New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-24

In
tamnorary needs of the Government, protect
the industry of our people.
NrcPO 1INSTRELSY IN CONGRESS-
ooh Dixey.r exclaimed an enthusiastic lady
in our hearing, while watching that celebrated
negro-minstrel 90 through his performance with
the bones, "Dixey is my idealp To what
hitch her admiration would have been raised
we can only infer, had she witnessed the scenes
in tbe House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Without the aid Of burnt cork our Congress
men succeeded in putting to shame the buff
fooneries OF the hitherto unrivaled Cool
White, or the amusing Billy Birch. AT
a. o'clock Tuesday afternoon, on motion
of the Democratic members, the House
resolved itself into q company of very low
comedians. and treated tho country to bur
lesque Of legislation, which continued most of
the night. 1t would have been very funny in
deed, if it had not been very disgraceful.
The farce began in the determination of the
minority TO postpone the passage of Mr.. Bout
WELLS Test Oath BILL by offering filibustering
motions, and ordering the Yeas and Nays.
The unpleasant prospect OF an all-msht
session caused many members to desert
their seats, and the Sergeant-at- Arms
was directed TO arrest the delinquents. These
unfortunate men were brought from the hotels
and restaurants in which they had taken ref
uge. and forced to join or witness tho melan-
cboly performance In little while, the floor
of the house would have been converted to a
dining hall and smoking room, but for the de-
cision of Mr.. Colfax that dinners and cigars
were out Of order. Deprived of these amuse-
monts the members sought Others even less IN
keeping with their dignity, and it is hard to say
whether Republicans or Democrats did the more
to make Congress dsrcputablc. Mr.. Rogers,
the Democratic leader, inquired whether ham
sandwiches could not be supplied; but then
Mr. Pike, Republican from Maine, suggested
that the fines imposed should go for drinks
Mr. Eldridgc, Democrat, requested Mr.. Grlnneu
TO entertain the company with the song OF
John Brown" and Mr.. Grinnell, in return
wanted Mr.. Eldridge to sing
Ana arc we Rebels yet alive
And do we yet rebel;
And is il not amazing grace,
That No are not In heuV
Mr.. auckland wanted to DO excused for running
away. on the ground that he had been 10 din
ner, and Mr.. Shenck was in favor of RENTING
the fine, thinking that to dino in tho restau-
rant of the House was penalty enough
This was joke which wo assure Mr.
Schcnck no comic paper would publish,
and the reporter should be Censurcd for
telegraphing IL We object to paying
for inprOprietics which are not even
funny. If want OF dignity is wit, why did not
the members play Leap Frog all night for then
they would have been still wittierY We are
sorry that Mr.. COlfax, who enforced some of
the rules sternly, did not assert the dignity Of
the Spcakcrslip, aud read the House q severe
lesson instead Of joining in lis silly fun.
But he seems to have made little effort to spare
the country this shame.
Amid such scenes the joyial members passed
the night, varying tho entertainment 10y motions
to adjourn till Thursday 10 amend 10y substi-
tuting Friday, 10 amend the amendment 10y
making IL Friday at IL o'clock, TO amend the
amendment TO the amendment by making 1t
minutes after 12, and 50 on till this shallow
fountain Of bad wit was exhausted, tlll
the widc-mouthed spectators in the gallery
were tired of laughing at tho bufioons,
and tho buffoons themselves were too
sleepy 10 laugh at each other Then the
House adjourned to meet in q few.hours, pass
Mr. Boutwcll's bill and the Post-0hice appro-
priaton, aud then, still sleepy, adjourned
again. TO 20 TO led and give themselves the
repose they so badly needed The Republican
majority showed itself fooIislly weak in yield
ing to this Democratic demand for debate on
question upon which the previous question had
been called. IL should have granted it at the
| first, or not at all. A majority, being able to
work in sections, must finally, il il has pluck,
tire out a minority, and the Republicans should
have stood out for week. if necessary. For
the sake OF discipline, and 60 prevent future
filibustering, il would have been polite aud
right to have done so.
II Is rather mean that Congress should at
tempt to deprive our negro mnstrels OF their
occupation. Why should Mr.. Rogers try to
take the bread and butter from the comic
Birch, or Mr.. Pike seek TO wrest the banjo
from the reluctant Davy Wambold2 Con
gross offers the public, for nothing, n
walk around, for which tho regular
MINISTRIES must charge q high price, with the
additional attraction of indecency, which the
latter would scorn. The minstrel business will
bo ruined unless Congress reforms its man
ners; for who would pay to SEQ George
Chrisiys buffOoneries when Messrs. EldIdgc
and Grinnell perform orgies twice rs
outrageous without any fee 7 If these
gentlemen are ambitious Of distinction in
this line, let them black their faces, and
with bones and banjo legitimately amuso the
public. AS Congressman they simply disgust
it. The late William l.. Burton was u great
II