New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-28
wHr CONTEST FOR THE SPEAKERsHIp
w.dns,day's Proceedings in too House
.uDBuLs yoyTsENr TOR AsOrTHERN SPEAKER

f,s and important day ct tbs whole 'cssion -Vno
which msy have material iAau, nc9 10 decillng
he protrsc ed cont. It Of TIE SpeskeFshP, an' III
develop ug the MOVIES Of some oil those WHO nave
Nus "A, re 'Arded the election. After the meeteg
Of The House, series Of resoluiO's were SUI cess-
%vef offered, ,li cont mpls'ins an earnest aud res
alu,e ,ffort 70 b,ipg about some practical result
ana IN terminate the exhibition which for three
ve,k, and q half beside dsparagiog the character
.f,he Chamber, has tended to disturb and infame
n. pobhc mind at the North and 10 the South.
Nr Kni,bt Of Pa. opened the ball with prOpo.
sition to vote on until Frdsy, and fsidug in an
election then, to resort 10 the plurality rule. This
uAs lost by one majority. IS soon as its fate was
aseertained. Mr.. PurvisJ ce of Pa offered a motion
to bit daily from ~ to- o'clock and 10 vote wi h.
est debate, but it fell like is predecessor, sn1
With an increased negative. hen Nc. Sage OF
y. Y. came forward with q resolution, reducing
the tine Of sitting TO four hours q day, with the
came limitation. After much Incidental discussion
as to the operation Of such resolution, as il Was
alleged to be within the power of the MAJORITY 10
resc nd il at pleasure, il was SO amende1 by the
mover at the tus pe.tion Of Nr Cobb OF Ga as to
read that the motion of.sdjournment should be in
srder until p IN daily.
At this stage of tie proceedings, SIR. Stephens
sf Georais interpreted and sail it was time the
farce which had been per orming so long, should
be brought to a cloae-that the people demanded
action of some biDd--aud with a view Of testing
the sincerity of those who protested desire to
see the House organized be moged TO amend the
resolution 81 as to require a permanent session
anti that object was achieved. His remarks were
direct and proper, md challenged the approval of
all men who are really socitOus that the public
busineFs should receive attention, and the present
state of confusion be reformed into something like
decent oIder and regulated legislation.
Mr.. Can pbell of Ohio and others, contended
that such resolution would have no binding
effect, as it might be resciuded at any moment,
but they seemed to forget that the general par
Elementary law furnished recognized govein
mept for the House, and that some degree of moral
obligation was incurred, as Mr. Stephens well ex-
pressed it, by such action as was proposed.
Finally the motion prevailed by heavy majority,
and these Of us who have been watching the prog
ress Of events thought we saw day light at last in
the real struggle which was now to begin after all
this tedious preliminary fencing
But just when both sides were pre- pairing for
the encounter, and the true men arranging their
plans for regular siege, Mr.. Campbell of Ohio
came forward with a most eXtrsc rdinary PROPOSE
toA-none other thar to place Mr. Orr of South
Carolina In the chair pro tempOSe, after the example
N Mr. Adams's case many years $50. The reason
which be assigned for this Increment was that
inasnuch as long night session was before the
Haute, and as on .imilar occasions scenes of tur-
ks,1a III
necessary precaution to prevent their repetition
Mr.. IUlIaA VI Iuah~.- Y.v."Fay 49,. -
cepted 10 such expedient as in q measure sacri-
scipg the issue which had been thus far made. and
snnonpced his purposo to vote against it, and to
separate from the mover Mr.. Campbell endcav:
pred TO Justify again. by reterating his previous
r,a,ops and saving if he had consulted his own
wishes In the proposition, he would have named
Mr Giddinss In closing, he took occasion -
affirm his devotion to the cause, and his deter Minis
ton to fight the Nebraska question out to the bitter
end
Mr. Humphrey Marshall, with his accustomed
adroitness, put the responsibility upon Mr.. Camp
bell Of 6isIegardiDg the only precedent by which
such an honor q, that contemplated should be
conferred on the senior Membsr-Mr Giddings-
and sipnided that one Of the majority had surren-
tered that principal point and proposed to take
header of the opposition the minority could hardly
do less than scquiesce.
After further discussion, motion to take re-
Gers until tomorrow morning was carried, and
mainly because all sides desired the opportunity OF
conference and Of reflection before they proceed
further.
With all respect and kindness for Mr. Campbsll,
I am constrained to say his movement WAS indis-
erect, wholly uncalled for by the condition Of cir
cumstances, and unwsrrspted by tie facts which
he grttuitously assumed. And how he can reoon'
Gle IL to his sense OF prcpriety and duty. after
having been sustained for a week by band Of de-
Voted friends, tohsve sprung such proposition in
the House. as be admtted-witlout consultation
with any one of them s more than his best apOl-
Ogsts able to understand. Certainly he owed
them that much respect, hbe was inclided to omit
what ought to have been retained for himself
Conctdipg to him the best motives. the step
was ipjudicious in point of time, because the
House was just about to begin in earnest that
trial Of fortitude and moral as well as ply sicsl
resolution which would soon have narrowed the
contest down to positive choice between two
men, 10 which event the result would not have
been doubtful. To put Mr. Orr in the chair, un-
der the pretense Of a nominal and temporary in
stallment is to mislead the public, because we Gil
know here that in the present triangular state Of
PARTIES it would be virtual confirmation of his
Ashority for the session. The isdueenea to
s"'ssle would be removed and that taken away
INC oonNst sink down from mere exhaustion, after
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