The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-07

Mr. yarnum having so votes, 1t submitted TO
the decision of the House by the teers whether tho
blank ballots could be considered IS votes not there
being but lis votes, Mr. yarnum having Co. had ma
Jority.
no doubt the subject; that blank pieces OF paper
could not be considered as votes He instanced the
case which occurred in the famous balotting for Pre-
dent 10 he year 1901 at which time alter much bal
lotting, the State OF Maryland, which was divided,
gave in blank and thus decided the election
Mr. Macon, N G., thought there could he no question
ON the subject He also recollected tho case OF the
Presidential election instanced by his colleague and
of opinion that blank ballots could not be count
ed He hoped that the gentle from Mas achu.stts
(Mr. Varnum) would be conducted 10 the chair.
Mr. JOHN RANDOLPH said this was nc ordinary ques.
instance Of his friend INT Macon In his opinion, in
Q very irregular manner aud Mr. said he was GER
tain II his friend were not himself Implicated In the
question he would have been one OF the last men in
the Houseto give such decision against himself but
perhaps this popularity IN bis friends charas-
ter Are gentlemen (said Mr to have Speak
err the House of Representatives without cleo
ton! The nittee have not reported that one OF
the persons voted for had majority OF the whole num-
Der OF votes given On the contrary they have ex.
preesy reported that no one mad majority Ana
will the House consent In this manner 60 choose
Speaker to preside this body and perhaps eyentu
ally the destiniesof this nation! For perchance
the Speaker might become President OF the United
the election Of the President Of the United g ates
there was not 0ead Mr. r. the smallest analogy BE-
tween the two cases. What was that case IL was on
question whether or there should exist govern
ment that this device had been used after forty
or fifty ballottings In order to give President to
the United States certain gentlemen had thought pro-
per not to vote at all But, said Mr. is time now
precious s the Secretary OF the President OF the
United States knocking ut the door for admitsuce
the enemy at the gate Is there not time, be-
seech you, gentlemen, to proceed in the regular
mode 10 the election OF our officers Or shall We, TO
precedent which, II established, may put an end to
this government which Is founded on the principle
that the majority :h. Mt ss ss III was
that second ballot would rot Affect the result and
he put 1t TO his friend Mr. Macon, 70 say whether he
hmeef would confent TO take the chair the vote OF
Q minority lie rsid he knew him too WE'LL he would
not consent TO It lie conceived that there was no
question before the House that they had not elected
their Speaker and that IL their business to proceed
TO election They we're certainly competent, he
said to elect the officers Of their own body; and he
hoped they would do 1t more mjO' u-ater the fashion
MI srAsross (of N. c. denied that the case which
had bsen cited from the Presidential election In 1901
had any bearing on the present question. That was
case In which, State being divided one half the re-
presentation voted blank aud LEFT to the other half Of
the alton the right OF voting for the State
Az, at the same time gentleman now frem Kentucky
(Mr Lysn) then the only ntative from Vermont
decided the Of that State He thought there was
Mr.. R.spolra moved that tn. House proceed to bal
lot second time Ter speaker.
The CLERK having put the question II was carried,
Mr. Macon said he certainly felt sense of grs.itud.
towards thoee who had voted TOR HIM but he should
te obliged to them to vote for some other perssn He
hed liner remain on the koor OF the nouse tnsn DC
placed in the chair. He had experienced the din cu
ties OF the situation. Besides BY an illness during
Last winter his lungs had been so affected that he
did not feel himself ad-q uate TO the task AZ his de-
elinirg the situation might be unexpected to some
gentlemen, TO accommodate them he would ask post
ponsment OF the ballot for time He considered the
Office Of Speaker Of the Mouse one OF the most hon.
orable In the nation. Perhaps none was more so,
after that of President and Woe President Notwth-
standing this were there . probability OF his being
chosen, he mnst decline being placed In the chair.
Mr. sTasroRn moved TO postpone further eallottins
TIL tuoococi. Negatived sir gentlemen oay, rising
In the an rmAtive.
The House thea proceeded to . further ballot, and
Mr.. N. X Moore reported the result to BE-,
Fer MI, Narnum, ....,..,s. -. ...,.s.. 20
MT Macon. ,,......'sts s..ssss..... -