The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-02-14

House, buf \ majority ~ the n cmbcr- pres-
.nt ana participating IN m. bt sines. of the
mouse" u Il not the visible presence bua
'"''r JUDGMENT and votes. which the Const:-
a. fion calls for.
n. neral Garfield, Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Conrer.
Nr, n 'pe~nn and other eminent Republic.
ms IA yc taken the same position NH ~ y
aru,s,n<n = have never been answcrcd II
any Legal or political question can be set.
tied In thfr 4 puntry by the long acaul q @cnce
Of iurl>t. AND Statesmen Of all parties. Ger.
tanIy shis ono. 'tIon has passed beyond the
domain Of dIscusA ion. When. therefore the
present rpeal<c, REP udiased this settled con.
struction Of she Constitution. and decided
that when she oflieTi record, VIII oh the Con.
stitution requires tIe HI use 70 keep. shows
On call Of She yeas md nays that quorum
has not voted. he can epuns members prcs~
ent and not voting, ana thus, by liis own act,
outside 81 the recorded vote, determine thnt
= measure has passed. we considered IL our
duty. a. a pan 81 the representatives 81
the pscple, 70 enter our frVtcsts In every
form available 90 us under tho
circumstances. We are not <Dntending for
the rIght ~ the minority 70 govern. as the
supporters Of the speaker have cndeav orcd
70 make the country believe. On the con-
trary' we are denying the right Of minority
20 eject u:emberS from. their seats. or TO pass
laws for the government 81 the people. I'm
der the Constitution "a majority Of the mem
bcrr Of the Rouse constitute quorum 20 do
business, and we nrc stsnply insisting that
less than majority shall not do business.
We are contending that che majority shall
take the responsibility which propcrsy be-
longs 70 thcus- and shall cpmc into tho
House ~ Rcprcscntativcs.and vote II shey
les,rc 70 control its proceedings. And we
are protesting against their right to carry
tacr measures 10 counting re when we do
not vote
The claim Of the majority thua they have a
right 70 govern tile House without attending
~ session and taking part in the conduct OF
IT. business. Is too prcpostcrous 20 require
rcfutation. II must be evident 60 any one
who understands the position taken by the
Democratic minority In the House, that u
can not possibly result In any ininry TO tho
country, or IN any injustice TO thu majority.
Its only effect VIII be to compel thr Repub-
lican majority. elected by the people to as
sumo the responsibility imposed upon them.
On the other hand no one can forcsec the
evils that may result from the In
auguration Of this practice OF count
ing votes not cast In order to make
q quorum. Under Il minority of the
elect to the House and Senate may
pass the most tyrannical laws for the OPP
preston OF the people. and the most corrupt
laws for the spoliation OF the public treas
ury Whether so Intended or not its direct
tendency Il to break down the barriers here
tofore existing for the protection OF the citI-
zen against the encroachments OF power.
and the spoliation OF the treasury by de-
stroying the limitations which the Constitu.
tion has wisely imposed uponth Legislative
department. Constitutions are made 10 re-
strain majorities and protect mnoritics.
ruling without limitations or re-
straint upon it, power. IL a pure dcspotism
and IL inconsistent with our system Of gov