The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-30
Che 2utland Daily Glohe
TUESDAY, MARCH 80, 1915.
From the Republic, for March,
HOW THE DEMOCRACY
a RULE.
william SIadc of Vermont and HIS
Assault on slavery.

| 's''sA VIZ
In 1888, one William Slade of Vermont,
introduced into the house of representa-
tives fire brand, in the shape of motion
to refer number of petitions against sla-
very to select committee with instruc-
tions to report a bill for the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia. This
motion was like dropping lighted match
into a key of powder The house at that
time was strongly pro-slavery and Slada
was met with storm of Indignation But
he was bold man, knew his rights, and
could not be choked off by the demonstra-
tions made against him. In vain the mem
bers from the South stormcd at threatened
and coaxed the gentleman from Vermont.
In vain they asked him TO give way for
motion to adjourn. lie would not be NOV
ed, but went on discussing the question
with as much freedom as if he led Il pow
erful majority instead of helpless minor
ity. If he departed in the least fiom the
question before the house he was called to
order If he touched on slavery in the
states he was raped to order by the
speakers gavel if he read from the de-
claraton of independence or the constitu-
ton of the United States he was at once
proclaimed out Of order if he touched
old English law he was declared out of or
der in fact, few members of the house
have ever been called to face the same un
friendly spirit shown Mr.. Slade. But he
had the spirit of a freeman, and faced the
storm with a calmness as provoking to his
enemies as it was CALLING to their pride.
At last, James j. Mckay of North Car
DINA, hit upon an eXpedient to close the
mouth of the bold anti-slavery advocate.
There was rule of the house, grown
musty with age and remembered by few.
that when member was called to order he
should take his seat and, if ecided to be
out of order, he should not be allowed to
speak again, except on leave of the house.
With this nice point of parliamentary law,
Mckay arose and said:
"Mr. Speaker: The gentleman has been pro.
nounced out OF order in discussing slavery in
the states and the rule declares that when a
lileLlUtr mas Dtcll 50 pronounced by the chair
he shall take his seat, and II any one objects to
his proceeding he shall not do so unless by leave
OF the house. Now, sir, object to the gentle
man from Vermont proceeding any further"
This was an unexpected shot to the brave
Slade. He tried to proceed. but the
speak crs hammer and the excited shouts
from the southern members drowned his
voice, and forced him to take his seat The
speaker read the rule, said it was the first
/ trn IL IT,.
and ruled that the member from Vermont
could not proceed without the consent of
the house. This he asked, but before a vote
could be taken, the house adiourned-this
adjournment being a polite notice to Mr..
Slade and his friends that no discussion on
the question of slavery would be tolerated
in the house.
Mr. Campbell of South Carolina, stood
upon a chair and invited all members from
slave holding states to attend meeting
then being held in the district committee
room.
There was rush to this room the gath
ering was an exciting one. SHADES fire.
brand had touched the heart and inllamed
the passions of the SOUTH
Rhett of South Carolina, denounced the
effort as the beginning of crusade on
southern institutions. lie favored the dis
solution of the Union, and for this pur-
pose wished the appointment of commit
tee OF two from each state to report upon
the best means to secure It's peaceful disco
Luton. But the wiser counsels prevailed.
The evil required remedy, but not the
breaking up of the Union. The remedy
was found in the changing of the rules of
the house, so that in the future all aboli-
ton petitions could be quietly disposed of
by standing rule of the house.
This had already been adopted by the
senate with good results to the slave hold
ing interests.
Mr. Patton of Virginia, was delegated to
offer the resolution, and OH the following
day presented it for adoption. 1t read
"Resolyed, That all petitions, memorials. ana
papers touching the abolition OF slavery or the
buying. selling or transferring OF slaves, In any
state district or territory OF the United States,
be laid on the table, without being debated,
printed. read, or referred and that no further
action shall be had thereon"
This was adopted by vote of 1876 yeas
to GO nays. Senator Bentor. in referring
to this vote in his "Thirty Years View"
SAYS:
"This was one OF the most important votes
ever delivered In the house. Upon It's issue de-
pended the quiet or the house ON the one hand,
or, on the other, the renewal ana perpetuatlOn
OF the. scenes OF INC, day. before-ending in
breaking up all elaboration ana all national
legislation"
There is no doubt but this change of the
rule was as popular among tie democrats
in BcntOns time as the recent change of
the house rules is unpopular among the
democrats of to-day. But the justice in
volved in the two changes is not to be COM
pared. Then democracy struck down the
right of petition. 1t did not say to the
anti-slavery minority, "you shall not waste
the time of the house by lengthy discus
sions on the subject of slavery" but it
said, "you shall not discuss it at all 1t
made the discussion impossible by shutting
out the subject altogether. 1t was an out
rage on the rights of the minority ii was
an insult to the people in their sovereign
capacity. How different the recent change
of the rules of the house BY the abuse
of rule the democrats had kept the house
in session forty-siX hours. Unless the rule
was changed minority Of one-third could
keep the majority from transacting any
business other than calling the roll of
names on motion to adjourn. Self-protcc-
ton demanded that the rules should be so
amended as to make this tillbustering i'm
possible, and yet give to every member his
rights This change was made, and the re-
suit of the change has proven its wisdom.
But the change has been so loudly de-
nounced on the floor of the house and else
where by democrats, as an invasion of
time-honored rights, that we commend to
their attention the change made by their
political friends in 1888. When a repub-
lcan house denies to the democrats the
right to introduce petition and have it re-
ferred or discussed, then it will be time
enough to talk about the invasion of the
rights of the minority. But simple change
of rules which prevents third from con-
trolling the actions of two-thirds cannot be
very oppressive to even a democratic mi
nority.
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