The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-11

| MIR. MORSE remarked that the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. RooT) had the faculty of putting the
House in good humor; but ridicule and laughter
were not necessary to accompany the resolution
| which he had introduced One week has elapsed
and the House is farther from organization than it
was when members first took their seats. II was
no answer to tell him that this is gambling trans
action. The body has right to select the manner,
and when the officers shall be selected II required
| something more than such remarks TO divert him
from the object of organization, and to relieve the
two great parties from the ridicule which has been
brought ON the House by few individuals. He
did not charge the Wing the Democratic party
| with being the cause. Others responsible.
Both parties have shown an honest endeavor to
proceed with the public business. He did not deny
the right of the gentleman from South Carolina
| (Mr. WooDwARD) to vote as he pleased and the
right TO be heard. He has been heard, and will be
heard. The House has the right to change the
manner of elections. Names might have been pre-
sented. A former Clerk, Major French, was elected
by resolution. The gentleman, if he does not like
leaving the selection of Speaker to chance, vote
against the resolution. The question applied to
gentlemen: would they sit here and let few gen
tlemen Che made use of this i'll no invdous sense)
control, until the press of the country cry out
'Shame on the representatives who cloggng
the wheels OF the Government and stopping a
proper organization of the Housc?" He trusted
| that gentlemen would be satisfied with the result
to be accomplished by the resolution. They know
very well that they cannot get Speaker of this
| body, and, therefore, it belongs to the two great
parties to select Speaker. He trusted that gen
temen would reflect before they voted down the re-
solution, else they might place themselves in a
| ridiculous attitude.
MIR. BROWN, of Mississippi, said that he must
| NJ.
table. [Cres of "Question.'l
| Mr.. ROOT inquired what was to be gained by
| laying the resolution on the table?
Mr.. BROWN replied that that was the best way
to dispose of it.
The question then taken, and Mr.. BnowN's
] motion agreed to.
! Mr. SCHENCK offered a resolution that the
House proceed to the election of Speaker by
| ballot.
| Mr.. ROOT asked for the yeas and nays
! MIR. SCHENCK said that he had offered the reso.
/, luton in the first place, because by this method
there would be saving of time They could vote
twenty times day by ballot, and only four or five
times uiva Another reason---the principal Of
hcer should not know by whose votes he is placed
| in the chair
| Mr.. vENABLE expressed the hope that this pro
position would meet with no favor. By advocating
| it, did gentlemen wish to conceal their opinions
| from their constituents? This certainly must be
one reason or why not vote piua ooce? Were gen
tlemen afraid their votes would be seen? for if the
manner be changed, the principle must be changed.
| 1t seemed to him that the manner proposed was TO
avoid responsibility. If gentlemen willing to
! go before their constituents with their votes why
would they conceal their votes? He had never
| fought main battle in skrnish. He had voted
| for the nominee of the caucus, and for gentlemen
| from non slayehodng States and so he would con
| tnue to do until the question be made geograph
ical line II this question be made geographical
line, he would not make it 80. The Free Sellers
should not ''shake their CORY locks at him, and
say, "You did it," If they drove him into that po-
sition, he must occupy it. He would not vote for
Free Soiler Aboltionst. He could not vote for
a man whose opinions would influence every other
| question. He might express too much, but he was
a man of candor. He told his constituents that he
could not vote for Free Soer for an Abolition
list. He would not VOTE if he had to sit here six
months. He felt the responsibility of the position
he occupied. He would rather stand with the little
host of Gideon than with majority who were in.
imical to Southern rights Others may by a Skin
mish determine the battle, but ne desir cd r,
Soil Abolition aid He would not vote for one or
| the other, if the House never organized
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON was unwilling to vote
member of the House; and therefore he moved to
| lay the resolution on the table.
| Mr.. SCHENCK said that gentlemen misconceived
the object of his resolution. They did attach
fair implication. II is charged that gentlemen, by
ballot, would be placed in a false position For
| himself, he came here not pledged to vote for or
| against any man. He never told his constituents
he would not vote for Free-Soiler for a Slave
| holder. He came here to vote for the person the
best qualified leaving the account to he settled with
his constituents; and he would vote for a man pos
sessing the required Abilities let him come from
what quarter he may. He could pick out hundred
men whom he could cheerfully vote for, if the
House could but organize, and proceed to business
Time may be saved by voting by ballot; the House
may vote ten times expeditiously by this as by
the DiUd uoce method. Members were acting in
primary capacity. Ifthcy were here as electors of
President and Vice President, it would be a differ
ent matter, because the people would want 10 know
how the representatives voted but in this instance
an officer is TO be elected to preside tho delib.
crations Of the body. II sufficient for him TO
say that reason covers the whole case: il would
be in compliance with the theory of the Govern
mcnt if they enabled 10 place in that chair one
who would not know by whose votes he was elected
The proposition spoken of az if it made an at
tack the public liberty This Uiua uoce was some
thing new lie supposed that IT was adopted for
partisan purposes, and interfering with the princ
pic TO which he had referred. Perhaps il would not
matter much if this party machinery were dis.
pensed with, and the House return TO the whole
some method Of voting by ballot lie had offered
| the resolution without consultation with any ono
| He had just been informed that the method
had been in existence ten years. However, the bal
lot was in operation half century previously. II
avoids difficulty, and saves time.
| The question was then taken on the resolution,
and it was laid on the table yeas lo2, nay, 70.
| MIR. WENTWORTH moved that the House again
| proceed TO vote.
Mr. BOWIE offered preamble, To the effect that
the organization of the House cannot be longer de-
laycd without esscning the respect of the people in
| their representatives; that every il under the
most solemn obligations, by love Of country TO ter
| inmate this contest; and concluding with a resou-
ton that committee be elected, by ballot TO re-
| commend suitable persons TO fill the Offices Of
Speaker and Clerk and that the committee report
| by ~ o'clock tomorrow
The resolution was not acted upon, and the House
agreed to proceed 10 another trial for Speaker