Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-16
A Revolutionary Scheme.

n ReVoiuGondTy Scnelne.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Cnicsso Tribune discloses the scheme which
A. is supposed The Republicans Of the next
House OF Representatives viii adopt as a
means OF securing control Of that body, and.
controlling IL, OF passing laws TO enable their
party to carry all future elections for Con-
sress IN the South. These conspirator
against the peace, prosperity, and dignity OF
the country no doubt deeply regret their
failure 70 pass laws in the old recon-
struetion days putting sl the south
ern states under the control OF the
negroes. on one thing the southern
people may rest assured, and this Is that the
next Congress will, II the Republicans can
do so by either foul or fair measures. pass
laws putting ell our congressional and pres-
Dental elections under the guardianship OF
Federal officials. and Furnishing any white
man who shall dare TO look the new King
SANBo in the face. II matters not that Con-
gress has no power over presidential cleo
tions. The Republican malignants are q
set OF despersdoss. No scheme OF villaiay
can be proposed which such men as
CHANDLER woud not support. No trick OF
parliamentary legerdemam will be omitted
which will enable the enemies OF one third
of the Union TO dsfrSnchise that third aud
make its people mere hewers OF wood and
drawers Of water TO the negroes.
Our readers may be incrodulous, and so
we give them the very words OF the spokes.
man for the eopspirators. The Washington
correspondent above referred TO says:
"Many Republicans believe the only man.
ner In which this Democratic conspiracy can
be overcome Is 10 eject as Speaker man OF
sufficient courage TO take the reins OF House
government in his own hands. In fact
qufet canvass has been made ameng the pres
ent candidates for Speaker 10 hopes OF ind.
ing one wbo would avow bis willingness TO
declare quorum present when me can see a
sufficient number Of members 10 constitute
quorum sitting nj their desks before bis eyes.
A bold decision OF tins sort. sustained for
few DAYS, would mske possible = construction
Of the ruses In such way as 10 deprive an
arrogant minority OF IT'S excessive privileges
Rad TO curtail the list Of opportunities for
delaying the business OF the House by mo.
lions Of purely dilatory character aud pur-
pose"
lSu't tUbt Ioubculpidttu iCfOiuh'ohs NV
speaker is TO decide for himself whether
there rs quorum present or not! He 10 10
take the reins Of House government in bis
ewn handsl He ls TO be the master Of the
peoples representatives. The Federal Con.
stitutlon provides that majority OF each
house Of Congress shall constitute quorum
10 DO business; butthese revoutionists pur.
pose setting the Constitution at naueht- and
leaving il TO the Speaker TO decide whether
there is a quorum present or not.
The scheme Is grossly unconstitutional.
The Constitution expressly empowers less
than majority TO compel the attendance OF
absent members. This power the plotting
rascaIs propose TO take away from the MEM
bers Of the House and give TO the Speaker,
for II he is 10 be empowered to decide by a
glanoe.oi theeye when quorum is present,
the House OF Representatives Will necessarily
be deSpoiled OF the power to compel the at
tendance Of quorum. The quorum viii be
an imaginary quorum-sn unknown guam
tity. IL wassaid IN England hundreds OF
years ago thst TO do equity must not be left
10 the chancelor's conscience seeing that
chsnceliors' conscieuces might differ from
one smother as mlch as cha0cellors' feet
And so with this new-isngled ocuIate quo
rum-its number would vary with the short
sightedness and unscrupuousnes OF the oc-
cupant Of toe'Spesksr's chair. Yves ever
more INFAMOUS plot thus unblushingly re-
syealeds
WIN the Democrats in the House Of Repre-.
tentadves allow this scheme 10 be carried
outs II they do, they will have no success.
sorsef che Democratic faith. They will never
again see Democratic Congress. They will
never sgain be participants in carrying on a
constitutional government This Chicago
correspondent has iorewarned them. He
also says that they will have a good man to
lead them In the absence Of = Speaker-that
is, Clerk CLARK. lie must be sustained. The
perpetuity OF our free government depends
upon the freedom OF the bsliot-box. II the
southern people be enslsyed, aud their elec-
tions be taken out Of their hands, the north
eru people will soon find themselves 10 like
condition OF helplessness. The chains that
bind us viii be long enough and strong
enough TO bind them. "Ths country can
not exist bail slave and half free." said Mr..
LINCOLN. II It Was true in bis day, it Is
surely true In this day.