The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-16
Filibustering.

The Manassas Gazette says that the Re
adjusters would fine the Democratic mem
bcrs Of the Legislature II these should re-
fuse TO vote and retire from the hall. II
can't be done. The Constitution, II Is true,
proyides that In each house less than quo
rum shall have power TO compel the attend
ance Of absent members, but this unjust be
done IN such manner and under such
penalty as each house may prescribe p
that Is, prescribe beforehand. The pun
ishment cannot be by resolution er pos
tacio. II must be under rule existing
when the offence is committed. We tell al
the end Of this article what punishment has
been prescribed.
Again No member can be fined Tor alb
sence at any other time than at a formal
roll-call or call OF the House. That Is the
only method OF ascertaining his absence.
His absence or refusal TO vote when the
question Is upon the passage OF resolution
or bin Is not Enable offence. The only
Unable offence Is absence at call OF the
House. This call OF the House is ordered
immediately after a vote by yeas and nays
has disclosed the fact that there is no quo
rum voting. When the roll is called the alb
sentees are noted, and then, and nottill then,
the doors are closed. II the members come
inside the hall and answer TO their names
at roll-call, there is nothing else to be done.
That Is The end Of the matter. III, after the
House resumes business, they again refuse
to vote. ana a call OF the House is again or
dered. they can repeat the same process.
IL is done in the national House OF Repre-
sertatives whenever either side chooses to
filibuster. We mean the members refuse
to vote whenever they choose to do so and
arc never fined for such refusal.
Surprising, however, that the Democrats
should be caught outside when the doors
were closed, and should thus be rendered
liable to be fined when their names were
called and they found absent, what greater
honor could any set Of men desire than to
be fined in so good cause! The "Big
Four" the Famous Five and the
"Solid six would be in danger Of being
overlooked by the public. How much
could any Democrat be finedy AS there
are remaining only five days Of the forty
five for which the members receive pay at
an extra session, we fail to see how any
Democrat could lose more than twenty dol
lars. And for losing thai small sum he
would be more than compensated by the
plaudits of his countrymen. But there Is
no method prescribed for filming ilibuster.
Read the rules OF the House, and then
tell us II IT is possible for member to be
fined II he chooses to come into the hall
when call Of the House is ordered and
goes out as soon as he has answered to his
name: The doors are not shut until the
roll is once called over and the absentees
noted, and the names of those absentees
again called over. "The doors shall then
be shut" BY that time no one need be
outside. Who can be taken into custody?
Nobody that is inside. Only those who
shall afterwards "appear," or are sent for.
Who can be fined? Nobody except those
who are in custody, and these only after
their discharge from custody.
Read tine Senate and House rules, and
get Mr.. COGnII.L to set us Alright if we are
mistaken.