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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ELECTION SPEAKER.
On motion of Mr.. WENTWORTH the House
proceeded to the election of Speaker.
Two Intellectual trials were made, when
Mr.. LEVIN offered the following preamble and
| resolution, viz:
Whereas, the precedent has been established by
which all other seats in the House have been dis
posed OF by lottery, therefore
Resoued, That the Speakers Chair be disposed OF
in like manner, and that the Wing party proceed
to put the name OF one member in box; the Demo
cratic party another; the Native American party n
third; the Free-Soilers a fourth, and the Taylor
Democratic partya fifth; and that the gentleman
first drawn be the Speaker of the House.
The resolution vas received with laughter, and
laid upon the table.
The House proceeded again to vote for Speaker,
| but with more success than previously.
MIR. MORSE arose, and said that he held in hs
hand resolution which, in his judgment, if
adopted, would terminate what he conceived to be
a ridiculous course Of action the part of the
House. He had consulted with few of his friends,
who, unfortunately, did not agree with him. The
country is looking to this body and expect it
organized. There few individuals, who, by
voting obstinatly for candidates other than those
who have been selected by the two great parties,
will forever prevent organization. 1t was due
oHc Ut VI lloSc SHOulu
diction and control of the House Gentlemen who
cannot find sensible menin either party, still per-
| sst; and he desired to see the matter ended. The
House have indicated, by large number of bal
lots that the two gentlemen who have been Sc
lected will, either of them, command almost :.
majority of the tntire number of votes Both gen
tlemen, without being obnoxious, as well
qualified us any other two To be Speaker. If he
(Mr. MoRsE) could see in the future any hope of
] the election of Speaker, he would not offer his
resolution. For the purpose Of relieving himself,
III part, from the responsibility Of the ridiculous
position in which the House now placed, he
| offered the following He desired it to be read at
all events.
JThereas, the Hon. H. CoBB, of Georgia, and the
Hon. r. &. WINTHROP, Of Massachusetts, have
each received more than a hundred votes, Il
large number OF ballots, be it
ResOlued, That the Clerk of the House be required
to place the names of III. CoBB and r. &. WINTHROP
in box, and that the name first drawn out by one
of the pages shall be the Speaker of the House.
Mr.. BROWN, of Mississippi, moved to lay the
resolution on the table.
Mr.. ROOT SAID that he regretted to see the gem
tleman bring forward the resolution 1t appeared
that two hundred and twenty two gentlemen were
perfectly satisfied to organize the House and pro-
coed with the business of the country, and that these
constituted the two great parties to which tho
Speaker belonged The gentleman made of
the expression that the House brought to a
ridiculous position Now, if any thing was more
ridiculous than another, it was made TO appear
by the gentlemen representing each of the parties
that two hundred and twenty men, patriotic
and well disposed, belonging to the two great par
ties, who long to have an organization, cannot
game without having lottery, or gambling
resolution There just as many blanks as
prizes daughter And one of the pages must
be called ON to help these two great parties out
of the difficulty. The House 10 in a critical
position. Mr.. RooT did not any thing
ridiculous in the proceedings of the House. II wa.
charac terized by great order; every member was
respectful, one towards another But he did be-
evc that it would deserve to be called ridiculous if
it thus selected Speaker He did not think pro-
per to advise either party. Perhaps if they should
take it, they would both stand up and die game
[Laughter.l He would tell the two great parties
that they are not in the Philadelphia or the Balti-
more convention nor, friend suggested, in the
Buffalo convention-else they would have had a
Speaker long ago. Renewed laughter.l
Tho gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. VEN
ABLE) said the other day that both parties were
patriotic, and that the six half dozen who took
the responsibility upon themselves to defeat an or
ganization, should bear the responsibility and ac-
count to their constituents. That was the kind he
(Mr. RooT) courted, and expected to meet Let
gentlemen look TO their constituents, those
who control them. Nobody need tell his constitu
ents what he had done; lac would take Of that.
This not the first time the two great parties agreed
in denouncing those who differ from them. Two
three years go, the fourteen who voted against
the Mexican war were called traitors lie told his
constituents Of it, and yet lac is here Some of
those who denounced the fourteen a. traitors 30
dcarcd themselves To their constituents 10 be left
at home. Laughter He should like TO a
vote on the resolution. In conclusion, he thanked
the Clerk for his attention; that officer, he said be-
ing the most attentive auditor. Laughter
Mr. WOODWARD said that lac held position
which made it his duty to say something He was
one who had not voted with any majority, but he
had not stood here a. a factionist. lie belonged to
no organization, to no assemblagc which had taken
place and sent forward a candidate. There was
no particular man he desired to sec elected. He
had indicated no wish to see any elected, but
was ready to vote for any unobectionable man.
He had voted for many, or candidates from
the free States than from the slave States. He had
not voted for the nominee Of the Democratic party.
| lie had regarded him compromise nominee;
"A compromise the principle which he could
not and would not act, let gentlemen say what
they may. II Is not proper that gentlemen should
make issues on elections Of this sort. lie repro
batcd the remarks which fell from the gentle
man from North Carolina the other day, and he
rcprObatcd the conduct Of the gentleman who
introduced the resolution before the House.
How could he (Mr. WooDwARD) defend himself?
II was claimed that he should vote, not in his indi
| viduality, and coming from Congressional dis
trict, but as a mere machine, he was bound to sub
init, matter Of course, to the will Of the or-
y The right Of minority to vote s as perfect ~
| the right Of majority. He conceived that the
right Of majority should prevail, but his right 10
vote belonged 10 himself lie should vote against
questions which he did not approve, even if all the
people Of the United States in favor Of them.
| But how should he defend himself against the inn
putaton Of wrong motives for captions ends, Could
he assail the gentleman from Georgia, (Mr Comp
Could he state what his objections to him; Was
a.. Il hon