Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-06
Correct History.

Correct History.
We inserted in the organ Of Tuesday, the
4th instant, an article from the New York
Herald, attempting to give an account of the
difficulties attending the election of Speaker
at some former periods Of our national history.
Ii has been our purpose to follow up the pub
LEGATION Of that article by an exposure of the
errors, whether intentional or malicious, which
1t contains but the pressure Of other matters
has compelled US to defer it until now.
The election Of Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, on
the 84th ballot, was obtained by political
trick, his friends having succeeded in obtain
ing for him a bare plurality, and not an honor
able majority Of all the votes. This election,
which the Herald's editor says was Every
much to the qualification Of the conservative
Union men all ever the country" was, in fact,
the triumph Of combination Of the most vio-
lent Democrats with politicians Of the Nash
vile convention school, and few of those
Wing gentlemen Of the South, who have
found it convenient to change their political
character with every change of the political
breeze. &.
The consequence of Mr.. Cobb's election was
| the embarrassment of the honest old soldiers
administration to degree and in a manner
unparalleled in the annals Of any previous adj
ministration. BY it the President was left
without single committee favorable to his
administration in either branch Of Congress ;
every avenue by which he could approach the
representatives Of the States or Of the people,
through the report Of a committee favorable to
his policy, was effectually closed against him.
Mr.. Cobb Tent himself to the "hue and cry"
which artful and disappointed party leaders in
the country, and alarming the public mind, by
the daily representation that the Union was in
danger. Every measure of public policy which
| the honest old President had recommended to
| Congress was stifed in committee, and disap-
pointed men, who had been seeking for office
without success confederated together in both
Houses to suppress the discussion of every
topic but sectional questions; yet in despite
Of all difficulties, Mr.. Winthrop would have
been elected over Mr.. Cobb, but for an error
he had committed during previous session.
On the memorable night Of the third of March,
1s49, Mr.. Winthrop voted for Mr.. Websters
amendment to the clause proposed by Mr..
Walker as part of the Civil and Diplomatic
Appropriation bill, granting two hundred
thousand dollars to enable General Taylor to
govern California, which was then in q state Of
anarchy.
Mr. Webster's amendment it viii be recol-
lected effectually closed California and New
Mexico against the Southern States, by the
declaration that the Mexican law Of freedom
should prevail there, until Congress should
order otherwise. By virtue of this provision,
had it become law, the Free-soilers, with
either branch OF Congress in their favor, could
as eHectually have prevented the introduction
OF slavery into the Territories as If the Will
mot Proyiso" had been enactcd-nay, more ;
for the judiciary might have declared the
"Wilmot Proviso" unconstitutional; but Mr..
Webster's plan Of emancipation could not have
been reached by any judiciary. For this
scheme of Mr.. Webster Mr.. Winthrop had
| given the casting vote in the House of Repre-
sentatives, and in his office Of Speaker there,
had made decision, during that night, which
gave such offence to certain Southern Wings
that theY refused to vote for him as Speaker
for the succeeding Congress To impute his
defeat to any defect Of General Taylor or his
administration, is worthy of the editor of the
Herald, who, being disappointed in lis own
selfish ends at that period, became the invete-
rate enemy Of General Taylor The editors
sincerity in the cause of Americanism may be
judged Of by bis laudation Of the election of
Howell Cobb, whose bitter enmity TO the
American Order is not exceeded by that Of
any other man in the country, and who stands
now at the head Of a faction in Georgia, which
threatens 10 dissolve the Union, If the North
ern States do not square their conduct by the
Georgia notions Of political orthodoxy on the
peculiar institution"
Our Country an Asylum for Foreigners.
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