The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-27
THE NATIONAL ERA,

luton, which it seemed to him furnished the
only possible practicable means of securing
an organization. In offering it, he put himself
upon the precedent of l849, when similar
condition of things existed, and when the House
was organized by the election of Speaker by
q plurality vote. The Constitution provided
that the House should choose a Speaker, and
1t authorized the House to pass rules and regu-
lations for the government of its proceedings.
This House, in its present condition, was a
House within the meaning of the constitutional
provision. Believing that no good could result
from debating the resolution, he would ask the
previous question upon it passage.
The resolution was then read, as follows
Resotred, That the House will now proceed
to vote oica coce for Speaker of the thirty
fourth Congress, and the member having the
highest number of votes, provided it be ma
Jorlty OF quorum, shall be declared to be
elected Speaker.
Mr.. Phelps, of Missouri, moved that the reso-
luton be laid on the table, and on this motion
demanded the yeas and nays, which were order
ed and, being taken, resulted as follows
YEAs-Messrs. Aiken, Allen, Barksdale, Bell,
ii. 5. Bennett Bocock, Boyce, Brooks, Broom,
Burnett, Cadwalader, John P. Campbell, Garlic,
Caruthers, Caskie, Bayard Clark, Cingman, h.
Cobb, W. R. w. Cobb, Cox, Craige, Crawford,
Cullen, Davidson, II. w. Davis, Denver, Dow
dell, Dunn, Edmundson, Elliott, English, Ether
idge, Eustis, Evans, Faulkner, Florence Foster,
FL. M. Fuller, I. j. ID. Fuller, Goode, Green
wood, Augustus Hall, j. NJ. Harris, S. w. Har-
| ris, l.. :. Harris, Harrison, Haven, Herbert,
Hoffman. 1ouston, Jewett, G. W. Jones, j. G..
Jones, . t, Kelly, Kenneth Kidwell, Lake,
idley, Lumpkin, A. K. Marshall H.
S. Marshall, Maxwell, McMullen,
y ;. Miller, Millson, Millward, Moore,
" Orr, Paine, Peck, Phelps, Porter,
P, Purrear, Qutman, Reade,
Rea~ ., ~ich.rdSon, Rivers, Rufin,
Rust, Sand. nc ge, Scott Seward, Shorter,
S. A. Smith, W. Smith, W. R. Smith, Sneed,
Stephens, Stewart, Swope, Talbot, Trippe,
Underwood, Vail, Walk, Walker, Warner, Wat
kins, Wells, Wheeler, Whitney, Winslow, j. V.
Wright, and Zollicoffer-ll4.
NAYs-Messrs. Albright, Allison, Ball Banks,
Barbour, Barclay, H. Bennett Benson, Billing
hurst, Bingham, Bishop, Bliss, Bradshaw, Bren-
ton, Burlington, Burlingame, j. H. Campbell, l.
D. Campbell, Chaffee, E. Clark; Clawson, Col.
fax, Comins, Coyode, Cragin, Cumback, Damrell
T. Davis, Day, Dean, De Witt, Tick, Dickson,
Dodd, Durfee, Eide, Edwards, Emrie, Flagler,
| Galloway, Giddings, Gilbert, Granger, Grow,
r. B. Hall, Harlan, Holloway, 4. II. Horton,
V.B. Horton, Howard, Hughston, Kelsey, King,
| Knapp, knight, Knowlton, Knox, Letter, Mace,
Matteson, McCarty, Meacbam, K. Miller, Nor
gan, Morrill,, Mott, Murray, Nichols, Norton,
| A. Oliver, Parker, Pearce. Pelton, Pennington,
| Perry, Petit, Pike, Purviance, Richie, Robbins
Roberts, Sabin, Sage, Sapp, Sherman, Simmons,
| Spinner, Stanton, Stranahan, Tappan, Thoring
ton, Thurston, Todd, Trafton, Wade, Wakeman
| Walbridge, Waldron, c. G. Washburne. T 3
Washburne, |. Washburn. W.etsan.j WEIGH, vii
liams'; y God, Woodruff, and Woodwork
=" ABSENT Messrs. Bayly, cBowe, Branch
Childs, Hickman, Kunkel, j. G. Miller, Packer
Robson, Taylor, Tyson, and Daniel B
Wright-l2.
II So the resolution was laid on the table.
Mr.. Barclay, of Pennsylvania, when his name
was called, stated that he did not fully approx,
i 'd the principle of the resolution Ibut mas
much a. they ffsrl -0sen bellsting FIR the las
{ three weeks without any hope Of an orgsn;ss
ton, and as it appeared TO him that they mus
inevitably come to plurality vote, and as b
believed that the responsibility of an orgsniza
/ ton rested upon those gentlemen who threI
their votes away, he desired to let that respon
sibility rest upon them, and would therefor
vote against laying the resolution on the table
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, voted aye at first
but subsequently changed his vote to the mega
tive, saying that he was opposed to the passag
of the resolution but IN order l6 enable hi
friends to bring It to a direct vote, he woul
vote against laying it on the table. He would
however vote against the resolution if it shout
come to direct vote.
NJ oapp, OF Unlo, then submitted the follow
ing resolution;
!, Besotned, That from and after this day th
House shall meet at 10 o'clock A. NJ, until tn
election OF Speaker is effected.
And the question being taken, the resolution
was rejected-yeas 100, NAYS III.
Mr.. Perry, of Maine, then offered the follow
ing resolution
Resotced, That this House will now procee
to the election of a Speaker cira roce, and sha
continue to vote until an election is effected
and that from and after this day, no debat
upon this or any other proposition incidental
growing out of the same shall be in order.
Mr.. Orr, of South Carolina, suggested thai
if the resolution should be passed in its presen
shape, the House would have to continue i
session, without an ad ou rnment, until an elee
ton should be effected.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, hoped the gentleman
from Maine would modify his resolution so tina
it should read, I" that from and after this da
no debate shall be in order until Speaker
elected
i Mr.. Perry acquiesced in the modification
and changed the phraseology of his resolution
as suggested.
Mr.. Keitt, of South Carolina, moved to amen
the resolution, as thus modified, by addin
thereto, "And that after to-day all balloting
for Speaker be postponed until the I'd day {
January next
Mr.. McMullen, of Virginia, moved that tn
whole subject be laid on the table which me
ton was disagreed to-yeas l0l, nays ll5.
The question then required on the amend
ment, and, being taken, it was decided in tn
negative.
/, The question now being on the original resc
luton
Mr. Orr moved that it be laid on the table.
Mr.. keitt inquired if the resolution was nj
intended as a gag law? Cries of order,
"order"
. Mr.. McMullen moved that the House adjourn
which motion was negatived.
Mr.. Garlic, of Virginia, moved that whe
the House adjourn to-day, it adjourn to meet O
Wednesday next; which motion was disagree
to-yeas 80, nays Us.
The question still curring on the adoptio
of the resolution
Mr.. Seward, of Georgia, moved that tn
House adjourn; which motion was not agreed t.
Mr.. McMuen hoped the resolution would b
, withdrawn for the present. Cries of no,
"no." Gentlemen on his side of the Hous
would then agree to have a vote for Speaker.
Mr.. Sherman. All the speaking has bee
done by gentlemen on that side of the Hous
and by our American friends. We have had n
speeches on our side, because we have deeme
it too early yet to enter into discussion.
, must therefore most respectfully decline t
, withdraw my proposition. l think we ha
better pursue the constitutional business
electing Speaker, and not waste our time b
| further discussion.
IL