The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-07
House or REPRESENTATIVE,


WASHINGTON, Thursday, Dec. o, 1870.
Mr.. Albert j. ALsroN twhig) Of Alabama, has ar
rived.
ATTEMPT TO CHOOSE A TEMPORARY SPEAKER. d..
| As soon the journal read, MIR. JonN A. Me-
CLERNArp (dem) Of Illinois, offered the following reso-
lution:-
Resolved That the rules of the House. they exist
ed a. the close of the last session. he adopted
applicable for the government OF the House, until
| otberwse ordered
pointed and requested to act Chairman, with power
to preserve order until Speaker be elected.
Mr. McCLEEsANp said that order was heavens first
law and certainly 1t should be the law Of body which
aspires to character for decorum and efficiency; and
that 1t had only been by the forbearance of members
that order had thus been They twice
thrice the verge of being precipitated
fusion The frat offered to obviate recurrence
of danger the second is to furnish a temporary
chairman, who shall be authorized to preserve
order and enforce the rules. He needed scarcely to
state that the only authority which the clerk
possesses to exercise the functions OF Speaker by
the acquiescence OF the body alone. The clerk is
only responsible clerk In regard to the ndiv dual
mentioned. the member from Florida (1r Cabell
wbig) and himself (Mr. McClernand) had talked the
matter and agreed to decide who should be mem
TONED to the House for temporary chairman. The
names of Messrs. Vinton and Boyd put into hat
and Boyd's drawn out first.
MIR. WILLIAM DuEn, (whig) Of New York, said that If
the House had already expressed its opinion
great sagacity to that the temporary chairman
would be Speaker. Once in the chair, he would con-
tinue there. more liberal proposition woeld be to
place the Speaker of the last House in the chair until
one was elected This would be fair compromise
(Laughter) Ii wsuld not be the extreme Of lberaty
to give the administration Speaker friendly to It,
Mr.. THOMAS II. BAYLy, (dem )of Virginia, asked Mr.
ID. to withdraw bis motion.
MIR. DUR refused, because he would have to allow
others similar privilege to debate.
Mr.. BAYLY however spoke in support of the PROPOSE
ton Of Mr. McC The only objection OF Mr. Duer TO It,
that the probability that the temporary chair
man would be in effect the Speaker.
MIR. DUER-l did ROS say probability but that once
in, the chairman could not be got out.
Mr. BArLY-That would depend on the manner he
discharged his duty; and for this he might be con-
tinued. Mr. Duer object to Mr.. Boyd, who is
senior In service In the House. During the 9th Con-
grsss. the Houfe elected MIR. John Quincy Adams of
Massachusetts,, by universal consent, to be Chair
until Speaker elected. Mr.. Boyd would
have other power but TO keep order. His con-
duct could not affect the administration In any re-
spsct.
Mr. ALEXANDER Evans, (whig) efMaryland then Offer
ed q resolution as a substitute. Ii was
That Messrs Boyd and vinton should preside alter
nately as Chairman until the election of Speaker
(Criss of Agreed.D
MIR. RoBERr 4. ScHEscK, (whig) Of Ohio, moved an
amendment to Mr.. Netherlands resolution. which
accepted
That the acts Of the Chairman should have no con-
nection with legislation.
Mr. JosErH NJ. Roor, ". 81 OF Ohio said:-If
there Is to be = compromise, all parties should be
represented. (Lsssbter) lie should like to see
Boyd and vinton sitting side by side. A "rpoked
team" would suit him we'll Ho did not know
whether the House would like II, but he would
like to have with those gentlemen Joshua r. Giddngs
Usugbter) He was, hosever Indifferent as to the
fate Of the resolution They will stand lie down
together, and look well any where Q.aughter)
Mr.. DAVID WILMor q. s. Of .Pennsylyauia said
he had known the House 80 orderly az now
and he felt assured that the forbearanoe and cool
hesdedness OF the members could be relied on N the
resolution BE- adopted the contest would be prolonged
for week He believed the controversy near an end
The question was then taken, and the propositions
laid on the table. Yeas l16, nays l0l.
MIR. FHEDEscKP P. STANTON, (dem) Of Tennessee, then
proposed the resolution substituting the name
Of yinton (whig) OF Ohio, for Boyd.
MIR. VISroS hoped 1t would be laid on the table
Mr.. STANTON withdrew It.
TuE BALLorNas srsuMrp.
On motion of Mr.. JouN WENTWORTH. n. 81 Of nli.
nos the House proceeded to vote for Speaker with the
following result