Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-12-18

TIE GIDDlNGS PLATFORM IN THE HOUSE.
Although the opposition nns not been able 10 unite
upon candidate for Speaker they have been NOR"
successful in agreeing upon the manner in which their
Speaker shall act in the event al his election. They
have held numerous secret meetings, anu hotwItl'-
standing much inquiry has been sci on foot to h''"r-
tain what has TRANSFERRED at the cabni: the ingenuity
of the New York l-lter'writrrs and reporters has
been completely ballied.
We are enabled however, to supply IN iem Of in.
formation the subj rct of their mysterious dnImgs in
caucus, which shows That the Know Nothing policy
oi conccanrlt has not been rs successful ns the i
sion leaders may have iattprpd themselves. The fol
| loving extract, taken from Washington letter, da
| ted the 9Th Of December, and appearing in the CO.
lumbus lUhio) State journal, M abolition print, re-
presenting the Seward school, will throw cunsldcra
bic light upon the lca,lmg motive which insgates th.
opposition in the House Of Representatives
ION the Isl instant, at very full meeting Of thu
members opposed to the extension at slavery th'
following resolution, offered by that vSilant, tried
and stern old man, Mr.. Gddinss, WIS adopted with
out Dissenting voice:
"'Resulved, That wewill support no man for Speak
who is not pledged 10 carry out the parliamentary
LAVE by giving to each prnpuscd measure ordered bS
the House 10 be committed n minority of such spccia
committee, and 10 organize the standing committee:
If The House by placing on ench alOrity of I'll,
friends of freedom and who arc favorable to making
| reports On MI p.iit,o"S committed TO them
"Thi., you perceive, covers the whulc matter, 81
far the Speaker IL cOnecrned | ndPr snch plcdg,
the Speaker may not act the dictator, play the ian
tastic tricks with which the people were Knocked an,
insulted 10y the Boyds and Cobbs durin. their year
of power and hours Of shame and drgralaiion."
1t will be observed from This extraordinary resnlu
ton that Mr.. Gllings took time by the forcluck il
order 10 SECURE the success Oi his schemes Not con
tent with preparing for the election of Northern
abolition Speaker committed to sectional policy
md tn the organization Of solid Northern prri,
o unjust the Democracy in lSjb he has provided lu
the packing of pll the committees with IL I'M
jority of men of his way of thinking
20 that whether Mr.. Bunks is elected, or Mr.
Campbell, or Mr. Pennington, any other unnaue,
candidate, such n Speaker goes into power with hi
hunds tied, with the work cut ont beforehand, ant
bound 10 act his masters bid him, without refer
eMc- either 10 conscience or 10 constitution! Sum
| gentlemen have entertained the fallacious idea that
in the event of the Of either Of the gentlemen
alluded to- all of whom are known To POSSESS certain
good qualities Of personal character the apprehen
Sions eli the lriemla OF good principles would not b
realized, and that any OF them would prove To b.
somewhat FESTIVE under the ab"i6iOn yoke aud woul
brcniue ambitious of Httanns II reputation for libe
rulity and Justice. But here we See that, huweve
disguised To extend the rule ul courtesy tn their nppu
nenis, they bound-wc will not say by s"cm
OATH although three Of these alluded to are believe
10 be members o the know nothing ORDER but by tn
decree ui Il secret cRucus--to follow out the iniunc
tions Of Mr. (iiddngs who has doubtless received hi
cue from tile sell-COnsuted master OF northern pa'
sions and prejudices, WIN. H. Seward.-Dno".