New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-06-08
now IT STRIKES A FOREIGNER.

...... WASHINGTON, Friday, April 10 1866.
s. They (the radtcalsl have everything |
their own way at present, aud the result is that
Congress is under the sway OF tyranny which is |
in the history of civilized govern
ment. There is much talk everywhere of this !
being the country where greater freedom and lib |
erty are found than in any part of the world; but
the history of this session helps to prove that there
isno country where maiortes rule SO odespotcally,
or where the people submit to them SO patiently, |
as America. Freedom of debate is practically i'm
possible here.
Take what happened last Monday in the House
of Representatives as an example, and even Mr..
Bright would probably find it hard to defend or
gloss over such an example. member of the
radical party, Mr.. Wilson, moved that the civil
rights bill pass and by previous arrangement with
his leaders, he demanded the previous question
upon that motion. 1t was consequently not in
order for any member to speak upon the Tesolu
ton before the House. Now, there were several
members, belonging to the three different parties
in the House. who were very anxious to say a few
words upon the bill or in explanation of the votes
which they intended to give. Some of these were,
like Mr., Wilson himself, radicals.
They went privately to him-I am repeating
these facts from their own lips, so that there can be
no mistake about them-aud begged him to waive
his demand for the previous question: so that
they might be allowed to speak for few minutes.
He kept his position on the floor, and refused.
The noise and excitement increased, and members
surrounded Mr.. Wilson, beseeching him not to
called the 'gagging law that is, the demand for
the previous question. 4 judge Of the State of
| New York was one OF those who thus remon-
strated with him, but Thaddeus Stevens was there
| to prevent Mr. Wilson giving way, and he proved
| immoyable
Some members urged that, out Of respect to the
! Presidents veto, they ought to be allowed time
! for discussion, but Mr.. Wilson simply shook his
! head AT last there was a general cry "Give an
hour" but this reouest-and surely If was not an
unreasonable one-was peremptoriv refused like
| all the rest Thus debate 3e6s more efecftdRt
stiHed than has ers, been seen the Fj,ecb Leafs
lrtlTe dlld ceriqtj{y such q Stretcd Of tiiIdiHl
ggGS Eprej exercised before in an assent I of men
IbOnsttng to be free Some members nSIaH 1af
lchgthe5 Seb a t1tHg lraS possible III the House O7
Commons.
/ Here was bill which had been declared Nv thr
executive 70 be Unconstitutional ID its Character
and dangerous to the peace of the country in its
provisions and no one man in the House elected
by the people was suffered to say a single WORD
upon it, .'What would Mr. Bright think of ON
freedom If he saw this 2" said one member to me
think that at least half the House were thor
oughly ashamed OF what they were dOinp-for O
course majority had sustained the demand fol
the previous question: But Thad. Stevens" had
smacked his whip ana his Observation-Disclosures gath
cred round him, willing and subservient.
Let the bill be wise or unwiseSfust or unjust the
way in which it was hurried through the HOUSE
would be scandal to any assembly of freemen
In less than ten minutes the bill had been brough
forward, and the vote upon it taken.
This is but one instance. and COMPARED Will
what could give YOU, sight instance Of tbg dis
position {the RADICAL majority in Congress ia eX
ercising. They have filed eyerv offce in anf
about the capitol and their wonderful machinery
, of committees unknown in England has thI
, whole business of HE country IN it'll grin.
/ Foreign relations, domestic aff9ir5 fnancia
Notwithstanding is placed in the hands Of com
/ mittees, and majority Of ecey9J COMMITTEES con
sists of radicals appointed bv tie radical Sneska
Of the House. or tie equally radical President q
, the Senate, 1t world be well if Mr. Rright an,
others ggAo wish to 'sAmericaaize English insti
tutions could see this one ia fulI WORKING. sucb
system for concentratinr the mower of C0ngras
in the hands Of few men. and for disarminr inde
pendent members ST fhe sIiabtas+ antboTi7g IN,