Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-24
PilIbustering.

The House Of Representatives at Wash
ington is just now doing nothing because
the democrats have resorted to the tactics
known as filibustering. What gave that
name to that kind Of performance is not
certain for fllibuster used to be word for
a sort Of junior pirate and good pirate
had to be active if he amounted to any
thing in his chosen calling. 1t may be
that Lopez and his followers, when they
made their raid on Cuba in 1851 and were
dubbed filibusters. made such fat failure
to do anything except to get themselves
killed that the name will always attach
to those who make a great ado about
doing nothing.
IN 1880 In the second district of South
Carolina Mackey, the republican candi-
date, had more votes than O'Connor, his
democratic opponent. But by the tissue
ballot dodge and others O'Connor was
counted in. AIackey gave notice of con-
test aad O'Connor died. Then one Dibble
was voted for by the democrats, received
his certificate and his seat in the House.
Mackey continued the contest and took
his testimony, while Dibble claimed that
the contest fell to the ground when O'Con-
nor died; besides Dibble maintains that
Mackey has tempered with the testimony
taken.
The committee on elections reported in
favor of Mackey and Dibble claims that
they refused to 60 sufficiently into an ex-
animation of the forgery of testimony
which he charged on Mackey. The matter
came on for consideration Saturday, and
the democrats began to put in sort of
work that they promise to keep up till
midsummer if the republicans persist in
considering this election case. They re-
fiain from voting and rs a number OF
republican members absent arc the result,
is that no quorum votes and so no prog
ress is made.
When the Chalmers case was up the
democrats allowed o vote to be taken,
whereupon Chalmers was indignant and
proceeded to set himself up as an indc-
pendent, They have since been warned
from South Carolina that if the south is
to be kept solid southern methods and men
must be sustained. So the business OF the
House will be blocked till the end of the
session no less the republicans can cure all
their men Of absenteeism or until they
consent to let the democratic minority
dictate the order Of business.
This filibustering performance means
Just this, that the solidity of the south, the
last citadel of bourbon democracy. is en-
dangered unless southern democrat can
be backed in keeping whatever tissue bal
lots will give him, by the whole power %
the party. Whether it will pay the repu -
licans to keep up the attempt to get vo
on this contested case is doubtful. Blu
anyway the southern necessities are we
shown up by The perform ,ace
Malone and his like are the dread of h
solid south to-day as the carpet bagg'
was few years ago. The Virginia eau
paign has begun thus early, and Malone
and his friends are characterized by theiI
opponents on the stump by epithets tina,
are worse than those applied to the do
spised "carpetbaggsrs and scalawags" of
bygone days. 1t was fine solidity, but
the solid southerner begins to feel all
broken up when the "Old Dominion" is
to have for her senator's Malone and Rid
dleberger. To prevent the spread of this
broken up feeling the democratic minority
in the House has undertaken this large
job Of tllibustering.