Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-17
10 make { House, Keep q House. and i Ger

70 make 3 nollse, Keep q House, and q eer
the Minister, but for the making
and keepiagof House the Whip is pr ina
rily responsible. On dun nights, when lie
House is deserted, be has to provide sub
tsrrauean contingent in case the bell
rings suddenly for division or
3 count" One Of his most delicate and
sroutlesoms duties is the arrangement ofihe
/ orierCf speakers in great debate. This
is no longer left to chance, or at least only
partially 50; a regular programmes or time
/ ble is now prepared for each night Of the
discussion, with perhaps few blanks in tie
middle which ar left to he flled up by lie
process of natural selection or compeLiliye
adroitness in catching the Speakers eye. The
position of the Whip between S and II on tie
night Of The division is peculiarly plinTul.
Whenever one member sits down a score or
Two ofdesperate men Immediately start up,
each with a speech by heart or in his
pocket, a copy Of which is perhaps already
in type in the Office Of his local paper. The
Whip tries to keep ont Of the way; if he an
pears for a moment, he is beset by eutreat-
lies to allow another nights debate. One
member has an important view to commu-
nicate, another feels that he can never
I face his constituents again, unless he
lys his mind bare on the question
before the House. All that the
Whip can do is to advise thsm to Try to ac-
commodate each other BY shortening their
speeches, and so making the most Of the
Time. But even as he is suggesting this
futile consolation, there is cheer and
rush ofmembars from the Hobbies, for the
leader Of the Oppositioni is up, and the Pre-
mier wiz follow, and there win be diyis-
ion at two O'Clock. The gathering Of men-
bers from far and near for critical vote,
the summoning Of truants from odd cor
ners ofthe New World and the Old, from
invalid retreats, aud even perhaps from the
sicll-5ed Itself, IS also an anxious task, es-
/ pecialIy as the days rush past and some Of
the desereT5 are as yet making no sign.
The colonial legislatures, especially in the
! South Pacific, East and West Indian colo
MES, are little, faithful copies " of the
Imperial Parliament. Inthe Legislature Of
/ the Dominion Of Cahada, however, there
( are pecuuariaes not to be met with il any
/ o. the other colonies. They arise from the
different construction Of is political parties.
/ p.eyious TO tie confederation Of 1857,
/ there were two parties in the Canadian
Parliament. the Upper Canada, or En-
g'ish, and the Lower Canada, or
French party. These were 50 evenly
b.l-lcgd leach province having an equal
! representation that there was . constant
dead lock in the Parliament. French Gus
. toms were elg-ar.ed into the British palia-
malrary practice, and many Of these have
been retained in the Parliament Of The
/ Dominion. Though there Is only one
/ thoroughly French province in the seven
comprised in the confederation, tie strict
. party discipline maintained 10y the Quebec
members -f.es them The control cf the GOV
eminent. Sir George Z. earlier, their
leader, vl-lds greater influence than
even Sir John A. Mcdonald, the Pre-
misr Of the Dominion. a stranger
ea.er,n- tie gallery Of tie Canadian
House # Commons during prolrac.ad
debate IS struck by the number Of empty
seats in the zpac.ous chamber below. He
ctnnot fail TO notice another singular fact,
thas very f.r French members. are present,
white exception of Cartier, Larzevin
al = e5~poraIs guard OF their aJIest follow.
e-s Mos. Of the sneakers address the
House in E7-l.sa. and even the French
speakers prefer the powerful \ gio-Saxon
% t-afr no hartonqre. f9r they uss both
LANGUAGES with eqaal Haaacr. Tie aa9a.a
is brought to q close, the division bells are
rrra, and The members crowd in
Ir.m the robbiss, reading and
smoking rooms, aud from The saloon and
/ rsr-sbmeuL rooms below the chamber. of
these over-workeI legislators f liz four
Haas are French members, and they have
about as distinct an idea Of the question
wbi.h they are called to vote upon IS
me doo-keepers. The Sargeaut-at-arms
watches Ill the last grain Of sand fails in
The minute glass on the Speakers stand
and then shuts Tie doors. The question is
real aloud in French and English, an cle
/ members voting yea" stand up. Their
/ names ara called out bga nervous old gen
aensu. while the clerk, dressed in
LONG black gown, marks the division. The
"Eays7 VOC next, and their names are ike
/ wise recorded. No member is allowed to
/ leave lis sea- ill the result IS aoaounced
Bu-, The aalsr may inquire, how do the
French members who We're absent during
Che debate know bow to vote: ThF just
watch bow Carrier and LaDgsvin vCfa--tor
the members Of The 6 vernmeut always
/ stand I'D frst--sud do likewise. There l.
no necessity for a s.whip" 10 influence the
votes Of that crowd. If the leader vote