Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-02-13

LNen IL tnlS Wcfc All OrlStIlai
question, it would not be difficult to
show that the practical construction
Of the Constitution which has pre-
vailed in the House and the Senate
for over one hundred years is the
correct one. Speaker Reed himself,
when in the minority on the floor Of
the House stated the true meaning
and the true philosophy of the Con-
stitution when he said "The con-
stitutional idea of n quorum is not
tho presence Of majority of all the
members of the House, but q ma
jority of members present and par
ticipating in tho business of the
House. 1t is not the visible pres
cncc but their Judgment and votes
which the Constitution calls for"
General Garfield, Blaine, ITawlcy,
Folgcr, Robcson and other promi-
ncnt Republicans have taken the
same position, and their arguments
have never been answered.
If any legal or political question
can be settled in this country by long
acquicscence Of jurists and states
men Of all parties, certainly this
question has passed beyond the
domain of discussion. When,
therefore, the present Speaker
rcpudiatcd this settled construction
of the Constitution and decided
that, when the official record which
the Constitution requires the House
to keep shows OH the call of the yeas
and nays that a quorum has not
voted, he can count members pres
cnt and not voting, and thus by his
own act, outside of the recorded
vote, determine that the measure
has passed, we considered it our
duty, as a part of the Representa-
tivcs of the people, to enter our pro-
tests in every form available to us
under the circumstances.
| MAJORITY AND MINORITY.
We are not contcnding for the
right of the minority to govern,
us the supporters of the Speaker
have cndcavorcd to make the coun-
try believe. On the contrary, We
arc denying the right Of minority
to 'cct members from their seats o,
to l,..ss laws for the government OF
the people. Under the Constitution
a majority Of the members of tho
House constitute II quorum tnsdC
business, and we are simply insisting
that less than Il majority shall not dc
business. We are contcnding that
the majority shall take the response,
bility which properly belongs to
them, and shall come to the House
Of Representatives and vote if they
desire to control its proceedings,
and we arc protesting against thcil
right to carry their measures by
counting us when we did not vote.
The claim of the majority that
they have the right to govern the
House without attending the sessions
and taking part in the conduct of its
business is too prcpostcrous to require
rcfutation. 1t must be evident to
any one who understands the posi-
ton taken by the Democratic minor
| ity in the House that it cannot pos
sibly result in any injury to the
country, or in any injustice to the
majority. 1t only effect will be to
compel the Republican majority
elected by the people to assume the
responsibility imposed upon them.
THE DANGER or FALSE oUoRUMs.
On the other hand, no one can
forcscc the evils that may result
from the Inauguration of the practice
OF counting votes not cast in order to
make a quorum. Under it the mi
nority of members elect to the House
and the Senate may pass the most ty-
ranncal laws for the oppression OF the
people, and the most corrupt laws
for the spoliaton of the public treas
ury. Whether so intended or not.
its direct tendency is to break down
the barriers heretofore existing for
protecting the citizen against the en-
croachmcnts of power and the
spolation OF the treasury by destroy
ing the limitations which the Con
stituton has wisely imposed upon
the legislative department.
Constitutions arc made to restrain
majoritics and protect minoritcs.
TIE TYRANNY or MAJORITIES.
\ majority ruling without limita-
,ions or restraints upon its power is
pure dcspotism and is inconsistent
ith our system of government.
sa,raezsa. FOR THE RI,OOD