The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-13
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


No Speaker yeti
We leave il to our reporter to sketch the scenes which
were exhibited the floor Of the House yesterday We
had expected that democratic Speaker would be elected
and that Mr. William j. Brown OF Indiana was destined
10 that unenviable honor.
The commencement of the ballot which was taken i'm.
m.dately on the meeting Of the House calculated TO
confirm these Impressions; but three of the southern
members (Messrs Bocock and Seldom Of Virginia. and
Wallace Of South Carona,) who had voted for him on
Tuesday, threw their votes, this occasion, upon
other gentleman. so as 10 defeat election Mr. Browns
vote amounted to li2-ll4 being the majority OF the
whoe-so that he wanted only two votes OF being elect.
ed Mr. Cobb, OF Alabama, had voted for him. Mr..
Holiness Of South Carolina, voted for Mr. Bowdon Mr..
Brown received the vote OF least five free solers, viz
Messrs Allen, Durkee. Giddings, Preston King and Will
mot. The three votes of the southern members, how.
ever defeated the election. sVsp
scene then took place in the hall which almost baf-
fees description We must refer to our reporter for the
proceedings Mr. Ashmun, Of Massachusetts, Gan abo-
lton whg) was the first address inquiries to the
democratic side OF the House rs to any correspondence
which had passed between the free sellers and Mr. Brown
which finally drew from Mr.. Brown long explanation
Of the position he had occupied and also the production
Of the letter which he had addressed to Mr., Wilmot
He concluded by thanking the House for the support
which they had given to him. and withdrawing his
name from the canvass The letter which produced
so much feeling in the House, will speak for itself 1T
surprised many and deeply mortified his former friends
and many Of the southern members rose to clear the
skirts Of his southern supporters Of the vote which they
had just given to him. and declared that if they could
have suspected in the slightest degree his pursuing such
course they would never have cast their votes for
him. Messrs Robinson and Durham, Of Indiana, rose
to explain his letter and defend his course.
This is not the time, amid the hurry -bury" OF the
passing scene review all the incidents Of this exaor-
binary transaction We spoke yesterday Of Mr. Brown
being admirably calculated to discharge the duties Of
the Chair" We deeply regret and sincerely disapprove,
the position in which he has placed himself Wehad hoped
to hail him as the Speaker Of the House. We had
garded him as politician who was perfectly satisfactory
to the South; and yet fair his principles, and
firm in his course, that he would, as citizen Of the
whole country as attached to the Union and to all her
great interests. do full Justice in the designation Of the
committees and in the administration Of the powers Of
the Chair all parts Of the nation and to every
ber His election is now entirely out OF the ques-
ton, and the democratic party must look for some other
candidate to fill the Chair,
The wings considered themselves fully defeated when
the ballot took place. They thrown into glorious
confusion Their votes scattered in all directions.
And the reader must therefore conceive with what de-
light they received these revelations, and how much
they chucked over the effects which were displayed in
the ranks Of the republican party We are not accus
toned. however, "despar Of the republic" The dem
ocraiic party fortunately not wanting in strong and
able leaders to conduct them TO victory; and it is TO be
hoped they viii yet rally Upon some democrat who will
succeed in reaching the Chair.
After much debate, and without proceeding TO another
ballot the House adjourned in much excitement at an
early hour