The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-16
From the Nashville Union.
THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER IN THE
SENATE.

From the Nashville Union.
THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER in THE
SENATE.
The novel condition in which the senate was
placed during the first two days Of the session has
excited deep interest in this community. As the
facts become known, the sensation will be difused
throughout the State. The announcement that the
senate has spent two entire days, and balloted one
hundred times, without electing speaker, cannot
fail 10 excite SURPRISE and elicit universal inquiry
as to the facts connected with SO unexpected state
of things.
II becomes our duty, therefore, to present the
facts; and while we shall not indulge in any Ian
guage calculated 10 irritate, we cannot doubt but
that the simple statement of the facts will not only
fully vindcate the course Of the democratic senator's
but produce no little dissatisfaction among the peo-
pie with the course Of the wing senators. The fact,
that the democrats known to be in majority in
the senate, will cause some surprise that they
should not be able to organize the body by the cleo
ton of a speaker. The first impression likely TO be
made would be, that the responsibility of failure
TO elect speaker must fall upon the democratic
jority. To remove this impression, and to fix
the responsibility where it belongs, makes il
necessary that we make plain statement of the
facts.
n is known that in the senate there are thirteen
democrats and twelve wings. II is also known
that the usage in choosing speaker heretofore has
been TO require the votes of majority of all voting
for some one candidate. In voting, the usage has
been, either that the candidates should not vote,
that they should interchange their 1t will be
once that If either of these usages had been
followed in the present case, there could have been
no difficulty in making an election. The former
usage followed at the last session of the senate
and at the present session of the house; and we be-
lieve it is considered the general practice. In
deed, some have doubted whether candidate for
speaker in our State has the right vote in his
election upon the ground that he is interested in the
result-his compensation being uniformly six dol
lars per day, while that of other members is but
four. Without expressing any opinion on this
point, it is enough to know that either from this
consideration, or one of delicacy, it has been the
custom for the candidates not to vote-at least not
TO vote SO as to affect the result.
Another usage, perhaps better settled than the
former, is that each political party should select
one of its own members as candidate, and nomi-
nate him for election. This usage was followed in
the present case. The democrats selected Mr.
Gardner as their candidate--the wings selected MIR
Maury as theirs. These two gentlemen were nom.
mated by their respective friends. When the rol
was called and the name Of Mr.. Gardner reached
he followed the usage, and declined to vote. When
Mr.. Maury's name wrs called, he cast his vote fol
some other wing senator. At subsequent stage o.
the baloting, when Mr.. Gardeners name was called
he voted more than once for Mr.. Maury; still Mr.
Maury declined to interchange the compliment, and
voted for some other wing. These are the facts
which will strike the public mind, as presenting Q
departure on the part of the wings from both the
usages which have heretofore governed.
The consequence of this course on the two sides
was, that Mr.. Gardner received twelve votes, and
MIR. Maury either eleven or twelve, accordingly az
Mr.. Gardner did not vote, or voted for him; and
Mr.. Tyler usually received one, the vote Of Mr.
Maury. There was Of course failure to elect, in.
asmuch as, according to the usage referred to- Mr.
Gardner did not receive majority Of all the votes
given.
This statement will show how il happened that
although the democrats had majority, yet they
failed to make speaker-the responsibility il
thrown from them, and fixed on the wing senators
unless some Unsuitable can be found for de-
parting from the usages which have heretofore pre-
vailed. No such reasons be found in the char
acter of the democratic nominee. He is gentle
man of superior tacnts-of unquestionable integrity
.-of the most honorable feellngs-in every respect
highly fitted for the station His competitor for the
speakershp admitted as much in a speech in the
senate.
But it is said that the wings have preference
amongst the democrats, and they have right 10
designate that preference; and, of course that they
have right TO coerce the majority to acquesce in
their preference! What is this but the assertion OF
the right Of the minority to control the majority,
and designate for them speaker, OF stopping the
public busnessl BY selecting Mr.. Gardner the
democrats have all declared that they do not desire
any other person to preside over them; yet the
HiuOIlty Cldlm the IISnt OF one OF tnOSe
TO preside who have announced that they are no
candidates. and desire votes, either wing dem
ocratici Some Of the wings have voted for Mr..
Fletcher; yet he has said to them plainly, by his
course, if not in 30 many words, that he does not
desire their votes; he is candidate, and has desig
mated Mr.. Gardner az the presiding officer.
In whatever light the subject is viewed, it results
in this By departing from all the usages in such
cases, the minority have the power to say to the
majority, "You hare The right 10 elect speaker, bui
ACE hove the poscer to designate the indirduai; you
mast either yield to our po,rer IF selection and elect the
bity, ~ the ngority, of permitting The public business
fobe neglected" There is netting in the fact that
the minority willing to designate of the
jority speaker; if they can prescribe four demo-
cratic senator's and declare them unworthy to pre-
side, they can, with equal propriety, prescribe the
entire majority, and designate one of the minority
as the speaker. They may as well say to the ma
jority, "We have the power to control your action
and we claim the right Of stopping the public bust
until you consent to accept one of the minority
speaker as to say that the majority must sub
nit to be presided over by any one of their own
violation Of the great Fundamental principle that III
majority has the right to gorern which is involved in
the proceeding. This grand doctrine is involved in
the controversy, and upon that the public judgment
will be made up.
P. s. Since the foregoing was written, the senate
ballot, on yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Gardner rose
and made a most beautiful, impressive, and eloquent
speech, at the conclusion Of which he declined
further canvass for the speakership. This was one
Of the happiest speeches ever delivered in the sen.
ate and was received with unbounded applause
Mr.. Gardner nominated Mr.. Watterson for speak.
err; and, on the 136tR ballot he was eectcd--having
thirteen votes, (Mr Bradbury, wing, voting fol
him. Mr.. Maury six, and Mr.. Thomas FIVE. Mr.
Waterson made his Acknowledgements in an appro-
-Il IL III. -
Gardner, and the address of Mr.. Watterson, here.
after. We rejoice that this difficulty is settled, and
in way SO satisfactory to the democracy.
The HOUSE oRGANIzED--After the usual troubl,
and embarrassment in making elections among IN,
great number Of candidates, the house of represent
atiyes completed its organization on yesterday Tn
following arc the officers of the house:
Brookins Campbell, speaker.
McDonough J. Bunch, principal clerk
E. w. Charlton, first assistant clerk.
VIM. M. Porter, second do.
David j. Carr, principal doorkeeper