The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-13
One Triumph Of Principle.

!. IL = E
The Washington correspondent ofsthe.
New York Times, after reciting the pro
ceedings in the House during the contest
on Mr.. Boutwell's bill, makes the following
remarks on the final result:
The House at. s o'clock this morning
'closed a continuous session of twenty-four
hours, devoted wholly to an attempt on the
part of the majority to force vote on the
bill prohibiting any person who has been
connected with the rebellion from practic-
ing in any United States court, and to an
attempt on the part of the minority to get
one hours debate upon the bill. The mi
nority triumphed. as they deserved to do.
They had a right to what they asked, which
was very little compared with what the i'm
portance sof the subject required. Very
many of the majority conceded this fally,
and Mr.. Boutwell, himself acknowledged
that it was wholly impossible to discuss
the subject within the time allowed, but a
majerhy of the. dominant party thought
that, iuasmuch as the minority had de-
manded an hour, for debate as right, it
WAS luCuibbedt I'll lutHi w ieiuSS ioI tle
purpose ofshowing that the minority had
no rights which the majority was bound to
respect. MIR. Schenck at the very last mo-
ment insisted upon exercising this power
with RELENTLESS vigor, in order, IS he said,
to show thatitiwas the majority and not
1.-THE minority which ruled the House.. The
Democrats persisted in their resistance in
perfectly good temper, and with great cour-
Iage and endurance, considering the unequal
mature CT thecontest. TO call the yeas and
nays, and thus protract a session indef-
nitely, requires one fifth, OF all those voting
and the Democrats had just abont enough
to do this and none to spare. They were
required, therefore, to keep their seats
| throughout. while the majority, by taking
turns, could get refreshments aud rest.
The majority offered once or twice late at
night to permit the debate demanded if the
Democrats would take it then and vote
next day, but this they refused, because
they were too exhausted, and because the
majority would leave the hall. At s
O'Clock this morning Mr.. Randall made q
very arstatement of the case. and said
the minority were willing to 60 to the
country on the issue they had made. He
appealed to the majority to concede what
they asked and allow them anlhour at the
next day session. Mr. Boutwell, said he
would assent provided they would take it
at ! o'clock Wednesday, after recess un-
til that time, and then allow a vote to be
taken at IL. Mr.. Schenck opposed this as
a surrender Of everything they had strug-
gled for all night, and said the majority
would persist until they forced The
minority said they had already shown that
this could not be done, and that they were
ready to make the demonstration still more
complete if required. Mr. Dawson said he
considered Mr.. Boutwells proposition per-
fectly fair, and he hoped no Democrat
would oppose it. 1t was then acceded to
| by unanimous consent, and at the House
took recess till IL. When they again
met debate was had for an hour none but
Democrats speaking, except MIR. Boutwell,
who closed the debate in d speech often
minutes, and the bill was passed-ayes
! l09; nays ~.
! Seeing that the Times is Republican
paper, and that Mr.. Raymond voted fol
the bill, these admissions are very sugges.
tive. z 80 t& - So