that they are now, and indulge the hope that
they ever will be. ready and willing TO co
operate with the majority in all legitimate egis
lation, aud that il il fails. the responsibility must
rest, az it should DO. with the majority
| j r COffrOth of Huntington and Whitley
! Jason Brown OF Jackson. Newton Burwel OF
Wells and Backford, FL jah NJ Spencer of Posey,
L Glazebrook of Stark and Marshall, o Bird of
Allen. John NJ Stuckey of Owen. J G Howard
of Clark John Lennon of Harrison and Wash
ington. ohm " Lopp of Harrison, ID f Croan
of Madison. Thomas Hunt of Orange. A J
Beckett of Dubois, John VI Humphreys of
Greene, r Osborne of Franklin, G J. Durham of
FLOYD. Charles Lassele of Cass. A q Neach
of Clay John Richards of Brown. John Har
grove of Gibson. Robert PerigO OF Warrick.
John O'Brien of Martin. Samuel Buskirk
of Monroe, John " Richardson Of Pike, John
p Shoaf Of Jaw
c j. Miller OF Clinton; p n Collins, OF
Adams; john b MiIroy, of Carroll II l..
Roach, of Fountain; Geo. c. Thacher. of Shel
by and Hancock; James Harrison, of Shelby: s
A. Shosff, of Jay.
The protest was read and will 20 upon the
journal
BRASHAN RESOLUTION
This coming up, the remainder of the morning
was spent on motions to adjourn and other dils-
tory and defeating motions.
AFTERNOON