Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-12-17
CONSISTENCY.

we have seen too much of politics and poti-
Clans TO be surprised at any display of inconsis-
tency, however fragrant. In calling attention,
therefore, 10 certain votes in the repeated inef-
fee,ual baoings, in the House of Representatives,
for Speaker we do not propose TO point NOR
al, but simply 10 bring prominently before the
public a few facts.
II will be recollccted that certain Southern
members--both Wings and Democrats--of the
House of Representatives, for reasons satisfactory
u fhemselves, refused 10 append their names TO
the address TO the Southern people, prepared by
Mr.. Calhoun. Among the Democrats who thus
refused were Mr.. Howell Cobb, of Georgia, and
Mr.. Linn Boyd. Of Kentucky. Though these
gentlemen were not denounced by the Southern
Democratic press in the same terms of bitterness
heaped upon the heads of the Wing members
who acted with them, yet il was boldly charged
upon them, that their motive, in thus separating
from their Southern brethren, was to concillate
the anti-slavery feeling Of the next House of Rep
resentatives-both gentlemen being well known
as aspirants for the Speakership. Mr.. Cobb, our
readers are aware, was the first nominee of the
Democrats. Without charging him with unwor-
thy motives, in refusing his name to the Southern
address, is very evident that the refusal strength
ened him with the Northern Democrats and,
doubtless, led to his selection. With the excep-
ton of the South Carolina representation, South
ern Democrats voted for Mr.. Cobb, for the first
day or two. Among his supporters we find the
name OF PAULUS POWELL, the Representa-
tive of the Bedford District. II will be recollec-
ed that Mr. Goggin, the late Representative, like
Mr.. Cobb, did not sign the address. If there was
guilt in this refusal. or treachery to the South il
was shared equally by Mr.. Cobb and Mr.. Goggin.
1t will be also rccollected, that Mr.. Powell, du-
ring the canvass, constantly denounced his com
petitor for his refusal to sign the address, and stg
matized him as a traitor TO the dearest interests OF
the South, and unworthy the support of slave
holding constituency Could any one have sup
posed that Mr.. Powell would, within the same
year, do all in his power to elevate TO the Speak
ershp one who had done exactly the same which,
in Mr.. Goggin, he considered an incapable of
fence Yet so il is. Mr.. Powell voted, several
times for Mr.. Cobb though he afterwards, from
compunctious visitings of conscience, we suppose
threw away his vote upon Mr.. Richardson. Was
Mr.. Powell sincere in his belief that Mr.. Goggin
had forfeited the confidence of his constituents
by his preference of Mr.. Berrieh's address to that
of MIR. Calhoun If he were, what change
must have taken place in his sentiments, before
he brought himself to vote for Mr.. Howell Cobb
who, from motives, denounced at the time a,
selfish, refused to plant his foot upon what wa,
considered the only orthodox platform-viz the
Calhoun address.
In connexion with this subject, we may remark
that the Richmond Enquirer is under mistake
when it says speaking of Mr.. Seldom, "Tha faith
full representative has regularly voted for Cobb
and has endeared himself, still more, to his con
stituents and to the South" reference to an
other column Of the same paper shows this state
ment to be incorrect. Mr.. Seddon was among
the first to abandon Cobb and vote for Richard
son, and this, too before the new nominee, Pot
ter, was RON lie afterwards threw away his vote
upon Linn Boyd. II is well known that Soull
Carolina has constituted herself the peculiar
champion of Southern interests II. as the En-
qurer thinks, Mr.. Seldom has endeared himsel
TO the South by constantly voting for Mr.. Cobb
it follows that the South Carolina members, bu
two of whom have voted at any time for him, ant
all of whom soon threw away their votes, hav,
been guilty of something which should call 70
the reprobation CT the South