The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. A. G.. BROWN offered resolution, that the
Hon. HOWELL CoBB be and he is hereby chosen
| Speaker of the House of Representatives for the
thirty first Congress. He said that he drew up the
resolution without consultation with his party
friends and without advising them of his intention
to submit it. He was sincerely DESTROYS of seeing
end put 10 this contest. They had been here ten
days, and We're just where they when they
assembled ON the first morning of the session. They
were not only without Speaker, but without
candidate for Speaker 1t was well known that
| the Democrats have majority in the House, yet
| they have Appropriated nearer to the point
|. than the Wings. While portion of the Free Soil
Democrats refuse to vote with their party, there ia
a portion of Wing Free Sellers and Southern
Wings who refuse TO vote with the majority in the
other direction. Under these circumstances, it
must be apparent 10 every one, that, unless some
thing else Is DONE choice be effected at ALL
| The gentleman whose name was mentioned in the
| resolution, he believed it agreed all Sides
possessed as many qualifications as any other mem
| Der OF the House; and he Is abundantly qualified
| The Democratic party, being in the majority, he
conceived was entitled to the Speaker. He knew
| Of no reason why the Democrats should not have
that officer. failure had been made TO elect; but
does any portion of it rest the Democratic party?
Ii could not be expected that the Democrats should
voluntarily retire from the contest. 1t seemed to
him that the Wing party, or some portion of it,
| may meet on this ground, and elect the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. CoBB) to the Speakers chair
He spoke for himself when he said that he will
ing for division OF the officers of the House; but
being III the majority, he thought that the Demo
Gratis were entitled 10 the Speaker. The gentleman
| from North Carolina said that he wanted Demo
| cratic Speaker.
| Mr.. STANLY explained. He remarked that
sooner than the House should remain disorganizcd
| he would take Democratic Speaker. He would
ask how did the gentleman account for Demo
cratic ma ority?
Mr.. BROWN said that he excluded all those who
call themselves Free Sellers from the Wings. If a
a. he do linz IN
their respective parties, the Democrats have clear
| majority of one. Messrs King of Georgia. Gentry
| and Julian, being absent, the Democrats have a
majority of FIVE. He should like to know what kind
of count could be made to make it appear other
wise. His object III introducing the resolution was,
| that he might have an opportunity, on his own re-
sponsblllty OF again presenting Mr.. CopB's claims
to the House. And he asked the Wings to lend
| some portion of their support, without which the
Democrats could not elect
Mr.. LEVIN inquired of the gentleman who said
that the Democratic party had the majority, by
what kind of logic the minority responsible for
the failure to elect? How they be responsible ?
MIR. BROWN. portion of the majority is made
up OF Free oiler Democrats, who refuse to act with
! the Democratic party, the Free-Soil Wings re-
fuse to act with their party. The question is sim
| ply, whether the Wing party will lend some
support, or whether they will continue, hereto
fore, frutcssly to vote? We cannot get an election
us your support.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Pennsylvania, proposed TO
strike out the name of Mr.. Com in the resolution
and leave blank to be filled with the name of the
person who shall receive the highest number of
votes after the House shall have again voted. If
there be no election, then the next highest candi
date
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, said that his
object IN rising was TO offer resolution, which he
| did, proposing that members proceed to vote by
ballot for Speaker, and will continue to ballot until
four O'Clock to-day; and no motion TO adjourn, or
any other proposition shall be until that hour re-
| he nOrain at he rpsf
luton of the gentleman from Ohio, (hr. ScHENcK
to vote by ballot, but he did in what other
way an election was 10 be consummated, and was
now content 10 try II for this day only. The power
OF Speaker not great is generally consid-
cred At most, no committee can have more than
mere majority of either party upon it. If a
port be made by majority, IL Is almost always fol-
lowed by report Of the minority. The only diff
ference is, that side has a gle member more
than the other. The Speaker may appoint the com
mittees, or the House may exercise this function.
Let the officers be elected, and then provision be
made for the difficulties. There is no man so aban
doned if elected TO the chair TO dsorganize the
action Of the House, and improperly appoint the
committees. Tho country were looking on the ac-
ton OF the House with alarm; hc felt none; but in
furious reports will circulate, only throughout
our land but across the water, that the Represent
atyes of the people cannot organize and proceed to
business.
MIR. CARTER, of Ohio, offered am amendment to
the resolution of Mr.. THoMPsoS, that anybody who
shall be elected Speaker shall be deprived of the
power 10 construct the Committees ON the District
Of Columbia and the Territories; the same TO be
made by vote of the House. He about TO
proceed with his remarks, but, by request, gave
way to
Mr.. THOMAS, of Tennessee who wished TO say
that he had voted for Mr.. BRowN He would not
have done so had hc known the facts connected
with that gentleman previous To their disclosure in
the House and he supposed that in this he expressed
the feeling of the South and of his own State.
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON rose to point Of order.
wanted m cDnld be
piled up at the same time.
The CLERK replied that that was for the House
70 determine. The question was first on the reso-
luton of the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. CARTER said that the resolution would adj
NIT of doyetailing, hence he had offered his amend
ment. Ever since the first days vote he thought
that the House was involving itself in premature
controversy on the subject and presenting to itself
and To the United States the ridiculous aspect of
making grave issue OF ceremonial matter. The
House. in clccting Speaker, he humbly con-
ceiycd was for the purpose Of having officer TO
preside over the deliberations, and regulate its
der, which was a mere matter Of ceremony, not for
the purpose Of interpolatng sentiments, but for
that Of placing II in attitude TO carry out the
tincnts Of the people Of the republic. And for the
representatives (who here TO reflect the will
OF an intelligent constituency TO make the election
otherwise than ceremonial vote, 20 give it po-
htcal aspect, appeared TO him 20 be below the man
hood Of the House, with due Difference TO the char
! acter Of the body. He proposed 10 remedy the
existing difficulty by his amendment. IL was only
by keeping up the subtcrranean discord that the
majority were crippled in their sentiments. This
was very poor way 10 create disunion. If VIC are
70 have 1t, let VS. have IL more solemn occasion
Mr.. MEADE conceived that neither of the pro-
! positions could reach the evil. The House was
divided into three parties and il the existence
/ OF the third party which produced the disorganiza
| ton All patriots should unite themselves together
for the purpose Of organizing the House. and crush
/ ing the threatening aspect, the tendency Of which
| ~ 20 destroy the Government, enslave portion
| Of the people. The House had been playing a farce
here for ten days, at the expense Of three thousand
dollars day. II j. thought that, after the House
shall have been organized, proposition will be
introduced calculated to affect the harmony and
integrity Of the Union; but he hoped that there
would be a conservative expression Of feeling when
the demon Of discOrd should show itself, and that
the well wishcrs Of the country would unite n
band of brothers o crush il. IT, after the organza-
ton, proposition should be introduced 20 abolish
slavery i'm the District Of Columbia prohibit il in
the territories Of the Union, he trusted in God that
his eyes had already rested on the last Speaker OF
! the House. These sentiments he had expressed,
and rc-cHprcsscd before his constituents, and now
they had grown into the settled principles Of his