The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-29
The Tyranny OF the Rules OF the House OF
Representatives-How 1t Strikes q For
eigner.

The Tyranny Of the Rules OF the House OF
Representatives-How 1t Strikes q For
eigner.
Correspondence Of The London Times,]
WASHINGTON, April IS.
They (the Radicals) have every
thing their own way at present, and the result is
that Congress is under the sway of 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 are found than in any part Of the world;
but the history of this session helps to prove that
there is no country where msjorities rule so des-
politically, or where the people submit to them 80
patiently as America. Freedom Of debate is prac-
tieally impossible here. Take what happened
last Monday in the House of Representatives as
an example, and even MIR. Bright would proba-
bly, find it hard to defend or gloss over such an
example. A member of the Radical party, Mr.. VII
son, moved that the Civil Rights Bill pass, and by
manded the previous question" upon that mn
tion. 1t was consequently not iu order for any
member to speak upon the resolution before the
House. Now, there were several members, be-
longing to the three different parties Of the
House, wht were very anxious to say few words
upon the bill, or in explanation Of the votes which
they intended to give. Some Of these we're, 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
'the previous question" 80 that they might be al
lowed to speak for q few minutes. He kept his
position on the floor, and refused. The noise and
excitement increased, and members surrounded
MIR. Wilson, beseeching him not to force 80 impor-
tant bill to the. vote, under what is called the
"gsgging law"--that is, the demand for the
previous question. A Judge Of the State of
New York was one. Of those who thus
demonstrated with him, but Thaddeus Stevens was
there to prevent Mr.. Wilson giving way, and he
Ia fronn
that, out Of respect to the Presidents veto, they
ought to be allowed tine for discussion, but Mr..
Wilson simply shook his head. At last there was
o general cry, "Give an hour" but this request
and surely it was not an unreasonable one-was
peremptorily refused, like all. the rest Thus de-
bate was more effectually stiAed than has ever
been seen in the French Legislature, and certain,
Ily such stretch OF tyranny was never exercised
before in an assembly OF men boasting to be Iree.
Some members asked mo whether such tnlng
was possible in the House Of Commons Here
was bill which had been declared by the E1ecu,
tive to be unconstitutional in it's character ana
dangerous to the peace OF the country In IT'S pro-
VISIONS and no one man In the House elec,eu Dy
the people was suffered to say single word 9pon
il. tsW" at would Mr.. Bright thinll OF our ree-
dom if he saw this?" said one member to me. l
think that at least half the House were thorough
y ashamed of what they were doing, for OF course
majority had sustained the demand for tee Pre-;
vious question. But 'Thad. Stevens" had smackea
around him, willing and subservient., Let tne
bill be wise or unEise, just or unjust, the way N
which it was hurried through the House Wouia pc
scandal to any assembly Of freemen. In 1883
than ten minutes the bill had been Drougnt Iol-
ward and the vote taken upon it,. -,
This is but one instance, and compared with
what could give You, Q slight instance, OF the
despotism which the Radical majority in Congress
is exercising. They have fleo every Office in aud
about the Capitol, and their wonderful machinery
Of committees unknown in England) has the
whole business of the country in it's grip. Foreign
relations, domestic AFFAIRS financial .policy-eve.
rything is placed in the hands OF committees, and
s majority ino every committee copsisss OF haai-
Gals, appointed by the Radical Speaker OF the
House, or. the equally Radical President Of the
Senate. Il would be well II Mr.. Bright and others
who wish to "Americanize' English institutions
could see this one In full working. Sunh system
for concentrating the power OF Congress IN the
hands of q few men, and for disarming indepen-
dent members Of the slightest authority and infa.
ence, was never ssen1in O. dehberative' ASSEMBLY
|before Theaway In which 1t Is worked is this;
Let the Reconstruction Committee OF Fifteen
be takenlias an instance In the first place.
no step whatever can be taken IN Congress,
has been first subinitted to this ;ComInittse.
|It manages, ,ii controas,i and directs, ell pro-
ceedings . from the smallest = TO- the most
importantin in relation to this subject. Say that
an independent member brings forward resolt-
| A Radical member would immediately get up anu
propose that 1t be referred TO the Reconstruction
Committee; the motion would be carriedI Iapd the
gsaa 60 to the
simply. .fsburken IT. This ia no Hypothetical case
l..-the;thine has been done. oyer and over again
this saasiona Itave watched the process In scores
Of iinstances since last December, Nothing re-
turns from these committees which the Radicals
Edisapprove. Consequently any man, who throws
himself against the Radicsl party destroys hts
and IpoeitiOu. He, stands alone, las Mr..
RAYMOND does In the House, at this moment.
Then thescommittee meets H. sether 10 secret and
|fserees upon D certain resouti.r 1T Ia laid be.
fore the, Honse on Senate; ..adiosl majority is
there STRONG enough ito cHIrJ almost anything5
the previous question is deuia dfl, that no de-
1bste shal take place, and the public outside be
kept In Ignorance even Ofi 1the oare faot that
there we're members who wished tO speak against
the propositiop,, and . handful 1of men impose
laws npon the country. Gan the President OF the
United States be mistaken, IN believing that the
people will rise against this Dictatorship before
fofgs thht they would overthrow it now II they did
but properly understand ii 70 Z. -
! 80 Mobilization OF tho Prussian Army.
.'-,n. f0ore,pondenee Rf TIE London TmrI] s ID
E BsaLIs, May. .a-One thing is certain the King,
though driyenn3s he conceiYes hlmsef-to ralse
one Armament after the other; is determined to
sctbtrietl5 on the defensive. i believe the time
is not far of when his MAjesty will be inclined TO
take the advice Of his royal nephew at 81. Peters
|fhurghewthos o ldsysor two feg0 rurgedIhtm, m the
most prassing terms, to dellsre that he Will abide
nv }ha traafv of GastAii and Ut no consideration