The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-19
THE SPEAKERsHIP OF THE HOUSE-A sUG
GESTION.
To the Editor of the National Era:

To the Editor of The National Era:
One of the most important acts of the House
of Representatives, during the whole term of
every Congress, is its selection, or rather its
election, without selection. of a presiding officer
1t commonly happens, that when the House
is first called to order for the election of Speak
er, one half of the members are strangers to
the other half, and thus utterly unprepared to
make an intelligent selection. The usual prac-
tice has been to meet in caucus, where few
partisans are found prepared to take the lead,
and procure the nomination Of their own espe-
cal friends; and this is not unfrequently in pre-
payment of corresponding service to be subse-
quently rendered in return by the Speaker.
Nominations so made commonly succeed, and
often to the modification of those who are
made the most efficient tools of the transaction.
Let it be remembered that the Speaker of the
House of Representatives has power so to con-
stitute its Committee on Territories, as to sc.
cure a report either in favor of or against ex-
GLIDING Slavery from the Territories of the
United States.
That he can so arrange the Committee on
the District of Columbia as to insure reports
either for or against the repeal of those laws
which now sustain Slavery and the slave trade
in the District of Columbia, and convert the
Jail of the United States into national man
market for any wretch who pleases so to use it.
That he can give you Committee on the
Judiciary that will, or one that will not, report
in favor of prohibiting the sale of slave proper
ty on process from the Federal Courts and
That he can so arrange the Committee on
Commerce as to insure a report in favor of or
against repeal of so much of the law of 1907
as authorizes the slave trade.
Let us who have elected members to the
next Congress- or who have yet to elect, call
earnestly upon them, to demand at an early
day, of all candidates for the Speakershp, or
at least those for whom they propose to vote for
that office, an open avowal of their endeavor to
arrange the several Committees in a manner
favorable or unfavorable to the measures above
referred to, or any other that it may be deemed
important to inquire upon: refusing absolutely
to vote tor any one who shall decline to answer,
or who shall answer adversely to the known
wish OF the interrogation or his constituents. In
this way, the voter act intelligently, and his
| constituents can see how he votes. Acc.
| INDIANA STATE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
The Know Nothings, Republicans, and Free
Sellers, of all hues, held an enthusiastic Con
vention at indianapolis, on the 18th inst. The
number present is variously estimated from ten
to twenty thousand-the smaller number being
doubtless nearest the truth. Native American
ism, as we'll as Anti-Slavery, seems to have run
high, judging from the tenor of some meage,
sketches of speeches which have come to hand
We have not seen the resolutions adopted, and
therefore cannot speak with confidence as tt
the shape which things finally assumed. We
fear, however, that the friends of Freedom il
Indiana have not initiated the noble example
of those of Ohio, by cutting loose from the mar
row creed of Know Nothingism.