Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-30
CLOSING sOENEs or THE SESSION on ls2ol2r.

/ CLOSING SCENES OF THE SESSION OF ls2oy2r.
The announcement Of the death Of the Hon JoHs W.
TAYLOR of New York. has brought to mind some of the
prominent incidents connected with his Congressional
career which may be Of interest enough this time to
be reprinted
Congress assembled the 18th November, 1920, and
the House Of Representatives had protracted baoting
for the Office of Speaker, Mr. Clay, the actual Speaker
having written from Lexington Kentucky under date Of
the 2sth October of that year. notifying the Clerk that
owing to imperious circumstance he would not be able
to attend until after the Christmas hoydays and there
fore would ask the House to allow him resign the Office
Of Speaker, which he then had the honor to hold
Accordingly, when the House met, the ballotng was
commenced for Speaker. Mr.. JOHN W. TAYLOR, of New
York Mr.. WILLIAM LowNDEs of South Carolina /; Mr.
SAMUEL SMITH, Of Maryland; Mr.. JOHN SERGEANT, Of
Pennsylvania, and Mr.. HUGH NELSON of Virginia. we're
seyeray voted for Seven ballongs were had on that
day without choice. On Tuesday the 14h, there we're
twelve more Ga Wednesday, the 10TH there were three
he contest being narrowed down three candidates y
and the twenty ballot Mr. TAYLOR was chosen
the being for Mr. TAYLOR 10, Mr. LowsDEs a. and
Mr. SMITH ~.
The baloting had been carried with degree Of
excitement for the that Mr. TAYLOR had BEEN the
year before january 26th, 1920 the Of the fol-
lowing restriction upon the proposed State of Missouri
And shall ordain and establish that there shall be
neither slavery Involuntary servitude in the said
State otherwise than in the punishment of crimes where
of the party shall have been duly conyiced Prouidsd
Always That any person escaping into the from
whom labor service is lawfully claimed in any other
State such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and
veyed to the person claiming his her labor service
aforesaid and proDed Also That the said provision
shall not be construed to alter the condition civil rights
Of any person held to service labor in the said
Territory"
lit will be seen that this provision, which not
adopted by Congress, is totally different from the Terri
torial restriction known the Missouri COMPROMISE
and it will be SEEM too that Mr. TAYLOR had inserted
feature providing for the return of fugitive slaves.
Mr. TAYLOR however proved himself to be an able and
impartial presiding officer and the Sd of March, 1921
after the settlement Of the Missouri question: Mr. CLAY
desired to give evidence Of the consideration in which
Mr.. TAYLOR and his services Speaker held by
him. Accordingly he and addressed the House to
the following effect abiding to the happy results that
had been brought about by the spirit of Cancellation and
patriotism:
rise to submit motion which, if it should concii
ate the general of this House, shall be
tremey CHAD. The present session commenced under
very unpleasant auspices In the appointment of pre-
siding officer of the House the first manifestation was
made of that unfortunate division of opinion which has
been the peculiar characteristic of the session The storm
has happily subsded and have the great satisfaction
to behold the ship OF our confederacy unmpared by it's
rage her null, her rigging, and her patriotic crew COM
petey fit for long and glorious voyage under the star
spanged banner which proudly floats aoft.
The moral Of that agitatng drama of which, for
than two years past country has been the theatre is
that whilst our Federal Union is admirably fitted
compsh oil the national purposes for which it in
tended there delicate subjects exclusively appertan
ing to the several States which cannot be touched but
them, without the greatest hazard the public ranqu
ty They resemble those secluded apartments in
specve domicils which dedicated family privacy
into which our nearest and best neghbors should
ter Let terminate the session by making that officer
the depositary Of entire reconciliation whose election
first elected divisions and whose situation has been
extremely arduous and difficult For my part, have
great pleasure in estfying to the assduty impartiaty
ability, and prompttude with which he has administered
the duties Of the chair since able to take my seat
move the following resolution
Resolved That the thanks Of this House be given to
the Hon. JOHN TAYLOR for the assiduity, prompude,
and ability with which he has administered the duties Of
the chair" 44
The resolution favored by Mr. RHlA, Of Tennessee
and Mr.. HARDIN, Of Kentucky the latter of whom
marked that the Speaker had in the discharge Of tho
duties Of the chair far OUTCOME his expectations and he
would vote him the thanks proposed with greal deal Of
pleasure"
The vote was TAKEN and there was but one negative
voice. Mr. TAYLOR then made his Acknowledgements in
suitable terms concluding with the prayer that under
the protecting Of benign Providence, each member
might enjoy the continued confidence Of the wise and
good and largely contribute perpetuae the union and
glory of our common country"