The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-15

he had fully intended 10 advocate strenuous effort for
edecting strict political organization OF the House Of
understand that political party organization was to
be used for the purpose OF smotherng the local sent'
ments or opinions OF either northern southern men
composing the political parties which divide The House
and the country: On the contrary, he (Mr Mel de-
sired that every local sentiment and opinion should be
fully and fairly developed but he did not desire TO see
local and sectional opinions made paramount to the fede
raj character OF our government and political parties
regard and respect for local opinions was at the base
OF our federal Union, and, not always maintained
must necessarily drive men of the North and South into
sectional organization, and thus lead rapidly to disso
luton OF the existing contedeTacy
olution:
Resolved, That II in the for Speaker by the
House OF Representatives there shall be individual who
shall receive majority OF all the poed then and In
that event the individual receiving the greatest plurality OF
votes 50 Poed shall Be deemed duly and consn,ona
Congress, and longer Provdsd said plurality shall not
be than onehird the whole number OF the votes SO
polled.
Mr.. JOHNSON said he had introduced his propo
sition because he anxious to the House organ.
led even il TO effect that object i may be necessary to
elect Speaker by plurality vote. He was glad that
the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.: AsHMUN] had
changed his views on this subject His IM AL prop
0son in substance like that introduced by himself
last week, and which he had then opposed.
Since this body has been in its present condition, the
gentleman from Ohio. Mr. Roor,l who has just taken his
seat seems to occupya standing place upon this floor.
and almost every morning gives speech occupying
about an hour in its delivery He was inclined think,
without any disparagement to that gentleman, that his
fun must be well nigh exhausted Perhaps he Mr. H.
had better put end to these speeches. for he did not
there great danger that his reputation Tor wit and
good humor would suffer.
The House was now in a kind OF triangular position
the wing party the side, the democratic party on
the other, lneher of these two parties having abso-
lutte malory and the occupying third po-
stion He should mention the rees soil party only with
respect. As matters stand neither party can elect
Speaker without their aid The democrats and wings
had each refused to unite with the free soiers and they
had refused unite with each other Under these cir
cumstances he thought best 10 bring forward propo-
stion to elect Speaker by plurality vote The gentle
man who seemed to be The leader OF the party IN
Withdrawing his from the speakership, went on in
apompous strain, appearing 10 manifest much patriotism,
and an attachment 70 great principles YET while SPEAK
was his price and his reward
When he (Mr. J.) offered this proposition the other
day, the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. VENABLEl
unconstitutional He would like to know what princi.
pie of the constitution it violated The constitution de-
cares that this House shall choose its Speaker and its
members shall constitute quorum do business The
House is composed OF 23l members, ll6 of whom con-
stituted quorum Fifty-nne members OF this body
would be sufficient to elect Speaker IT only quorum
voted
A gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. CoNRADl yesterday
referred IN euogistc strain to the late Speaker OF this
tanned the respect Of both wings and democrats by the
able and impartial manner in which he had discharged
the duties of the Chair He would like to have the facts
from Louisiana Mr.. CoNRADl was not posted up in re-
gard TO the facts of the If that gentleman had ex
amined the history OF the late Speakers
at the record OF the proceedings OF the last session. II
would be found that there was a very respectable
minority OF the members OF this House who had re-
corded their names against the resolution rendering
the thanks OF the House to that officer for the faith
full, dgnied and impartial manner in which he had dis
charged the duties OF the Chair There were forty
mi ukn in THAR md Tho
negative or refused to vote upon the resolution. This
result does not look though the late Speaker had OBJ
and democrats He wished 10 call the attention Of south
ern gentlemen to details concerning the course OF that
officer There are 81 standing committees, each one Of
which has chairman. OF these 81, "a were selected
from the non savehoding States leaving only 10 to be
distributed among the fifteen southern States
Mr. WINTHROP. As he had remarked yesterday, he
did not wish to be drawn into discussion of the admin
stration Of the duties Of the Chair while he had the
honor to occupy it. He desired say in regard to the
statement made by the honorable gentleman from Ten
nessee that in this House there were 81 gentlemen from the
States He thought that il the gentleman from Tennes
see examined the proportions OF members from free and
slave States and their proportion as shaimen OF CON-
mittees, he would find that they would correspond.
Mr.. JOHNSON Continuing The gentleman from
Massachusetts Comedies Them that he did appoint as
chairmen Of standing committees twenty -four gentlemen
from the North and only thirteen from the South Now
TO the distribution oil these chairmen among the south
en States. he had word TO say Eight sovereign States
OF this Union-seven democratic and one wing, all
from the South-had not chairman OF standing COM
mlttee These States had twenty seven represent
atives upon this floor He would ask whether such
course was imparal' In relation TO the manner in
which the Committees the District OF Columbia on
the Judiciary and on the Territories constituted he
had also word TO say. The Committee on Territories,
before whom would come the Wilmot Proviso, was
composed OF six gentlemen from slaveholdng States
and three gentlemen from slaveholding States. The
Committee the District OF Columbia and the Commit
tee on the Judiciary composed OF FIVE gentlemen
from savehoding States and four gentlemen from
slaveholdng States. He desired TO ask southern gentle
how with these facts staring them in the face, they
could have voted for the gentleman from Massachusetts
their votes in favor of the resolution rendering him the
thanks OF the House for the in which he had
discharged the duties Of the Chair
The honorable gentleman from North Carolina Mr..
SrAELY introduced proposition the other day. providing
that the wing and democratic parties should each ap.
point committee TO confer and to report to the House
suitable persons to fill the various offices in its gift In
introducing that resolution, that gentleman turned to his
side Of the chamber and said when he looked there
he did not blush, but when he looked upon the other
| (the democraticl side OF the chamber he did.
| Mr. STANLY Tin his seat remarked that he had
said so.
/ Mr. JOHNSON. What was the inference to be
drawn from his remarks except that he had discovered
that there had been combination formed with the free
soilers by the democratic party He thought that the
gentleman would have done better had he spared his
bushes that OCCASION at the time he in
Producing proposition that each OF two parties should
appoint a committee and make arrangements to confer
and divide the offices.
l Mr.. STANLY remarked that he had stated when he
had made that proposition that had been suggested to
Il hv naunha If tha AZ