Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-01-05
CONGRE less.

CONGRESS-. t
After protracted contest for the Speaker
ship, the House of Representatives organized
on tile 22nd of December, by elccting Howell
Cobb, of Georgia. Speaker ofthat body Mr.
Cobb was elected on the cath ballot and had the
House adhered to the usual mode of electiug
that officer, we suppose the 4th ofJuly would
have found them still balloting for Speaker
Although we cannot altogether approve of
the innovation made on this occasion, still, Dor
haps the existing circumstances would Justify
departure from our ancient and approved
suseoms. For sixty years past it has been the
usage of the ouse to require majority of the
number ofvotes given to elect, but ON this occa
sion abare plurality was made sufficient to
elect, by reason fthe adoption of the following
resolution
Resolved, Thai the House will pro-
ceed Immediately to the election of a
Speaker, qua uoce; and if, after The vote
shall have been called three times, no
member shall have received majority Of
the whole number of votes, the roll shall
again be called, and the member who
shall then'receive the largest number Of
votes, provided it be IA majority of quo
rum, shall be declared to be chosen Spca
ker."
The resolution was adopted by--yeas 81;
nays lo6.
The South Carolina delegation voting against
the adoption OF the resolution, because some of
them believed it unconstitutional, and others.
that it would be n dangerous innovation upon
ancient andapproved usagcs. I fI
On the first ballot under the new resolution.
Cobb received 96 Winthrop 90; Scattering 81
End Bal. Cobb 9G Winthrop %; Scattering
80
Sd Bal, Cobb o.; Winthrop OF; Scattering
81.
The fourth and last ballot was now called
for from all sides, and we may we'll imagine thu
extreme excitement which must have prevail
cd in the House When the Hall was silonced
the clerk proceeded to call the roll for the 4th
and last ballot, which resulted thus: Cobb lO2;
Winthrop 100.
Mr. Ttanlcy offered a resolution declaring
Howell Cobb Of Georgia duly elected Speaker
ofthe House of Representatives for the 81 st.
Congress, which was opposed and the yeas and
nays taken-y a. i49 nays So. So Mr.. Cobb
was declared Speaker of the House of Repre-.
sentatlves for the 8lst Congress, u. s.
We areindebted to a private letter from n
friend-an eye witness-for certain other facts
relating TO the plurality rule, which We give to
our readers for what they are worth.
Tho resolution was supported by tile Wings
suPposing that large vote could be concentra
ted on Winthrop by their party, than could be
given any democrat. After the Brown flare
up,--thc bitter denunciation of Wilmot Provi
soism in every form, by Southern men--the ap.
plauding ofToombs, while speaking, by South
ern Democrats, and they refusing to vote for
Potter, professedly Cass democrat, but really
Proyiso man, and the consequent dissatisfnc-
tion of his friends ofthe North and Northwest
at that refusal, the wings concluded the dem
ocratie party was broken up. And that CON
ciusion was confirmed by the fact that they
could give Boyd only se votes, which they set
down as the democratic strength, whilst they
could give Winthrop 100. The calculation
would have been correct but for the timely aid
ofthc Indiana, Ohio and Michigan democrats,
who had sworn they would not vote fora
slave holder, but finding themselves hemn,ed in
by the pluralty rule, voted for the democratic
nominee, rathcr than be the means Of electing n
Soig, FOR which they would be held accounta-
BILE by Their 'canstituents- $50 the frowns Of
their constituents were stronger than their oaths
and they voted for Cobb to tho utter amaze.
ment ofthc whigs'
Tho Free Soilers voted for wilmot. Toombs,
Stephens, Owens, Morton and Cabell took a
high Southern ground and refused 10 vote for
Winthrop. OF tho South Carolina Delegation
Messrs. Burt, Colcock, Orr, Mcqueen and Wal
lace for Cobb. Holnaes voted for Colcock and
Woodward for Boyd. f
In consequence Of his refusal to sign the
Southern Address, Cobbwas somewhat objec-
tionable, but when choice was to be made from
him and Wipthro., COBB il evidently infinitely