The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-30


Ing "a . Point-Try 1t Again-c'ave M the
speaker-Banks or mo- Banks.
The democratic caucus of Friday night, at
Washington, came within hairs breadth Of
settling the question Of the Speakership. The
motion of Gen. Quitman, of Mississippi, that
If no Speaker shall have been elected by
Wednesday next, the democratic members shall
agree to the plurality rule, lacked only two
votes Of being adopted; and the final resolu-
ton that no democratic member shall offer any
proposition in the House touching the Speak
ership unless by and with the consent Of an
other caucus, may yet result, before Wednes-
day, in defnitively settling the question. Col.
Richardson's voluntary withdrawal from the
contest, though not accepted, is also in the
right spirit; and should it appear that the
Know Nothing balance of power is prepared
to concentrate sufficient vote upon some
other democrat to elect him, we have no doubt
taking his place.
In the meantime it ia the duty of the twelfth
section Americans, il there be democrat ac-
ceptable to them as against Banks, who would
also be acceptable to the supporters of Rich
ardson-it is the duty, we say, of the
fact known without further delay. Other
wise the democratic party will be fully
authorized, under all the circumstances
Of the case, to adopt the plurality
rule, or to retire in sufficient numbers from the
House to let the opposition elements, who con.
stitute the great plurality, settle the issue
among themselves. The administration, it is
understood, has been getting into hot water,
as usual, and is anxiously DESTROYS of an Or
ganization without further loss of time, from
the necessity of Congressional action upon va
rious deli,ate, interesting and paramount is.
sues in our foreign affairs, European, West In
dian and Central American. But the party
representing the administration in the House
are in decided minority. Give them the
Speaker and the committees of the body, and
they will be still tied up. from the vast opposi-
ton majority of all kinds against them.
For all practical purposes therefore, the
Speaker, to the democratic minority, would
amount to little or nothing In fact, the Office
can scarcely be desirable to them, either in
party or business Joint of view, because it
would saddle them with responsibilities with.
out any OF the abilities to carry them out 1t
would be raradoxical and inconvenient at
every turn, to have House placed in the
charge OF minority, with al overwhelming
opposition majority against them. We dare say
that in this aspect of the case the democrats of
the House are not very anxious to secure
tie election Of Richardson, but would
probably prefer, from a common sense ap.
piicaton Of minorsies and majorites,
the election of Banks or any other black re-
publican or Know Nothing upon whom these
discordant opposition elements might be able
successfully to unite. Consequently, after
having proved their adhesion to Richardson
sufficiently to vindicate their position upon
principle, before the country, this democratic
minority may satisfactorily give way and
leave the door open for the election of Banks
The case is different with the conservative
Know Nothings. While it is the Presidential
policy Of the democrats to give the black re-
publicans fnll length of rope in the House
OF Representatives, satisfied that they will car
ry the niger question to such extremties as
to result in tremendous democratic popular
reaction against them, it is no less the policy
OF the American conservatives to check this
anti-slavery agitation in Congress- or how can
they count upon standing neutral upon slavery
in the Presidential election? This agitation
may be checked by giving the democrats the
Speaker, which would result in such an ap-
pointment of the committees as to give bust
ness the precedence, at least over abolition pro-
jects of sectional excitement; for we presume the
democrats have prepared the regular appropria-
tion bills of the session. The onus Of this ques-
ton, and the exact responsibility therefore, rest
with the balance of power represented by Mr..
Fuller and the scattering votes of the Know No
thing conservatives. They cannot reasonably
demand either Of the larger parties to surrender
to them. Neither los men nor "a men can be
required in any political body to captulate to
an indefinite party Of 35 or 40. 1t Is the duty
Of this latter branch Of the general anti-admn.
istraton opposition to make their choice be-
tween Richardson, or some other democrat, and
Banks, and to indicate it authoritatiyely to the
House, that Congress may be organized and
proceed to the practical business to which the
members have been commissioned, at eight dol.
lars per day each, from the public treasury,
ard liberal margin Of mileage.
The case with the conservative Know No
things, then, is simply this: They cannot expect
in any possible contingency, either Of the other
parties of the House to come over to them.
That thing is out Of the question They have
the alternative, however, of choice and de.
cision between the two other larger parties.
They may check very materially the schemes
Of sectional agitation Of Giddings a Co, by
determining the scale in favor Of democratic
speaker, but the farce has continued long
enough: and IL this smaller onnosition marty