The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-30
/" Filfbus tering."

to illustrate party. measure: aparty mea.
sure generally prompted by Therapeutics
tos resentments, and designed purely foF par
lty advantage. A measure of this KIND IS
sure TO provoke violent opposition. llama
jority proposes the measure there IS no mode
of resistance left the minority but "hlous'
tering''-i. e., the waste OF time by frIyo-
lous motions, such as to adjourn. The yeas
aud nays are called on every motion, the de-
uland of twenty members being sufficient for
that purpose. As it takes about half an
hour to call the roll it may beseen how much
| time In this manner can be exhausted.
We say this " flbusteriug" Is peculiar to
mereparty struggles. 1t does not comport
with public order aud the proper dignity OF
legislative proceedings. The frequency with
which such struggles have marked the con.
Rressional proceedings has not been crafty
ing to the friends of republicanism, whose
healthy existence depends SO much upon
the conscientious and honest perform
ance of public duty and the gene.
raj respect for the forms and orders
which are instituted for the operations OF
Government. Party violence always shocks
and tends to weaken the system, and dis
closes to rejecting people the causes which
naturally excite apprehensions for the safety
of the republic. 1t is far-gone state OF
public Decentralization when party Interests
are made superior to the public welfare, and
IN L &c fho spfp aside
while the party gladiators are struggling in
the arena.
Still the rights of minorities cannot be
safely curtailed even when they are abused !;
and they are often, as in the case pending in
the House of Representatives, exercised for
the very protection of the nation. 1t is
sad reflection that an indispensable feature
Of republcauism may thus be by turns
made the instrument of public injury or pro-
lection.
We find ir the Boston Daily Advertiser,
a Republican newspaper with gentlemanly
instincts and discriminating judgment, the
following sagacious remarks on this sub.
ject:
"But after all it (flibusterine) is right
that ought not 10 be taken away. The fol-
/ lowing is case by no means uncommon:
! Mr.. A. has, bill in charge which. in itS
4 general principles, is party measure. 1t is
| not, however, fully satisfactory to all the
members of the party. He calls it up, and
demands the previous question. Supported
! by majority all amendments are cut OF,
and the bill is passed. Members of the
dominant party thus find themselves forced
to vote for bill which they only partially
approve, and without the opportunity
to - offer the improvements which
they deem necessary. Injustice is done to
the minority, which is not permitted to re-
cord its protests with the reasons; and even
to members Of the majority, who are pre-.
: verted from criticsing in friendly spirit,
and even from explaining the grounds of
their action. A filibustering msjority, we'll
led, can force the majority to give it the
! thing else that can accomplish the same re.
suit, it will be sofy day for the deibera.
! tive character Of the House when the right
1 is taken away.
"Possbly the inventor Of the defeated
4 proposition will regret bis acuteness here
after. The Democrats are not apt learners
Il vi IuCouiuE vi SNCuIS Duo th "AS SaA1i-
GENTLY quick in learning political tricks.
4 They are to have large majority in the next
4 House. Who can say that they will not in the
Forty.fifth Congress have two.thirds ma
4 jority, and be able to accomplish anything {?
4 After the 4th of March it will be the he.
publicans, at any rate, who will be in.
terested in the retention of the power to
i tilibuster. All their old weapons are
to be turned against them. The mouths
i of Mr. Blaine, Mr. Garfield, Mr.. Kelley, and
l their fellow.partisans will be closed by the
4 same process that has sienceG Mr. Beck, Dir.
/ Cox, and Mr.. Randall. Yet the Republicans,
4 already defeated and within six weeks oil
Surrendcring their arms and stores to the
i Democrats, have made parade of newly
4 invented weapon just in time to pass that,
1 too, into the hands. of the enemy. SO that.
i aside from the weapon being one not tit to
/ be entrusted to any party, the attempt to
give O last blow with it seems to have beGp
unwise as well as Intellectual"
Very sensible. This advice may be well
needed by the Republicans. 1t will be OBJ
served that the AdUertiScr speaks of the i'm
! policy of forcing down the Threats of the
majority measure they might desire to
amend. This is attempted in trying to force
through the ciVil.rights bill. There are
many Republicans who do not desire to
pass 1t in its present shape, and we are sure
many more who do not want it to pass at
all, but who may consider themselves bound
to vote foritif it is put TO the vote. We i'm,
agine that u large part of the Republican
party cares nothing about the bill, and would
be very glad to get rid Of it altogether.
They are much obliged to the Democratic
party for filibusteripg.
As a friend of the Constitution and the
Union, we deplore the scenes of tilibuster-
| ing" so often recurring in Congress. They
augur unfayorably for our system of gov.
eminent. Republicanism, so.called, has pro-
yoked it in fearful manner. The Republic
can party, indeed, has brought out all the
weak points of our Government, and have
shown to the nation how they msy wake up
any fine morning the subjects of despot.
Radcalism must be decisiyely driven from
the Government, or the Republic is hope
essy dead.
Bad Evidence for Radicals.
The Alabama "outrage cowpittee" had
before it on the 9th j. z. SoUTHwoRTH, OF
Mobile, who was appointed United States
d;efrin oftorrou for tho southern district of