New-York tribune., 1875-01-26
KING CAUCUS DEFEATED.

oRJrCvrs OF CrssNA's BHI-GIL KINDS OF CORRUPT
LEGISLATION TO BE HELPED by IT-vARioUs
JoRs IN READINESS To BE CARRIED on ITS
BACK -- THE CHORPENNING CLAIM AND THE
TExAs PACIFIC HOPING FOR ITS AID-EFTECT OF
TIE CONTEST on TIE PARTY.
tBN TELTGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.l
WAsurvGTov, Jan 25.-Tbe power Of King Caucus
is broken in the House Of Representatives. For
once NJ least the Of character and influence in
the Republican party have dared to take bold stand
aCainst tho tide that Is sweeping their party TO
destruction. he defeat Of the caucus rule in tue
House to-day accomplished, as it was, by the
aid Of Republican votes, is an event
the importance of which cannot be over
estimated. 1t is notice to the country from
few of the men who have helped to give the party
the position and character il has gained in the past,
that they VIII not be bound by the orders of an un-
scrupulous partisan majority when great question
Of principle is at stake, no matter II 1t issues ITS
mandates through the party caucus. 1t has let in
almost the first and only ray of light which has yet
broken upon the political situation since Congress
assembled ia December last
The rule which il was proposed to adopt did not
have about il one redeeming feature. Rules in
legislative bodies are made for the protection Of the
minority. The tendency has been, since the Re
publicans have had control OF the House, to amend
ALWAYS in the direction of curtailinR the power of
the minority and giving the majority more COM
plete control OF the business. Some Of the changes
that have been made during the past Is years,
though originally opposed by the Democrats. are
now universally acknowledged to have been wise
ones. Nobody for instance. would now think OF
aboshing the previous question. and OF opening the
food gates of everlasting talk in the House
as they are open in the Senate The House in per-
petua session would never accomplish the necessary
lec;slafion One of the latest notifications of the
rules is that prohibiting repeated datory motions
when motion to suspend the rules has been enter
tanned This prevents filbustering when twO-thirds
of the house desire proceed with business and to
pass any particular measure and in principle 1t is
night since it will rarely happen, as 1t has this ses
sion that q minority of the people are represented
by more than two-thirds Of the Members of the
House. II il is the Judgment Of two-thirds of the
House that a measure ought TO pass, it is generally
safe 10 conclude that il is one which the people will
sustain and the third ought not to be allowed to
stand in the way But the rule which Cessna presented
to-day was intended not only as blow at the rights
Of the minority in the House. but at the rights of
majority Of the people of the country. Since the
elections Of last Fall. the Democrats in the House
constitute the party that has the people at its back
and this rule had it been agreed TO. would have de-
prved them of nearly all influence upon important
legislation during the remainder Of the present ses
zion. Combined with the right 10 call the previous
question il proposed TO give to the majority the
power 70 pass any measure of hand. without word
Of debate unless the majority should be gracious
enough 20 allow 1t.
What would have been the result First.
the passage of acts to deprive the people
Of the Southern States of the right TO
manage their own affairs, and TO restore
the government of those States to the hands of the
carpetbaggers whose rule has brought the South to
the very verge Of ruin The leading carpet-bagger
and Grant men do not disguise their purpose in this
particular. but openly assert that further recon
stroction measures are necessary. not 10 save the
beuth. but " save the Republican party In the