The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-21

Who served with Mr. Stevenson in those memorable days.
have been alike The witnesses OF il all. Many remain
Who sealed their testimony with their approving votes on
the occasion OF his elevation 10 the Speakershp.
And now we 10 highly interesting period Gen.
Jackson having been defeated ON the occasion OF MIR
Adanss election by the House in 1885, il became an OBJ
eet OF immense importance with the democratic party, on
The assembling OF the Twentieth Congress in 1927 TO Sc
cure the Speaker OF the House. For this purpose their
strongest man put forward The strength OF the two
parties was nicely divided and accurately measured and
the spirit of party scared mountains high II is not TO be
disguised that the circumstances OF General Jacksons de-
feat and Mr. Adass election calculated allay
this feeling, which went to increase ill il reached
oont seldom surpassed in the history OF parties To Sc
cure the triumph OF the Jackson party in the House,
Andrew Stevenson, OF Virginia, by It's concurrent voice,
was fixed upon TO bear up the standard OF victory and
noby did be bear il up. Upon the assembling OF the
House. two hundred and members out of two hun
bred and thirteen, answered TO their names A keen
contest anticipated and followed 1t was neck and |
neck When the balloting concluded the teers re-
ported amid the stiffness OF death. that Andrew Steven.
SON. OF Virginia, was elected Speaker by majority OF
three uotss
II was the signal gun OF triumph in the campaign that
olowedhe glorious precursor OF the restored ascend
ency OF the democratic party oil the nation That did
more than any other single event towards the accom-.
pshment OF General Jacksons triumphant election in the
fall OF 1928, friends and foes will probably admit for il
has become part Of the history Of the country feature
ii in the history OF Mr. Stevenson, in whose person the
first triumph was achieved, Of which his friends have
good reason to be proud Let il be borne in mind that
that House exhibited the names OF G. c. Cambreleng
and Silas Wright, OF New York; Of James Buchanan
and Samuel ID. lngbam afterwards Secretary OF the
Treasury TO General Jackson,) of Pennsylvania (Muh
lenberg not member Of that Congress; J Of Philip
p Barbour, and John Randolph, and William C. Rives,
Of Virginia; Of Drayton. and Hamilton. and McDufe, OF
Al r. ~ L. D.tl- . 4
Edward Livingston, of Louisiana; and it cannot fail to
enhance the value Of the compliment paid TO the young
and rising member from Virginia who was chosen
Speaker
have said that the spirit of party was at it's height
Let an instance be mentoned at the close of the ses
sion at which MIR. Stevenson was chosen-namey, on
the oath OF May 1885, (he long sessions were shorter
then(Mr. Wright, OF New York, offered the following
resolution;
the honorable Andrew Stevenson Speaker the dignity
mparaliy prom ptisnde and sbiliy with which he has
discharged tho duties Of the Chair during the present
session."
The Speaker had retired. II was Saturday night The
House in uproar. All sorts Of objections were
made Il was unusual said the opposition to introduce
such resolution until the last day OF Congress Points
Of order were perpeiualy raised and Withdrawn; the
previous question called for in tones that rang through
the hall motions to adjourn, and lay the table, again
and again made, and again and again voted down yeas
and nays again and again ordered. II was confusion
worse COMPOUNDED. The frmness of the chairman pre-
vailed The main question at length taken by yeas
and nays, with the following result Yeas ILL., nays as
So the resolution OF thanks to the Speaker" says a CO.
temporary journal, {" was adopted"
There can be no victory without battle II will be
agreed thst the Speaker had passed through pretty hard
fought one. and had rumphed sgnally. True to his
country, his party, and his friends he was assaied by
tempest Of opposition.
On Monday he returned thanks, by expressing I" his
deep Of gratitude and obligation to those who had
kindly borne such distinguished testimony to his official
conduct the presiding officer of that House and
should be unworthy OF IT," said he did not frankly
acknowledge that feel both graed and fatteed al the
and circumstances under which it has been done.
This exalted station has at no time been without its en-
barassmens and trials Throughout this continued ses-
sion has been uninterrupted scene of respon
sbiliy and unexamped labor. Aware OF the difficulty.
perhaps the temerty OF attempting please every one
determined to pursue fearessly what believed to be
the path OF duty, regardless OF consequences.
%" came to this chair TO crafty no private friendships
to indulge personal or political anpa,hies; and feel
proudly conscious that lis aduous duties have been dis
charged with single eye TO The interests OF the nation,
the character and dignity OF this House, and my own
honor Your kind and hatierng vote OF appreciation as
sures me that my efforts have not been wholly unayang
Here, elsewhere, it is 10 be hoped that all have but
object at heart-the good OF our common country
The suTest OF preserving our blessings and our
charter Of Liberties and system OF legislation found
ed on the principles OF an honest policy, and dictated by
the spirit OF an enlightened and ddusiye patriotism Let
do nothng then, which shall shake these solid found
atoms OF Union and Liberty but lei proceedings be
marked BY mutual forbearance, moderation, and wisdom
II would be difficult to point TO anything moro appro-
pirate, or with sentiments indicative OF an
honorable, enlightened and patriotic statesman May it
be added, part OF the history Of the tines that on
the adoption OF the vote of thanks by the House, after
30 violent opposition, high-spred son of South
Carolina and said that magnanimy and forbear-
at mari pOliiical aHara
were regarded as bad commodities TO bring TO Market he
would like 10 know whether it would be ia order 10
move reconsideration OF the vote OF thanks given to
the CAN'T Jackson) Speaker at the close OF the last Con-
gress The Chair OF course replied in the negative; but
The incident marks the extent 10 which party contests
were carried and BY consequence the meI, OF him who
had the power and the nerve to direct the storm
Mr.. Stevenson reelected in the most nat,eripp
manner Speaker OF the House at the commencement Of
the following session of Congress, uhe Twenty. frs,
Congress) in December, 1929, which was also the first
Of General Jackson's administration. He was elected
this time by very large votel52 out Of 1911 II NAV
De remarked, IN passing, as an interesting memeno at
this time OF day, that Mr. Polk, of Tennessee was one
oil The telers This time, too, the House was enriched
BY the names of Muhlenberg OF Pennsy vania Howard
OF Maryland. Wayne OF Georgia, Richard M. johnson
OF kentucky, and Lewis OF Alabama-names which give
assurance that the continued preference Of the House for
nir. stevenson as Speaker from no OF material
lot aoe competitors On being conducted TO the chair, he
sgaln returned thanks in beautiful address, repeie with
patriotic sentiment and enlarged and staesnanlike views
dwelling particularly on the vast imporiance of ssust