The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-02
~. ootr.ve Contaminated.

The Outrage Consummateo'
M,ryyy wa, seated on wednesday under
The outrageoss ruling Of Speaker KEIfER.
The vote on The question OF sustaining that
ruling showed clearly that the unscrlp,-
lous Republicans had fully made up their
minds to seat MAcKEY despite rules, Gus
toms. courtesy, and what not.
GEORGE FrrzHu0H, in one OF his books
perhaps in /" Sociology for the South "--says
that a written Constitution Is worth nothing
cxccpt when the rulers OF the country
choose to respect its provisions. He added
that no party would allow written Con-
stitution TO stand in the way Of the accom-
plishmcnt Of any object upon which it had
set its heart. This book was written be-
fore the war between the States, and at
time when Mr.. FITZHUGH's declaration was
not generally believed 10 be true. And
vet the history OF the country since 1861
has proved that Mr.. FTzHUGH was not in
error. ABRAHAM LINCOLN took an oath TO
support Constitution which in the most
solemn manner guaranteed property in
slaves, and then cmancipated by proclama-
ton the slaves thus protected. The 18th,
14th, and 18th articles OF amendments
were all ratified under durcss. The
Federal Constitution was not amended,
so far rs those articles are concerned,
in the manner prescribed in that
instrument itself. States were unconstitu-
tionalIy denied representation in Congress
until they ratified amendments which their
people would never have voluntarily rati-
fed. The written Constitution was treated
with contempt. TnAD. STEVENS, the leader
OF the Republicans, secuted all talk about
the Constitution, declaring that they were
acting outside Of the Constitution, as in
deed they were.
The Republicans Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives have just followed the example
OF the Republican Congress OF recon-
struction days. They have amended the
rules Of that body in violation OF the rules
rs these existed before this last amendment
was made. The preteXt that dilatory mo-
tons could not be entertained on motion
to amend the rules, because the Con-
stitution empowered the House to make
its own rules, was as thin one
rs band OF conspirators ever re-
sorted to. The point would have been
much better il il had been made in
the case Of MACKEY rs. DIBBLE-namely,
that the Constitution empowered the House
to seat and unseat its members 1T will. In
fact, it rs presumed that the House does no
business which the Constitution does not
empower it to do: and so, il the prcteXt
were worth anything, all the rules OF the
House could at any time be set aside and
disregarded on the plea that the Constitu-
ton required Congress to do such and
such legislation. But for a week or
more the Speaker had respected the
rules, and had not been ordered by
a caucus of INSCRIPTIONS partisans TO
override them. Therefore, il was thought
best to raise question as to the right to
entertain dilatory motions on 4 proposition
to amend the rules rather chan as to the
right to entertain dilatory motions on
proposition TO scat contestant. 1t is as
pEtlI Us utN tDtt tulN lttlti II uhcStlou ol
higher privilege than the former; but so
many dilatory motions had been entertained
by the Speaker on the latter proposition
that he and his co-c0nspirators were almost
compelled TO raise new question. They
assumed virtue they had not, and pre-
tended to have some respect for the usages
and rules OF the House.
We say nothing as to the merits Of the
new rule itself. The manner Of its adop-
ton is what we object to. The precedent
would justify the grossest and most mex
cusable wrongs. In fact, there is no limit
to the power Of the majority under Speaker
KEIFER's ruling, except its own will. II
may do any and every act. 1t may con-
summate any and every wrong capable OF
being done by legislative body. 1t is Il
long step towards an absolutely despotic
rule on the part OF the majority Of the
House of Representatives. We have only
one cOnsoiing reflection in connection with
the subject, and this is that this despotc
power Will in the next House be possessed
by the Democrats.