The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-13
The Speaker. Hammer.
From the Boston Traveller ]

From the Boston Tiavsler.l
This formidable instrument (the speakers ham,
mer) marks an era in the management of delibe-
ratve bodies. In the days Of Henry Clay 1t was
unknown. A portrait of that model presiding
officer bearing such a symbol would fail to be
recognized. But the manners no less than the
tines have changed. 1t is no longer by moral
power that parliamentary rules can be sust aimed.
it is only by The physical agency of the rough
and ready hammer that order or decorum 10 any
measure can be secured. Such, at least, is the
theory. Our impression ia. however, that even
that rude instrument is losing its potency. We
have seen in some of the recent squabbles in the
House that members are with great difficulty ham
mered INTO the prophecies Of debates
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 conducted with that body
IL existed thirty years az would find il difficult
to believe the truth ia regard to it.. visitor to
the House for the first time is astOnished at the
want of dignity and the positive disorder which
attracts lis attention The scene which ordinarily
presents itself is one of confusion. One half the
members are out OF their seats, walking to aud
fro standing in the asles or in the area in front of
the speakers desk, or gathered in knots here and
there and engaged in conversation so loud as to
vie with the voice of q member who may chance
to be addressing the House, and even with the
rude noise of the speakers gsvel. Some members
are sitting lstlessly, and with apparent indiher-
ence to the proceedings with both feet it may be
their elegant carved oak desks. Others,
among the few comparatively who seem to be
aware Of the business before the House, are con-
SANITY nterTupting the speaker who Is entitled to
the floor; and not unfrequently two or three mem.
be-s will be addressing the chair at the same time.
What with this and the conversation going on
about the hall, pretty good idea of Babel may
be formed. Every few minutes the indsmitable
hammer is vigorously but vainly Piled for the
purpose of pounding members into q sense of de-
cOrum and enforcing conformity to the rules Of
order. Ten times an hour the clear voi3e of the
To-, ,o koar oho fba ,,It tofS
questDg members to resume their seats and come
to order, and urging the request with more or less
vebemence, by more or less violent applications
of the hammer upon the devoted desk 1t must be
a firm and durable material which withstands the
constant and severe home-strokes of this despOtic
monitor.
During the long term Of years in which Henry
Clay was speaker of the House, he seldom or
never used his hammer, If indeed he was invested
with such an emblem of power. A venerable
gentleman, who was member 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 a pre-
siding officer, or the prevalence OF better sense
of decorum among the members dignity and Or
der marked the proceedings OF the House at all
times. But, if ever there were occasion to call to
order-and slight departure from the rules of
| the House was deemed an occasion-it was done,
| and effectualy done, by simple tap upon the
| speakers desk with his folder or pen.knife. II.
| while a member was addressing the House, two
ing in front of the speakers desk, Mr.. Clay would
| request the member to suspend his remarks till
order was restored. An anecdote, related by the
| venerable gentleman Of whom we have spoken,
| will illustrate the sentiment which peTVaded the
House at that time in regard to the department of
| members while in their seats Mr.. Vance, mem-
Der from Ohio, was larne and, TO relieve himself
from pain, he. day raised his foot TO the edge
| of his desk; Mr.. Clay, observing his position, sent
one of the pages to him to remind him that he
was out of order. He looked up. and catching
the speakers eye, grsciousy bowed an
| acknowledgment of the justice of the
| rebuke, and resumed his accustomed, decorous
and dignfied position At the time referred 20 no
| interruptions of members while speaking were
allowed. Now, such Interruptions are constant,
| and sometimes productive of the EXTREMIST con-
fusion and disorder-leadiug naturally to those
hot blooded retorts and dsgracefnl personal alter
cations which so frequently occur. Then, speak
| ing to the question, even In committee of the
whole, was strictly insisted upon and the speaker
| was accustomed 10 remind members whenever
they ran bled deviated from the question in de-
| bate. There was of course little or no occasion
for members to call one another to order, as they
| now do necessarily. That Office was then pro-
| peIy discharged by the speaker. Now, the lati.
| tude and longitude OF debate in committee Of the
whole is unbounded and unmeasured by any rules
| OF the House or any laws OF propriety. Then,
| when the House resolved itself into committee OF
the whole, 1t was customary for the speaker to 20
| down end take part in the debate. Now, the
speaker retires TO his private room, which is fitted
up with palatial magnihcence for the reception of
| bis friends and is seen no more till the rising Of
| the committee, which during his absence scarcely
| rises TO the dignity of political caucus, much
| less to that Of town meeting or debating So
Ciety. From all which we infer that there is very
little moral power in the speakers hammer, and
| that parliamentary order and decorum and the
| amenities and courtesies of debate are dependent
| upon higher principle than can be evolved from
| any physical agency whatever.