Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-06
THE TICKET SYSTEM,

We nave rarely seea ieEislatofs fail iato
more giaring error, or trot out lamer logic than
did some Of the Senators in their remarks On .
saturday in opposition TO Mr.. Sherman's me-
ton to do away with the odiovs ticket of ad-i
mission system during the impeacAment tsisl.
The doctrine held By Mr.. Confess, thSt IL the
gallery doors were thrown open rebellion
would be as rife in Washington Is it ever was,
and that certain persons who do not scruple to
proclaim their antipathy in the bar rooms and
hotels for Congress would 60 there and create
disorder, is too sbsurd tc need refotation, or to
even merit serious comment. Nor does Mr.
Frelinghuysens objection, that if the doors
were thrown open the people Of Washington
would rush in hours before the Court opened
and monopolize the seats, leaving to the peo-
pie of the country no chance whatever, rest on
q basis entirely worthy the excellent reputa-
ton of that gentleman Indeed, in practice the
very reverse Of his theory Is true The people
Of Washington have as q rule, more profitable,
and we doubt not more interesting business to
attend 10, and they have neither the time nor
the inclination to rush in hours before the
Court opens and hold the seats against all
corners, as Mr.. 4. seems to fear. On the other
hand, the people of the country at large are
temporary solorrners in the city, engaged in
the sole occupation of seeing sights and killing
time, and they are the very ones, fitted by both
taste and circumstances, to avail themselves of
the privileges affordedEby open doors. As it Is
now, many strangers are deferred from coming
to the city to attend the trial because of the diff
ficulty and uncertainty attending their efforts
10 secure tickets of admission. .. +
In tact, none of the reasons so far advanced
IN support OF the ticket system are sound. 1t
is contrary in spirit and practice to the genius
of ms IN he I;pc ~
all sensitive or spirited people, open 10 cor
ruption and favoritism, and Extensively un Just
in its operations. As the trial Is condu cted
sin the name Of all the people of the United
States" any of them have an equal right with
the families or favorites of Senators to witness
the proceedings. Truly, as Mr.. Freinghusyen
remarked, ''the capitol does not belong to the
people of Washington" No more is it owned
by the Senators and Representatives. They
are mere temporary occupants or agents by IA.
yor of the people; and when they undertake to
say which of their properly behaved and WELL
disposed principals shall be admitted to or ex.
Guided from their public deliberations, they
are ASSUMING very doubtful and very danger.
Gus powers.
That there would be q crowd in the galleries
at times, If they were thrown open hereto
fore, we presume. no one will question. This
should, however, be rather cause for congratu-
iation than affront; provided, always, that good
order Is preserved. The sense of propriety
innate in those who feel interest enough in
the proceedings to attend them ought to be am :
pie security on this point but if il is not the
police force can easily and instantly be in
creased TO meet any emergency. And suppose
the pressure is great and the galleries uneom-
Portable occasionally. That, we take il, is a
matter which concerns the crowd itself. and no
one else. Those who don't like it can STAY
away; and if these who remain can stand
II, the gentlemen who occupy comfortable seats
on the floor below certainly can.