Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-12-19
CORRESPONDENTS or THE STANDARD.
WAsHINGroN, Dec. 8, 1856.

ganization The anticipated difficulties in the elec-
tion of Speaker have been fully realized. Two
thirds OF the members are embraced in the opposi-
tion but they divided into two or three factions
and have not been able to combine a majority in
any harmonious action. The tabular statement of
the several balotngs appended to this letter. shows
the confused state of the opposition until to-day,
and the strength of the different factions. Last
night an opposition caucus held, and to-day
there was concentration upon Banks, running him
up to one hundred votes 1t is exclusively North
ern and anti-slavery vote. The Democrats steadily
adhere to Mr. Richardson, giving him uniform vote
throughout the week The Southern Know Moth
ings voted for Humphrey Marshall, Of Kentucky,
until Thursday morning when his name with
drawn since that time the Philadelphia Platform
Know NOthings have divided their vote between
Smith, of Alabama, and Wheeler, of New York
To day they have almost unanimously supported
Fuller, Of Pennsylvania. The FuSionists, or Afri-
cans, concentrated upon Campbell, supporting him
until the oath ballot, when it became evident that
he had received the maximum number, and he with
drew his name. Banks, an Abolition Know Moth.
ing now stands most prominent, having received a
larger number of votes than any other candidate.-
As the House adjourned to-day, it was announced
that an anti-Nebraska caucus would be held in the
Representatives Hall tonight, when it will be de-
cded whether Banks shall be pushed Monday,
or the next effort shall be made Pennington. /
am inclined to think it most probable that renew
ed effort will be made in behalf of the former, and
that his election is also possible. His friends say
he is certain ultimately to receive five more votes;
and if he secures hundred and five it is quite pos
sb!e that the preconcerted absence of some North
men who now vote for Fuller may cause that
number to be sufficient to elect. There is no WIS.,
ible excitement in the House, the balotings
ceeding each other with unusual quiet. The storm
has not yet broken upon us. Greedy is here mana
ging the House and dcvising combinations, assisted
by Sumner and Wilson, who active in the lob
bies. Such men will probably control the organza-
ton and legislation of the House. Fortunately the
Democratic majority in the Senate is amply suffi-
cient to nullify any mischievous legislation the
House may adopt, that the latter is poweriess in
this respect, except to produce agitation.
caucus of the Democratic members Of the
House was held on Saturday night, according to
previous notice and the usage Of the party. Before
proceeding 20 make single nomination resolution
was unanimously adopted which has doubtless al.
ready been laid before the readers of the Standard.
1t places the party squarely on the principles of the
Nebraska bill and in unequivocal opposition to the
| principles promulged by Know Nothings, Republi-
cans and Fusionsts. With about one-third of the
! members Of the House only, it was determined to
maintain strictly the organization of the Democratic
party, seeking coalition and entering into conf
| bination with any faction or interest Accordingly
it will be seen the Democratic candidate for Speaker
receives the same vote throughout varying only
/ from the occasional absence of some member. If
| other than Democratic votes cast for the Demo
! cratic candidate, the individuals thus voting must
acquicsce in the platform upon which he stands
! The opposition elements are in large majority in
! the House, and upon them rests the responsibility
of effecting its organization. When they have ex-
hauStcd every effort to combine and harmonize the
alternative left them is to yield their support to the
! Democratic candidate, who is admitted to be we'll
! qualified for the position and personally unexcep-
| tionable.
The nomination of Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, to
the Speakers Chair is merited tribute to one of
the most faithful and worthy Democrats in Con-
! gress. As Chairman of the Committee on Terrific
res of the last House of Representatives, he was
conspicuous in his efforts to the passage of
! the Nebraska Kansas bill, and contributed
! more than he towards its accomplishment
! The baliotings for Speaker have concusively de-
| monstrated that the Democratic party is the only
party possessing national organization. All others
| are completely sectonazed. The vote for Richard
! son is drawn from every section of the country
Two-thirds of the strength of the Democracy OF the
House consists of members from The Southern States
yet they do not hesitate to give their support to a
true man, no matter where he may be found. On
the other hand the confusion that prevails among
| the factions arrayed against the Democracy! The
| Southern K.'Nothings can hardly find a man beyond
the confines of the Southern States they dare 10 vote
for; ; no Southern man has received more than one
! or two Northern votes Black Rcpublicanism is no.
thing but avowed hostility TO the South the Know
Nothings split into two parts-the Northern di-
vision ready to make terms with AfrieaniSm, if an
understanding can be come to about the distribu-
ton of the spoIls The Southern members not be-
longing to the Democratic party, are powerless by
. themselves; they it to their constituents to
throw aside their sectional attitude and unite with
the only national party in support Of national prin-
ciples and a truly national man. These members
doubtless feel greatly embarrassed, but the honora
BILE alternative is before them to conquer their pref
udces and yield their support to principles their
judgment must approve
Several of the Whig Senators from the South
have in effect already indicated their determination
to pursue this course. 1t has been customary here
tofore for each of the two political divisions of the
Senate to hold separate caucus to select the MEM
bers of its different committees the majority of each
committee being conceded to the more numerous
party in the Senate. Some five or six Whig Sena-
tors including Jones, of Tennessee, Benjamin, Of
Louisiana, aud Pratt, of Maryland, have handed in
their names to those Democratic Senators to whom
the caucus of that party referred the Senate COM
mittees to be disposed of on such committees as
they saw proper, thus withdrawing themselves from
the ranks Of the opposition led by Seward, Sumne-
and their co-laborers
1t becomes more and more manifest as the ballot
ings for Speaker progress that they really pre-
liminary skirmishes in the great presidential contest
of 1856. The effort is to consolidate the whole
North in the ranks of Black Republicanism, with
view to running Mr.. Seward as strictly sectiona
candidate. Campbell, once Whig, has been gen
orally voted for now Banks, once Democrat, is tt
be sustained and thus anti-savery of all sorts
at the North to be satisfied that the African
party is not merely the successor ofthe Whig party
North, but is essentially new party, in which NJ
inquiry will be made in regard to the antecedents
its members. A fusion in the House Of Represen
tatves it is calculated ill be followed by fusor
among the constituents of members entering TIT
| coalition, AMI thus the antslavery sentiment viii
be combined in hostility to the Democracy Of tn