The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-15
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.

gentleman saw the necessity of organization. tn
Clerk had no power TO preserve order; he had n
power over the police Of the hall. Ii was there
lore, due 10 the public, and 10 the eirespCct ant
peace OF the House, that there should be an election
of Speaker, whether IA Wing Democrat. If tn
choice should fall on the gentleman from Georgia
(Mr. Comp enough had been seen OF his charac
ter 10 know that, SO FAR the duties Of the Cha
! arc concerned he would discharge them will
ability. If the choice should fall the lat
Speaker, (Mr WINTHRoP) all were rc,wha
he would do. The proposition which Mr.. ASH
| MuS wished 10 present was--that the House shall
now proceed TO the election of Speaker, pipa
IT, on the first call OF the roll, no person shall re
ceNc majority OF all the votes the roll shall agar
be called, and the person who shall receive The
highest number Of votes, provided it be not les
| than one third of the whole, shall be declared
| elected.
! Mr. WOODWARD remarked that the resolution
suggested such action as would take place after tn,
| House had again gone through with another cours,
| of voting. II the resolution should be adopted
and members prepared 10 act under II, II would b,
necessary that some consultation should take place
| He held in his hand proposition which required
instant action the resolution of the gentleman pro
| posed Interior action. He thought that his was
| such would enable the House 10 obtain al
organization. lie willing, however, TO let il
lie over for the present, to be taken up at future
| time
| Mr. ASIiMUN had no objection that the resolu.
| ton should be brought before the House
Mr. WOODWARD'S resolution was read-that
that on his assuming the Chair, the House proceed
| to the election Of Clerk sergeant arms, door
| keeper, and postmaster and that on the election
of such Officers the House will proceed to elect the
| regular Speaker, and continue the voting until a
| Speaker shall have been elected and said tempo
rary Speaker shall not appoint any committees, or
the House elect them, entertain any petition or
bill looking to Legislation, until the regular Speaker
shall have been duly elected. Mr.. WOODWARD sug-
gesed that his indication of the gentleman to pre-
side temporarily was not invidious. Mr.. BoYp
was Indicated as the scnior member. He thought
that Mr.. WINTHROP clearly indicated on
| the other side. If the majority of the House
should substitute the name of the latter for the
| former, he would vote for the resolution Mem
| beers needed now, if not more than ever, police
officer Of the hall. Neither the sergeant at arms
nor the doorkeeper would ever be much in de-
nland as IN the present state Of affairs Members
were resolving themselves into mob He did not
say that they had become such, but the process had
commenced. II perceived that the galleries
and Hobbies were filled with crowds of persons. If
scenes such as occurred yesterday were repeated,
who could tell what would follow? If a serious
conflict had taken place yesterday, three hundred
or more strangers would have rushed into this hall
IL was Indispensable 10 commence organization
He spoke, inclusive of himself, when he saw the
process of turning the House into mob had already
commenced. II had not gone far, and he trusted
IN God that 1t would extend no farther. Some
other remarks were made by the gentleman in
support of the resolution which he had read.
Mr.. {. III. WILLIAMS remarked that the gen
tleman had established the necessity of speedy
organization. He was understood To say that the
resolution lac was about Ia offer might be looked on
iron rule BE il 80. II an organization was
to be effected only by riding roughshod a
certain little party, he was willing to take the re-
sponsibhty. The expressions of the feelings of the
North and the South would lead TO an intcrmnable
debate. God only knew where how il To
end. The interests of the country demanded an
organization. II his resolution should be adopted,
| II would produce the result. 1t was, that the
House, after the adoption of the resolution proceed
| 10 vote Uiud for Speaker. II gentleman be
elected on the first trial, the name of the re-
ceylng the smallest number shall be dropped
Withdrawing the name of the gentleman who
ctlvcs the smallest number on each trial. and then
! vote Tor the two highest candidate. lie thought
that M four or five trials the question would be- set
| tied. The Nhgs and the Democrats could elect a
! speaker regardless Of the small minority Of the
| House.
