Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-07-03

This formidable instrument 1.-THE Speaker
hammer) marks an era in the management
of deliberative bodies. In the days OF Henry
Clay it was unknown. A portrait Of thai
model presiding officer bearing such sym.
Dol would fail to be recognized. But the
manners no less than the times have chang
ed. 1t is no longer by moral power tha,
parliamentary rules can be sustained. II i:
only from the physical agency of the rough
and>ready hammer that order and decorum
can in any measure be secured. Such, al
least, 10 the theory. Our impression SHOW
ever, that even that rude instrument is los,
ing its potency. We have seen in some O.
the recent squabbles in the House that mem.
bers are with great difficulty hammered i'm
to the proprieties Of debate.
Those who are not accustomed to witness
the proceedings of Congress, and who have
not the means, from personal observation
Of comparing the House as at present con
Quoted with that body as it existed Thirty
years ago, would find it difficult to believe
the truth in regard to it. A visitor to the
House for the first time is astonished at the
want of dignity and the positive disorder
which attracts his attention. The scene
which ordinarily presents itself is one Of con.
fusion. One half Of the members are out oi
theirs seats, walking TO fro, standing in from,
OF the Speakers desk, o gathered in knots
here and there, and engaged In conversation
so loud as to vie with the voice OF member
who may chance to be addressing the
House, and even with the rude noise Of the
Speakers gavel. Some members hre sitting
listlessly. aud with apparent indifference to
the proceedings, with both feet, it may be,
on their elegantly carved oak desks. Oth>
ers, among the few comparatively who seem
to be aware of the business before the House
ar. constantly iute ping the speaker who
is entitled to the floor; and not unfrequent.
ly two or three members will be addressing
the Chair at the sane time. What with this
and the conversation going on about the
hall, pretty good idea of Babel NAV be
formed. Every few minutes the indomiia.
BILE hammer is vigorously but plainly piled,
for the purpose Of pounding members into a
scense Of decorum and enforcing conformity
to the rules Of order. Ten times IN hour
the clear voice of the Speaker is heard above
the tumult OF tongues, requesting members
TO resume their seats and come to order and
urging the request with the more or less We.
hemence, by more or less violent applica-
tions Of the hammer upon the devoted desk.
1t must be q firm and durable material which
withstands the constant and severe home.
strokes of this despotic monitor.
During the long term Of years which Hen.
ry Clay was Speaker of the House, he sell
dom or never used his hammer, il indeed he
was invested with such an emblem Of power
A ,e cradle gentleman, who was meml Or Of
Congress thirty years ago, informs US that
he never, in the course Of several terms Of
service, saw Mr.. Clay use the hammer
Either, through his influence as q presiding
officer or the prevalence of better sense
of decorum among the members, dignity
and order marked the proceedings of the
House at all times. But, il ever there we're
occasion to call to order-and Q slight de>
parture Of the House was an occasion deem.
ed an occasion--it was done, and etfectually
done, by single tap upon the Speakers
desk with his folder or penknipe, II while
. member was addressing the House, two
others we're out Of their seats, and even
whispering in front Of the Speakers desk,
Mr.. Clay you'd reques, the member 10 sus>
pend bis remarks Till order was restored.
An anecdote, related BY the venerable gen.
tleman Of whom We have spoked, will illus
tra;e the ,cntiment which prevaded the
House st tina time in regard to the deport.
ment Of members while in :heir seats Mr..
Vance, member from Ohio. was lame;
and, to relieve himself from pain, be, one
day raised his foot 10 the edge Of his desk
Mr.. Clay, observing bis position, sent one
OF the pages to remind him that he was out
Of order. He looked up, and catching the
Speakers eycf graeiously bowed an ac>
knowledgement of the justice Of the rebuke,
and resumed his accustomed dscorus and
digni6ed position. At the time referred to
no Interruptions Of members while speak>
ing we're allowed. Now. such interruptions
are CONSTANT and sometimes productive Of
the EXTREMIST confusion and disvrder-lead.
ing naturally to these ot.blooded retorts
and disgraceful personal alterations which
so frequently occur. Then, speaking to the
question, even in Committee Of the Whole,
was strictly insisted upon, and the Speaker
was accustomed to remind members when>
ever they rambled or deviated from the
question in debate. There was, of course.
little or no occasion for members TO call
one Another to order, as they now do inces>
sanity. That office was then properly dis
charged bv the Speaker. Now, the latitude
and longitude Of debate in Committee of the
Whole is unbonnded and unmensuied By
any rules Of the House or any laws Of pro-
priety. Then, when the house resolved it,
self into Committee Of the Whole, il was
for the Speaker to 20 down aud
take part in the debate. Now, the Speak.
er retires to his private room, which is fitted