The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-08-10

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door . closed All within must vote
but the Prime Minister himself can moi
get ia to JOIN The division Il accidental
ly too late
Inside. for the next quarter Of an
hour. tie strife q tongues ceases the
members are silon6el by the extreme
anxiety Of the moment
The House is large square room
fanked on either side by two corridors
styled Division Lobbies,' into which
an the mambers Gle, the Ayes on one
side, the Nays on the other Passing
up the House the Ayes face toward the
Speaker, aud circle around his chair in.
70 the western Lobby the Nays turn
their backs on tho Speaker. walk down
the House and file round into the east
ern lobby then the four Tellers
members Of the House-two in each
lobby, takes down the names Of the oc-
cupants, and count the number.
This occupies some time, for in full
House probably $50 out Of the whole
Cos members will vote, and then the
crowi is serious enough sometimes,
before the division is half over, the re-
suit Of the vote is visible, and cheers
burst from the winning side aud on
rare occasions some fun is raised at
the expense of friend OF the Govern
ment who finds himself in the Opposi-
tiou lobby, and escapes before it is too
late, amid clouds Of good -humored
chgf
In close run fights the excitement
lasts till the numbers are proclaimed.
The counting in the lobbies concluded,
the benches .are again crowded with
members all anxiously waiting the re-
port of the Tellers, who, approaching
from different sides and ends OF the
House, with difficulty meet. At length
they face the Speaker in a row, side, by
side A cheer suddenly bursts forth
a shout, sharp and decisive. 1t must
be the winners who shout like that
The shouts are with difficulty hushed !;
all appear quite furious to. know more
to bear the exact number of the votes.
Triumphantly it is proclaimed aloud 10y
the Teller for the winners; triumphant
ly the winners echo back their delight
The Speaker at length announces the
decision Of the House. Doors every
where hy opon; the shouts again begin
in the lobbies outside; the crowd moves
to and fro; feet rush to the telegraph
office; the electric wires are set to
work throughout the country; the
click, click of the telegraph hand 10
heard across the sea. The strength of
the steam power races after the elecs
trio spark; the newspaper presses roll
and shake; and in about one hour Of
ter the division the railways take up
the movement. The damp newspaper
sheets are bundled into the vans; the
early morning trains speed away laden
with the story Of the great division.
From minute to minute, faster and fas-
ter, further and further, those tidngs
spIead in ever widening circles from
the Speakers chair, and all, Europe and
America can read next morning at
their breakfast table that the House Of
England support Ministry who bold
ly proclaim the poor mans right to
vote.
Stormy as are the debates which
forerun such divisions, fierce as is the
war of tonges, not for two hundred
years have the Commons witnessed any
approach to open violence.
Ga November %, l64l, swords were
drawn, and in their blind fury the mem
bers were all but slaughtering each 9th
er; but Hampden, greatly respected by
both parties was able to quell the riot
before any blood was shed.
Although no blows have ever been
struck, yet, undoubtedly, most unseem-
ly displays Of temper are often witness
ed, and the power Of the Speaker is al
most al IN repressing these outbursts;
for he has to keep order with no pow
er TO compel order; he cannot commit
a member to custody, fragrant as may
be his con duct; he cannot even order
him to quit his place in the House.
The almost punishment tho Speaker
can inflct is TO name member--to
cali him by his name, An indirect re-
buke is contained in this ceremony r.
When the Speaker addresses a member
by his name, that very act implies that
he has 50 conducted himself as to cease
for moment to be a member Of the
House Of Commons; for there the mem.
bers arc never spoken Of or spoken to,
save by TIE title of the scat which they
represent At best, however, an indir-
ect rebake is rot much of q punish.
meat, though by tho ancient rule there
ARISES ethe displeasure Of the House.
What that amounts to may be gather
ell from the following aneedote:
A gentleman often 'out Of order.
often needing the threat Of naming
from the Speaker, At length asked him