Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-31
FRIDAY. JANUARY 81. 1890
Worse than keifer.

Mr. speaker nEID siu oh "e""N'N~J
lust what we had so long expected him to
do and warned our readers he would 90.
Drawing black lines around his own record,
and substituting tyranny and injustice for
fair play and justice, he on that day under
took TO count as present the Democratic
members in the hall who had not voted
when their names were called by the
clerk. The question upon which this arbi-
trary ruling was made was not very I'M
portant one standing alone, but the ruling
Itself must be accepted by the conn.,
try rs the first move in the game
of Africanizing the South. and CON-
polling her to send up to Washington at
every congressional election members OF
the House of Representatives whose pres
ence in that body will make up for the
losses which these double-dyed traitors
expect to experience in the North next fall
and afterwards. They know that their
doom is sealed unless they can in some
tortious way manage to control the cleo
tions In the southern States.
REEp's infamous ruling OF "Wednesday
last means, therefore, that the Republi-
cans lnJeuu 10 uuStht ID Np"cA Va H'V-~
Democratic members of the House of Rep
resentatives and fill their places with Re
publicans, and then pass national cleo
tiou-law, and thus so strengthen the Re
publican party in that body by counting in
al the Republican candidates for Congress
at future elections as to be able TO snap
their fingers at the people of the North,
whilst themselvs revealing in the wrongs
perpetrated upon the South. 1T is revo-
lution," as Mr.. BREcKISRIDoE said.
We cannot foretell what course the
Democrats Of the House of Representa-
lives will pursue. 1t was clear case ON
Wednesday that tho Republicans had not
a majority of their own. Their whole
strength was 16l-five less than q quorum.
The Democrats could all have left the hall
and broken quorum beyond doubt. 1t
was not necessary that there should be
more than one Democrat left in the hall to
raise the question of n quorum. Only two
Democrats voted, though four could have
voted without making up quorum for the
Republicans.
MIR. REED cited as precedent decision
which was rendered some years ago by the
present Democratic Governor of New
York. But as Mr.. BREcKIsRIDGE said, the
New York Constitution does not provide,
"a the Constitution of the United States
does, that majority shall constitute q
uuorum to do business. No doubt, too,
there was rule OF law governing Mr..
HnL,s decision. Mr.. REED well knows
what the word quorum" means as used
In the latter instrument. He said a few
years ago that "the constitutional idea of
Q quorum is not the physical presence of q
majority of the members of the House, but
o majority Of the members present and
participating in the business of the House."
He knows that fact now as well as he knew
Il when he so well defined O constitutional
quorum.
REED has snags to run against yet. The
Republicans have refused to adopt rules
for the government of the House. and so
have no constitutional power to compel
the attendance of the Democratic alb
sentees. We hardly think REED will under
take to compel their attendance so long rs
there Is in force no rule on the subject.
The Constitution expressly provides that
ssmaller number than quorum may be
authorized to compel the attendance of alb
sent members in such manner and under
such penalties as each house may prescribe"
So it is evident there can be no idU on the
subject. Congress cannot act on it. Each
housen may authorize less than quorum
TO compel the attendance of the absent
members; but as the House of Repre-
sentatives has no rules and has not au-
thorized less than quorum to compel the
attendance of the absentees, the Demo-
Gratis can all absent themselves if they
choose, and defy Speaker REED and his
tools to compel their attendance.
But suppose REED, ignoring the Consti-
tuition, should undertake to compel the
absent members to come into the House;
What then? We cannot foresee tho re-
sult. Perhaps writ of habeds corpus might
DO obtained by any wrongfully-
absentee. and a judicial decision DO Sc
cured denying the power of the Speaker or
the House to compel the attendance of alb
sentees 90 long as the House shall continue
without rules.
In the Senate of Virginia nine members
out Of forty may order O call OF the Senate.
send for absentees, and make any order
for their censure OF discharge. But this is
because thu necessary authority is given
by rule of the Senate. No presiding Of
ficer in that body would dare to send for
/, absentees il there were no rule on the sub
sect. Nor can he send for them even un-
der the rule until nine members have by
vote authorized the absentees to be pro-
duced.
The reader win at once see clearly the
difference between lawful ruling, such as
Governor HLL's. or such as might be done
In Virginia. and the arbitrary, unlawful
ruling of Speaker REED. in the absence
Of sny law or rule or constitutional pro-
vision authorizing him to do so, and when
the House had not by vote empowered him
70 do 30, he for himself decided by per-
sonal inspection that quorum was pres
emit; and this ne did in fragrant violation
Of the Constitution, which confers the
power he thus usurped upon the House it.
self. Note. upon the House. not upon less
than quorum.
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