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

months later news from California and the South
Pacific, will arrive. The Europa has already
probably arrived at Halifax.
The Struggle for Speaker, In WashIngton-
The Former Contested Elections In the
House.
There were lour unsuccessful attempts made
yesterday, TO elect Speaker to the House. Since
Monday there have been eighteen ballotings. On
he first vote, Cobb, the regular democratic can
didate, obtained l03, and 63 on the last Winthrop,
the regular wing candidate, received &C. and 100
Oh the last-the eighteenth. Thus Cobb fell off
40, while his opponent gained 4, aud, at time,
D. The votes that Cobb lost were given to Richard
son, of Illinois, (who received 70 on the last bal
lot,) and Potter, of Ohio One of the votes gained
by Winthrop, was billiards., of Alabama, who
voted for Gentry, OF Tennessee, with Toombs,
Stephens, and others, through fifteen ballots.
The details OF yesterdays proceedings will be
found under the telegraphc head
In examining the history OF Congress for cases
Of protracted elections of Speaker we find that at
the second session Of the S,xte en:h Congress-
which met on Monday, Nov. IL, 1920, the day
fixed at the previous session, the Clerk, Mr..
Dongherty, presented letter from MIR Clay, re-
signing his Office Of Speaker. The House there
nIon proceeded to ballot for a Speaker in his
place. The leading candidates were John w.
Taylor, OF New York (tarif), and VIM. Lowudes,
Of South Carolina (entltarIh). Seven unsuccess-
full ballots were taken, on the last of which the
votes stood-tor Taylor 81; Lowndes, 81; smith,
OF Maryland, 10; scartering,I.
On Tuesday twelve ballots were TAKEN the last
being-for Taylor, 90; Lowndes. 65 Smith, l
and on the following day three ballots were taken,
the last Of which john w. Taylor was elected,
as follows:-Taylor, 10; Lowndes II Smith, q
scattering, majority for Taylor, T. Previous to
the last ballot, motion was made by Mr.. Little,
Of Mary land, TO drop the lowest each ballot, at
the succeeding one but the Clerk expressed
doubts of the power OF the House to pass such
resolutions contrary to the rules established for Its
government. Mr. John Randolph protested against
the assumption Of the Clerk, and Mr.. Little as
serted his right TO offer the resolution but TO save
discussion, concluded TO waive his motion
Again, IN the first session ofthe l7th Congress-
December 3, ls2l-seyen ballotings were had for
Speaker, the first day, without success the first
standlng-Tsy Tor. Of New York, 81 Rodney. of
Delaware, IS; McLane, Of Delaware, 20; Smith,
Of Maryland, ~. On the following day (Tues-
day. five more ballotings took place, on ths last
of which Ohe l2dh) p. T.. Barbour of Virginia,
was tlected 10y a majority of 4-vz; Barbour So
Taylor, 81; al others. IL. Taylor, who was
ClInlonipn, owed his defeat TO the democratic
bucktail members from this STATE, OF whom G. c.
Cambreiing ives one, this being his FIST appear
ance in Congress
Also, during the first session of the I'D Congress,
jackson being President, and Stevenson, receiving
the appointment of Minister 10 England, announced
from the chair his resignation us Speaker, (June
Ia hal az
ceeded to ballot for Speaker, when, on the tenth
ballot, John Bell, of Tennessee, was elected
speaker, against the wishes Of the administration
The votes on the final ballot were as follows
Bel, III; Polk. -; all ethers, 26-majonty for
Bell, 10. Mr.. Bell had been elected as a friend Of
Jackson but, as is well known afterwards turned
whip. lie only held the Office, however, for one
Congress; and in December, 1855, James h. Polk,
the administration candidate, was elected over
him by l32 to -, and . scattering and blank votes.
The opening of the Tweniy-sxih Congress, on
the % December, IS39-during Mr.. Van Buren's
Observation-Disclosures a scene of great excitement,
on account Of the five contested seats from New
Jersey, on which the majority OF the House de-
pended -Four days were spent ia exciting debates.
and contests with the clerk, Mr.. Hugh A. Garland,
who refused to decide the New Jersey question 10y
calling the names Of the wing members having GER
ufcaies On Thursday, the 9th OF December,
Dir. John Quincy Adams addressed the House,
and called upon them to elect temporary chair
man, which was done by placing Mr.. Adams, him
self, IN the chair. lie continued TO act as CHAIR
man unul Monday, 10th Of December, when
Boberi NJ T. Hunter, Of Virginia, a state rights
or Calhoun democrat, was elected Speaker, on the
llth balot-six Of winch bsllotings took place on
the previous Saturday. The votes stood, for Hun
ter ll9, against Il3 for al others. The House was
occupied with the New Jersey question until Si-
tsrday, the 2lst December, when Mr. Garland
was elected Clerk by is votes, against lOj for
Mathew ~. Clair Clarke, and for Il. c. Mason
Mr. Hunter was the first Speaker chosen BY the
rira roce mode. Ga the 2l-t OF December the
House appointed d committee to inform the pres-
dent Of their organization, and tue Presidents
nessppe was transmitted 70 both houses on Tues
day. the oath of December-beiog y daysiIom the
opening Of the session.
il thus appears that there are plenty Of prece-
dents for the present contest In Washington,
which We throw out for the consolation OF the
people.
CHAsnER or CoMsMKCE.-A correspondent in-
,T vh a., 1t,c