The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-29

Rcprescntatives-How 1t Strikes For
oIgnor.
Correspondence Of the London 7in,esl
WASHINGTON, April 13.
thing their own way at present, and tho result is
that Congress is under the sway OF q tyranny
which is unprecedented in the history OF civilized
government. There is much talk everywhere of
this being the country where greater freedom and
liberty arc found than in any part OF the world;
but the history Of this session heps to prove that
there is no country where majorities rule so des-
politically, or whero tho people submit to them 30
patiently as Amorica. Freedom of debate is prac--
last Monday in tho House of Representatives az
example, and even Dir. Bright would proba-
bly, find it hard to defend or gloss over such
example. A membor of tho Radical party, Mr.. Viii
son, moved that tho Civil Rights Bill pass, and by
previous arrangement with his leaders he do
manded the previous question upon that mo-
tion. 1t was consequently not i'll order for any
member to speak upon tho resolution before the
House. Now, there several members, be.
House, who were very anxious to say few words
upon the BILL or in explanation Of the votes which
thoy intended to give. somo of these were, like
Mr. Wilson himself, Radicals. They went private
ly to him-I am repeating these facts from their
own lips, 80 that there can be no mistake about
thcm-and begged him to waive his demand for
lowed to speak for fow minutes. He kept his
position on the floor, and refused. The noise and
excitement increased, and members surrounded
MIR. Wilson, beseecbing him not to force so impor-
tant a bill to tho vote, under what is called the
"gagging law'-that is, tho demand for the
previous prev question. A Judge ,a Of tho 3D. State Of
demonstrated with him, but Thaddeus Stevens was
there to prevent Mr.. Wilson giving way, and he
that, out of respect to the Presidents veto, they
ought to bo allowed tine for discussion, but MIR.
Wilson simply shook his head: At last there was
a general cry, "Giye an hour, " but this request
and surely it wac not an unreasonable one-was
peremptorily refused, like all the rest. Thus de-
bate was moro effectually stifed than has ever
been seen i'll the Fronch Legislature, and certain
ly such stretch Of tyranny was never exercised
before in an assembly Of men boasting to bo free.
Some members asked me whether such thing
was possible in the House of Commons Hero
WAS bill which had been declared by the Execu-
tive to be unconstitutional in its character and
dangerous to tho peace Of tho country in its pro-
visions, and no one man in tine House elected by
the people was suffered to cay single word upon
it. "W"at would Mr.. Bright think Of our free
dom if he saw this?" said ono member to me. 1
think that at least half TIE House we're thorough
y ashamed of what they were doing, for of course
a majority had sustained the demand for the pre-.
vious question. But "Thad. Stevens" had smacked
his whip and his obedient followers gathered
around him, willing and subservient. Let the
bill be wise or unwise, just unjust, the way in
which it was hurried through the House would be
than ten minutes the bill had been brought for
ward and the vote taken upon it.
This is but one instance, and compared with
despotism which tho Radical majority in Congress
| is exercising. They have filed every Office in and
about the Capitol and their wonderful machinery
whole business OF the country in its grip. Foreign
| relations, domestic AFFAIRS financial policy-eve-
rythiug is placed in the hands Of committees and
a majority in every committee consists Of Radi-
Gals, appointed by the Radical Speaker of the
House, or the equally Radical President of the
Senate. 1t would be well il Mr.. Bright and others
who wish to "Americanize" English institutions
| could see this one in full working. Such a system
for concentrating the power of Congress in the
hands Of few men, and for disarming indepen-
fha oil
ence, was never seen in deliberative assembly
before. The way in which it is worked ia this:
Let the Reconstruction Committee OF Fifteen
no step step whatever @ % can be taken in Congress-, gss
as body, toward reconstruction, until it
has been first submitted to this Committee.
ceediDgs from the smallest to the most
important, in relation to this subject. Say that
an independent member brings forward resolu-
tion for the admission Of Tennessee into Congress-
A Radical member would Immediately get up and
propose that it be referred to the Reconstruction
Committee; the motion would be carried, and the
| resolution would 60 to the Committee, never to
| make its appearance again. The Committee would
simply "burke""it. This is no hypothetical case
the thing has been done over and over ain
this session. have watched the process in scores
Of instances since last December. Nothing re-
| turns from these committees which the Radicals
disapprove. Consequently any man who throws
himself against tho Radical party destroys his
influence and position. He stands alone as MIR
| Raymond does in the House at this moment
Then the committee meets together in secret, md
agrees upon certain resolution. 1t s Land b,.
| fore the House or Senate; Radical m j"rty Ii
] there strong enough to carry almost All! tr,iII
bate shall take place, and the public ou,.r u,
kept in ignorance even of the bare fact lna
there were members who wished to spe ak against
laws upon the country. Gan the President OF tue
Hnited States be mistaken in believing that the
people will rise against this Dictatorship befor.
long, that they would overthrow it now il they die
| n yIlndnr