The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-06-07

Correspondence of the London Times.
The Tyranny OF the Rules Ofthe
House Of esentatlves.
WASHINGTON, April 13, 1865.
They (the Radicals) have eve.
rything 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 aud liberty
arc found than in any part of the world
but the history Of this session helps to
prove that there is no country where ma.
jorities rule SO despotically, or where the
people submit to them so patiently, as in
o America. Freedom Of debate is practical
ly impossible here. Take what happened
last Monday in the House of Representa-
tives as an example, and even Mr.. Bright
would probably find it hard to defend or
gloss over savh an example. A member
of the Radical party, Mr.. Wilson, moved
that the Civil Rights Bill pass, and by pre-
vious arrangement with his leaders de-
manded the "previous question" upon that
motion. 1t was consequently not in order
for any member to speak upon The resolu-
tion before the House, Now, there were
several members belonging to the three
different parties in the House, who were
very anxious to say 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 repeat.
ing these facts from their own lips, SO that
there can b. no mistake about them-and
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, aud refused.
The noise and excitement increased, and
membcrs surrounded Mr.. Wilson, beseech.
ing him to force so important a bill to the
vote, under what is called the I" gagging
law"-that is the demand for the previous
question. A judge of the State of New
York was one OF those who thus remon.
s.rated with him, but Thaddeus Stevens
was there to prevent Mr.. Wilson giving
way, and he proved immovable. 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 gen.
eral cry, "Give him an hour" but this re
quest-and surely it was not an unreason-
able one-was peremptorily refused like all
the rest. Thus debate was more effectual
ly stiled than has ever been seen in the
French Legislature, and certainly such q
strength Of tyranny was never exercised
before in an assembly ofmen boasting to be
free. Some members eske3 me whether
such thing was possible in the House of
Commons. Here was bill which had
been declared by the Executive to be un-
constitutional in its character and danger
Gus to the peace of the country in its pro
visions, 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 our freedom if he saw
this 2" said one member to me. / think
that at least half Of the House were thor.
oughly ashamed Of what they were doing
for, of course, majority had sustained
the demand for the previous 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 or unjust, the man
Der 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 brought forward, aud the vote
upon it taken.
This IS but one instance, ard compared
with which | could give you, q slight in
stance, of the despotism which the Radical
majority in Congress ia exercising. They
have filed every Office in and about the
capitol, and their wonderful machinery of
Committees unknown in England) has the
whole business Of the country in its grip.
Foreign relations, domestic affairs, fnan.
cial policy-everything is placed in the
hands Of Committees, and a majority in
every Committee consists of Radicals, ap>
pointed BY the Radical Speaker Of the
House, or the equally Radical President of
the Senate. II would be we'll if Mr.. Bright
and others who wished TO 4" Americanize
English institutions could see this one in
full working. Such system for concen.
trating the power Of Congress in the hands
Of few men and for disarmino ;ndonap