Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-12-20


I)LD HILL. -: MONDAY. DEC. 20. 1875
DON QUIx0rE IN C0NGREsS
The other day when one Springer. an
Democratic Congressman. At
to make soms capital for his
,arty by introducing 4 resolution de-
il to DO the u Of Congress
hat the election Of q President to a
bird term was inexpedisnt and impoli-
ic, the wind was all taken out Of his
.ails by the Republican members Of that
body. who almost unanimously voted In
Of the resolution. In 10 doing.
The Republican Congressman undoubt-
sdly expressed the views Of ninetsnths
Of their constituents throughout the
Hon. Frank Pass. . member
Of Congress from Caliiornis. was u Of
the few who voted against tho rssolu.
Not ssiiaAsd With thss recording
himself against its passage. he intro
duced a counter resolution declaring in
that Congress had no business
with tho election Of President; tina. II
was stepping ont Of its path in the pas
sage Of an anti-third.tsrm resolution.
and that to the people alone belonged
the right Of deciding who shall or Who
shall not Be- elected 10 that ofics. while
part Of Mr.. Pages p~os,ulats may Be
true. the rest Is not. II Is easy to see
that in the next election q contingency
may ariss whss.is Congress itself NAV
30 forced to elect the President. In
such case Il will DO compelled TO express
an opinion. But leaving this contin-
gency out OF the question. wo fail to see
Why the Representatives Of the people
in Congress have NOT the right to expires.
their opinion in the sAapsofa resolution
upon any question Of public Importance.
Tho third term question has been an
important factor In the elections Of the
past two years. II has boon considered
Of sufficient moment to occupy the col
umns Of the foremost journals Of the
nation. II has been discussed in con-
ventions Of the Republican party in
many States. Il has besa resolved by
conversions that IL ADVOCACY
was ins1pedisnt and dangerous. The
President himself BY this pressure has
been induced 10 come out in . public
denying perhaps squivocally)
his intention to become o candidate.
The sentiment Of the Republican party
10 Enthusiastically against al innovation
upon . time-honorsd custom. and II is
bat at and proper that its representa-
in Congrsss-while not seeking
The opportunity-should. whom the oe-
presents itself. vote The ssnti-
mspts OF their constituents. More than
all this. Had the Republican majority
in Congress voted against the ps,ssee
Of the Springer resolution. the fact would
have been Observation-Disclosures r~ightfully
orroneously. does not mattsr-as an
endorsement Of tho Presidents alleged
third term aspirations. We regard the
actions Of Mr.. Page rs not only foolish
but impolitic. As opposing the other
its support would Be con-
strusd o. committing those Who voted
for ID. In favor OF . third term. The pub
Lie 10 sentative upon this point and does
not stop 10 aasiyse closely the meaning
Of sentences. A vote against an anti
resolution will DO understood
n . vote in favor Of q third term and no
argument or explanation will countsract
The impression tins created. As to the
assertion Of Mr.. Page. that the House
has no business to 60 behind constitu-
lional restrictions In the attempt to fore
stall public opinion on this subject, Il 10
loo absurd for notice. The House 10
from the people. Its members are
we'll qualified to vote the sentiments Of
heir constituents. aud in this case We
they do 20. Moreover. there is no
constitutional restriction which conflicts
with tho right Of Congress to express its
upon any subject Of public or
importance. Resolutions are
not laws. No expression OF Congrss-
,ional opinion. whether made BY both
or each in its separate capacity.
has tho force Of Law. unless approved
BY the President. An anti.third term
resolution does not bind the people.
would Q Law Of Congress have
hat effect. It simply gives voice to the
Of Congress upon a subject
,oniessedly without the purview Of its
legislative functions, yet which Is OF i'm
p~ortanoe to the people OF tho country.
We are not surprised that Mr.. Pages
resolution. in view Of the almost
vote upon the previous one.
was received with laughter and ridicule;
nor that the House refused to seconds
motion for the previous question. in or.
der that il might be put upon its pas
Aage. Don Quixots. In his famous tilt
the windmills, made not q more
lungs than Mr.. Page in thus
humping himself against the sentiment
Of Congress and the nation.
TIE contest for tho seat in tho United
States Senate. now occupied BY Senator
@. Wright. which is to DO filled
by the present Iowa Legislature. WAKES
warm. This Senatorial ace seems 10
DO at present narrowed down to e.
Senator Harlan and Secretary Belknap.
the greater chances in favor Of the
whose election would give Pres
llsnt Grani st,ll f,vth.r exnar;snrs In