Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-18
House Of REPRESENTATIVES,.

Inc Senate was not in session day
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. HICKMAN, from Pennsylvania, offered
The following resolution
ResofUed, That no person shall be consider ed n
candidate Tor Speaker of this House who shall not
DC supported as such, on the sixtieth vote Thai
on said sixtieth VOTE and on each subseq uent vote
being taken, the candidate having the lowest vote
Or the candidates having equal vote shall be
stricken from the list of candidates, until two
Only shaii remain TO be voted for, when the vote
shall be taken on the said remaining two and the
person having the highest vote shall be the duly
elected Speaker, provided he have majority of
quorum OF The members OF the House
Mr. H. moved the adoption Of the resolution /;
and thereupon demanded the yeas and nays.
Mr. LETCHER desire 10 offer substitute.
Whereas this House has been engaged in a
lsuitless effort to organize by the election Of
Speaker for nearly two weeks, therefore
hesofpea, mat The Clerk prepare a letter, to be
signed by each member of the House, resixning
MS seat IN order that new election may be i'm
mediaiely held in all the States and Territories
Much confusion ensued and the reading was
followed by cries Of "Thals right" "We'll agree
TO that" "Stand by the substitute" Excessive
laughter.]
Mr. SAGE proposed amendment to the sub
s.itute, namely: That the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. LETcHER) lead of byTesignng first and other
gentlemen who approve of the substitute TO follow
him, till all get through Laughter, and cries Of
Good agreed" Ha! hap'I
Mr. LETCHER. should very cheerfully
agree TO the proposition Of the gentleman from
New YORK, II he would give me an assurance that
ne Will play fair and follow my example Laugh
ter II is perfectly manifest that we shall NOT or
game the House for some time TO come; and il
would be difficult for the people 10 send back the
same number OF gentlemen who would get into a
similar difficulty. Laugher.]
Mr.. SAGE. | am willing to pledge myself 7
feel conscious of having performed nv duty in ac.
cordance with the views of the people who have
sent me here. Unilsatsied that my effort to elect
Speaker have been fruitess, shall not consent
10 resign my seat. am acting with the majority
in opposition 10 the Administration.
Mr.. HOUSTON. Why don't YOU organize.
then?
Mr. SAGE. 1t is not my fault.
Mr.. GlDDINGS. The proposition comes from
the appropriate quarter. 1t comes ftom the fac
tIon which has stood out two weeks preventing
an organization OF the House. (Laughter1
believe all who agree with that gentle man oue hit
to follow his example. Renewed laughter
Mr.. LEICHER- should like to be informed,
before adopting the suggestion of the gentleman,
II The Democrats should retire from this hall
whether the balance could elect Speaker? As
matters stand, the opposition are in confusion
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. SAGEj
says they cannot elect Speaker because they
cannot get the opposition to combine. NV object
was TO put an end TO the confusion and restore
order.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. will agree if the gentleman
and his friends will step out of the hall, we shall
soon have an election. [Laughter.]
Several gentlemen rose 10 their feet and much
/ confusion prevailed
Mr., LETCHER. As gentlemen seem 10 be in
trouble, and majority are not likelv 10 vo,.
for my proposition, withdraw it, [Cries of "Ob,
| nor That's right" and laughter.l
Mr.. WADE Let the President resign Refer
the whole matter TO the people, and II with you.
Ha! ha! That's it," Agreedl
Mr.. MATIESON moved that the whole mat
ter be laid the table
Mr.. HICKMAN. We have been engaged
some days in the frutless effort 10 elect Speaker
and ]: is to be presumed that we all desire an
early organization of the House, and il was for
the purpose OF testing this feeling that offered
the resolution. II Is evident to me that, if this
resolution were passed, an organization would be
effected after few additional votes II might be
effected to-day II has been said, and no doubt
the country In part believe it, whether true or
not, that the reason why an organization cannot
be effected, is because of the numerous candi.
dates in this body, who have not been named as
such, and who, therefore, are interested in pre-
venting an organization.
Mr.. McMULLEN. hope II is not the plea.
sure Of the House TO adopt the resolution. II ia
of novel character, and unknown 10 the House
| have given notice 10 the House that unless an
election be effected within two or three davs
shall submit proposition by way Of compromise
and undertake TO say ifibe House shall adopt il.
we will have an organization in due time.
Mr.. FLORENCE. Submit it AT once Don't
keep us in suspense tLaughterl
MIR. McMULLEN resumed. NV proposition
bears upon its face the principles Of equity and
justice; more so than the one now before the
House. If adopted, will guarantee an organiza.
lion.
Mr.. ENGLISH l hope no extraordinary ex-
A1an mil ha "A a. r. II
ganizing the House. It is not the fault of this
0he Democratic) side of the House that valuable
time and thousands of dollars have been souan.
dered. The responsibility is with the majority
with those who have filled the land with the
clamor about Americans ruling America, and
their peculiar fitness 10 govern the nation. The
opposition have the majority, and vet cannot or
ganize. Give the Democrats a majority Of but
one and they will soon organize, because thew are
national party, and will defend their principles
which are broad as the Republic. I would not
compromise with the twelve apostles, unless thew
subscribed TO the Democratic creed. TLaupbter.1
Mr.. HUMPHREY MARSHALL. | hone no
attempt 10 place the House under such extraordi-
nary circumstances will succeed l. unfortu.
nately belong 10 party in the minority. laugh
teri think the country cannot fail TO perceive
It's own image in the representation here; and as
member OF that minority shall glory in the fact
that the country viii have by our difficulty fair
chance 10 Judge between the triangle in the next
Presidential election ILaughter.l | believe we
are engaged well end probably 10 the country by
making this exhibition. IL you adopt the resolu-
ton, what do you leave to me and others with me
in the minorityf You leave two sectional parties
10 manage The best way they can. / trust the
House will take my advice in season, and not
bring this thing 10 premature denouement
Mr.. DUNN opposed the resolution. ANY men,
Der here is eligible 10 The Speakership by the law
and the Constitution, and where is the authority
10 say he shall be excluded7 | would say in
reply TO my colleague (Mr. ENeLrsH) about Amer.
cans ruling America, do not sympaihize alto
geiher with the American party; but would ask,
" Americans shall not rule America who shall
Laughter, and cries Of good "good"l
Mr.. WHEELER had no disposition 10 create
any difficulty in the organization of the House
but as lately he had been held up as being an in.
dvidual disposed 10 prevent an organization he
had waited patiently for opportunity 10 reply TO
the charge, and TO give some reasons why he
should not be roped in" or used as a tool OF a
corrupt lobby. He came TO this House. he said
in the last Congress, as National Democrat, and
at the Threshold he took position against the
present Administration, because Of the appoint.
ment Of men whom he knew to be Freesoers.
He had opposed the Administration manfuy,
openly, faithfully, and the Administration knows
H. came hither National Democrat, on the
compromise measures of 1850 as fuaty and