Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-20
ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUsE-THE
DEMOCRACY AND THE CONsERVA-
TIVE KNOW-NOTHINGs.


ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUsE-THE
DEMOCRACY AND THE CONsERVA-
TIVE KNOW-NOTHINGs.
The monotony of calling the roll with the
view of electing a Speaker of the House, has
been somewhat relieved for the last day or two
by short and pquant speeches. On Tuesday
a proposition was made by Mr.. Walker, OF Ala
bama, who represents the Mobile district, and
who belongs to the Southern wing Of the Know.
nothings, to the following effect:
Ale called upon all conservative men, ire
respective OF party, who were anxious, as he
was, to effect an organization and to preserve
the great interests Of the country, to meet in
the hall at half-past seven o'clock for the pur
pose of having conference, in order to devise
some plan by which conservative organiza
tion of the House might be had"
This call gave rise to an animated discus
sion, in which a number of gentlemen partici-
pated, and in which some sharp but no rude
remarks were made. For some time the dis
cussion turned on the Pennsylvania elections,
and was carried on by Pennsylvania members.
The question discussed was the identity of
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and Freesoilism in Pennsyl-
vania. The Hon. J. Clancy Jones represented
the Democratic side of the question in the most
satisfactory manner. He showed himself as
quick at repartee as he is forcible in argument
1t was difficult to decide whether he excelled
in asking or answering puzzling questions.
But as we published the debate in our last is
sue, it is needless to refer in detail to it here
Our present purpose is to offer few re-
marks in relation to the call which was made
by the member from Alabama, on "all conser
vative men, irrespective of party" As some
doubt arose during the discussion in regard to
the precise language employed by that gentle
man, and in regard to the precise object which
he had in view, he stated his object and re-
peated his language, as follows:
"What did say was this-and, in repeating
it, beg the attention of the House to my words,
and hope that they will be weighed properly:
That, so far as | was concerned, desiring as /
did, a proper and conservative organization of
this House, and believing, as did, that was
expressing the wishes of most of those who
have thus far cooperated with me, / was will.
ing, in the event of the House not organizing
to-day, to meet in this hall this evening all the
members of this House who are willing to abide
by the existing laws upon the question of sla-
very, and are opposed to the further agitation
of that question, here or elsewhere, and who
are prepared to vote for the admission of any
State into this Union, whether that State per-
mits slavery in its constitution or not. These,
think, we're my words"
Here was distinct proposition for mixed
caucus Of Democrats and conservative Know.
nothings, made with view to conservative
organization.
tits encouraging to contemplate one aspect
of this proposition. That which denotes that
there are others besides Democrats in the House
Of Representatives who will fight fanatcism to
the bitter end, and who will refuse alliance
with any party that is not recognised as con-
sentative in its character. This proposition, or
call, is also highly complimentary to the Demo
cratic party. True, it does not specifically and
by name, call upon the Democrats to meet in
conference, but it is easy to show that they and
none others were intended by this proposition,
which came from the Southern wing of the
Know-nothing party. OF course it could net re-
fer to the Black Republicans and the Freesoilers
Nor could it refer to the Northern wing of the
Know-nothings, which is rankly Freesoil, with
a few exceptions, and has long since split off
from the Southern members Of that order. 1t
must have meant and only meant the National
Democracy Of the House, who have as one man
stood up to the support Of their gallant candi-
date, Colonel Richardson, and manfully resist.
ed all the unsound elements arrayed against
them. This is a tribute TO the Democracy
which caunot be without its effect upon the
country.
There is, however, another aspect presented
by this proposition to which we shall briefly
address ourselves.
As the Democrats Of the House far out
number the Southern Know-Nothings, and the
few conservative Northern Know. Nothings
who act with them, and as the Democrats
are universally acknowledged to be sound and
conservative, is it not unreasonable to expect
them to break up their organization, repudiate
their name, throw away all discipline, sacrifice
their chosen candidate, and go pelmell into
caucus with all who choose to meet them We
think it is unreasonable. The few cannot ex-
pect the many to give up to them after such a
fashion. II the Southern Know. Nothings think
that the Democrats are conservative men, that
they are sound on the slavery question-that
question which severed the Northern and South.
ern members Of the new order, and in one
moment destroyed its nationality--ifthey think
these things, then without caucus, call or pro-
position, without parley, conference or hesita-
ton, they ought, as individuals to vote for the
sound, conservative National Democrat who
is offered to them in the person Of Colonel
Richardson.
1t is idle to suppose that the well organized,
firmly cemented Democracy Of the House, will
for moment dream Of going into mixed,
unnamad unoarta,p cancna AZ Mr. Zones eaid