The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-06

Necessary 10 choice III
Thomas Butler King (whis, of Georgia. in California
at the last accounts and George W. Julian Gree so)
dangerously ILL., are the absenteos.
ArT.Mrr TO fLEcr srEAKER by PLURALITY.
There being choice on the thirteenth ballot Mr.
AspREw JOHNSON (dem) OF Tennessee, offered the fol
rowing resolution:-
Resolved That, the next vote, the individual re-
ceiviDg plurality OF votes shall be Speaker aud be 80
declared by the Clerk.
Mr.. Isaac L. HOLMES, (dem) Of South Carolina
moved to lay 1t on the table.
MIR JOHNSON said that he was aware that long ss'
tabsbed custom Of the House to vote rira roce,
and he was dsposed ~ cvmpiy with TINS custom now;
but Congress convened to dispose Of the public
business and could be transacted until the House
was organized MIR j. considered that Speaker elect
ed by plurality of votes would all useful pur
poses far business Is concerned as elected by
majority. MI j. DESTROYS that Speaker, whether
whig democrat should be elected at to enable
the House to dispose Of the public business
Mr.. HoLMrs oppoted the resolution. He said that
the constitution of the United States formed and
ratified by History teaches us the dan
gers Of being controlled by minority House com
posed Of two hundred and thirty members, misht be
broken into frsctions Of twelve OF fourteen. Dema-
gogusn Is abroad; it cannot be resisted 1t Is one OF
the spirits 81 the age II Is not for U.S. continued Mr.
H. advance the spirit which threatens to syerIhros
ali that is conservative and valuable to the Union.
Mr.. GroRaE AsnNuS, (whg) Of Massschusett', said
that he was against the proposition; but IL should
be adopted, he wanted 1t followed up by another,
namely, that we vote by ballot.
MIA w. vrSAnLr, (dem) ofNorth Carolina, was OPP
posed to both proposition lie said he never knew spe
cisl legislation TO do any good oadopt resolution
would violate Of the first principles Of the const.
tuition which is, that the House thall choose its
~. -.
but by a majority II otherwise, Eve or six may
do il. II half dozen individuals choose to stop the
wheels Of government let them do IT, let the RESPONSE
bility rest where II ought to rest. Mr.. Venable
said be was adverse to the amendment Of the gem
tlsmnn from Massachusetts,, MR. Ashmun) he alb
horred voting by ballot everywhere he could not con-
ceve that any men Der afraid to vote openly II
there be such In this house let II 60 TO the country.
He would rather see the whole session spent In voting,
than that the rira rule should be broken up.
Mr AHsfsrrlp Bear, (aem.) Of South Carolina, was
satifGed that good could result from this discus
sion snd Therefore moved to lay the proposition on
the table.
Mr. JonSsoS s,kod him to withdraw the motion
MIR BrAr would not consent
Mr. JouNsoS wanted to see who would stand out
against the organization Of the House
The proposition wa. then laid the table Yeas lilo,
rays7
Mr. FEEprcN T. STANTON, (dem) Of Tennessee, then
rose aud ,sid, that he had q proposition which he
thought would meet the case, viz
That after the House thsll have twice voted for
Speaksr II no choice shall have been made, the ma
iy shall select from the four candidates hsv-
ing IN. largest number Of votes and N there then be
no choice the House shall select from the two having
a majority Of votes ON the last trial
1uE FoURrEESrH ssLLor.
After an Intellectual effort on the part Of Mr.. John
cen debate the resolution laid the table aud
the House proceeded TO vote rs for the fourteenth
time the result Of which give, compared with the
first ballot, on Monday last