MIR. ASHMuN said that lac wished a vote to be
! taken upon MS resolution
| MIR WILLIAMS gave notice that il MIR ASH
! NiuS'f resolution should be- voted down, then he
! would offer his.
MIR ROOT desired to tender his acknowledge.
| mcnt- to the gentleman from Tennessee who had
- frankly avOwcd his purpose. IL was the right Of
every representative frankly and iearcssly 90 cx-
| press hi7 views, aud he (Mr. ROoT) had the right
| Ia oppose a measure which lac thought TO be wrong.
lie could not, for the life of him, conceive why the
gentleman Should prescribe the way that lac should
| vote.
Mr. WOODWARD suggested to the gentleman
that the debate must be- on the resolution before the
| House.
| Mr. ROOT said that there was not much differ.
! cncc between ID, words and the meaning Of the
two resolutions. lic would take things a. they
! came.
The resolution Of Mr. AsuNr~ was read by the
! Clerk, and
| Mr WILLIAMS moved his as a substitute for IT,
| Mr. ROOT objected to il all, and protested
| ~ lac KYI Ia Inc am frD trttls
\ boot, and q thumb.scrcw. Gentlemen might pas
what they chose; II wi,s TO gag those of ardent,
| glowing sentiment, who were determined that
slavery shall not be- extended farther II IL b. the
intention a. put this down, ia Gods name go for
| ward, openly, uaniully Al that be- asked was,
| that those whodccarcd contrary sentiment should
stand by IT, Lct northern men, who represent
| northern principles stand up, like The southern
| men do for their side 81 the question. lie blu-hcd
| for some Of the northern men.
| Mr.. McLANE with reference 10 a remark Of IN,
gcutlcman) said that yesterday be advocated draw
ing party lines tight, the only mode 20 prevent a
sectional organization bat he did not thereby, ior
moment, sanction ~ either party, injustice 3,
! any portion or section. So FAR from that. hc de-
/ sired that all should be beard. lie never thought
that there danger ia the irccst possible action
but lac found that, on the part Of some all great
questions were made subscrlicnt to local questions
MIR ROOT remarked that all should differ honest
ly; aud he asked whether the power aud iuhucnc,
Of this government was not 10 be made Of to ~
tend slavery over territories now free. That L.
local question: His constituents may be taxed {,
carry ou that which hc abhurrcd.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Tennessee, wac glad to Sc,
the proposition Of the gentleman from Massachu
sctt tMr AsHMUN) find favor. lie himself ha,
introduced resolution Of substance similar 90 tina
, 90 elect a Speaker Of the House by piuralit,
vote and which met with little support SO Ear a
hc vas concerned, he wa- anxious to see a Spcake
elected even 10y plurality vote NJ was glad 4
perceive that The gentleman from Missac husett
had changed his opinion Tho gentleman iron
Ohio tMr. Ryor) seemed o. have = standing plac
{ IA the House; but h. (Mr JoHSsoS) was incline,
o. think that hi stock out, aud the gentleman
ought 20 have stopped speaking hilc he had goo
4 fund Of W.T. The House had become satisfied wit
the humor Of the gentleman, who, iu this reprcscu
, tative body If twenty mious Of people, spoke ,
the country az if IL were a mere gcwgaw; the Sout
tainted with chiyslry, and -tiguatizcd as ri
] fling. There was triangular tight here Til
Whgs on one side, the Democrats on the other an
the Free -Sogr, ia the centre; consequently, Their
p had been failure 10 elect Speaker. Neither wi
advance OF rcocdc; therefore. il better 20 ador
= the resolution. The gentleman frDm Pennsylvania
Z | (Mr. WfLMor,) ~ pOmpous strain, Withdrew hi
name, and thanked his friends for the supper
= which they gave him, while be- had tic three ace