THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
Mr. Brown's bill [S. 1] for the better management of the Benevolent Institutions of the State [see pages 87 add 105 of the Brevier Report]-being read the third time-
Mr. WILLARD demanded, the previous question.
The Senate seconded the demand for the previous question-yeas, 25; nays, 22.
Under the operations thereof the bill passed the Senate by yeas. 27; nays, 20.
Mr. BROWN moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill passed, and moved to lay the motion to reconsider on the table. The latter motion was agreed to by yeas, 28; nays, 19.
Pending the roll call-
Mr SPANN, in explanation of his vote, when his name was called, said; There is an important section in this bill put there by an amendment offered by myself, and because of that amendment I had made up my mind to vote for the bill, that amendment tailing away a great part of the objectionable features the bill otherwise would have. But I voted against my own amendment and that bill because there was placed upon the Senate a gag rule [the previous question]. Simply because toe members of the other side have the brute force-a majority-they stopped my mouth and that of other Senators on this side- And I voted against the bill because I am opposed to having the previous question put as a gag to discussion upon any bill, and especially anything that affects the people as this bill does. I admire the generosity of the Senior from Jackson [Mr. Brown], who sits in his chair and did not move the previous question, but that it was left for the Senator from Lawrence [Mr. Willard], who has been made the tool of the Senator from Jackson to apply the gag rule and move the previous question. I vote "no"
Mr. WILLARD, when his name was called said: I vote "yea" for the reason that this is a political question, and I so give notice to the other side of the House that I am the tool of no man, but as a member of the Democratic party on this floor I do not propose that when a political question has been agreed upon by the Democratic party to stand upon the floor and have the other side waste day after day in discussing measure whenever a vote is taken, and for that reason I made the motion for the previous question, and I stand by it. I made the same motion four years ago on another bill on this question which passed through the other House. I stood by that action then and was returned to this Senate by the unanimous vote of my constituents-Democrats, Republicans and Greenbackers. I believe that it is a right of the majority upon the floor to control its own action without factious opposition from the minority. For that reason I vote "yea."
Mr. YANCEY, when his name was called, in explanation of his vote said: I am another member on this floor sent here by Republicans, Democrats and Greenbackers. The reputation of the Democracy proves true-the members of that party are afraid of free and open and fair discussion of any question that affects the vital Interests of the people of the State. We have bad ample evidence of that fact from. the beginning of this session of the General Assembly. The Republicans and Greenbackers were subjects of mis page: 136[View Page 136]placed confidence when they sent the Senator from Lawrence [Mr. Williard] here to put a gag rule on the Senate when considering laws for the benefit of the State. It is so narrow and it is so unfair in every sense. This bill is an invasion of the rights of the people, and it is political from beginning to end. It is a means by which to put men in office who, is they had just dues, would be banished from the United States. [Laughter,] I vote "no."
The vote was then announced as above recorded.
So the motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
