Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

| After the reading Of the Journal, Mr. CAMP
BELL, of Ohio, and said, that this not the
time to discuss the questions which had been pre-.
| sented to the House. When the House was or
ganized he would be happy to discuss with the
| gentleman from Kentucky, with whom he did not
! differ materially on the American question.
| Mr.. THORINGTON, of Iowa, gave notice that
he should offer his resolution again to-day to-
morrow, providing that plurality shall elect.
The Gath ballot was then taken as follows:
| Banks, l02; Richardson, 78; Fuller, 81; jew
ett Il; Williams, !; Orr, l Foster, l Letter, 2.
| Whole number Of votes 2lS. No choice.
| Mr.. BARCLAY, of Pennsylvania, stated, in re-
ply to Mr. CAMPBELL, of Pennsylvania, that he did
not hold himself responsible TO that gentleman
the House for his course here. He wished the gen.
| tleman to say whether he had styled him Free
soler.
| Mr.. CAMPBELL replied that he had understood
| he was an anti-N ebraska Democrat.
| Mr.. BARCLAY then defined his position at some
length. He was opposed TO the Nebraska bill
but was not in favor of the restoration Of the
| Missouri Compromise.
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Pennsylvania, replied and
reiterated his remarks of yesterday, and asked Mr..
BARCLAY If he was not elected as an anti-Nebraska
| Democrat
Mr.. BARCLAY rejoined, and again defined his
position as, during the canvass, opposed to the Ne
| braska bill, but also opposed to its repeal.
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Penn, then explained, as
he did yesterday, the cause why he had abandoned
Mr.. FULLER, and supported Mr. BANKS He also
stated that the campaign of 1854 was conducted
| by the American party without reference to the
| Nebraska bill.
Mr. WHITNEY, of New York, wished to de-
fend the American party of the North from certain
charges made against 1t by members of the oppo-
sition, of utilization with the Aboitonists. He
had himself been exposed to such charges by the
opposition press of New York. he pronounced
the American party as occupying position dis
tinct from that of any other party; which position
he defined In accordance with the well-known
principles of that party.
Mr.. TRAFT0N, of Massachusetts,; interrupted
| Mr.. w, by inquiring whether he stood upon the
platform of the American party of Massachusetts,,
which he held in his hands
Mr.. WHITNEY. Before answer the question
/ must know which platform It is--the one on
| which the friends Of Gov. Gardner stood, or that
on which the supporters of Mr.. Rockwell stood.
Mr.. TRAFT0N then read the document which
Mr.. WHITNEY pronounced the platform Of, the Mas
sachusetts Free-solers.
Mr.. WHITNEY resumed, and stated the facts
with regard to the American party Of New York,
which had purged itself of Abolitionism, and had
carried the State by triumphant majority. The
Republican ticket in the city of New York received
but 5000 votes at the late election the American
ticket, 24,000l
Even In the Free-spil district of Massachusetts,
represented by Mr.. BANKS, at the late election the
National Americans were triumphant.
| Mr.. WHITNEY then offered n resolution that
the Speaker be elected by ballot
A motion was made TO lay II on the table.
On this the ayes and noes we're called, and the
resolution was laid on the table by 2l8 tot
Mr.. -CADWALLADER pronounced this vote q
decided rebuke to the practice Of secret voting.
Mr.. FULLER rose and stated that inasmuch as
his position bad been made the subject Of comment
in the House, he would state distinctly what IL
The whole difficulty in organizing the House
was caused by the introduction Of the question of
slavery. He was opposed TO its introduction as
tending to the alienation Of one section from an
other. He was In favor of leaving the subject Of
slavery where the constitution left IL. Applause.
He was in favor of the Compromise Of 1850, and
had he been here in 1854, he should have opposed
the passage Of the Nebraska bill.
Mr.. SAGE asked Mr.. FULLER IL he was in favor
of the restoration Of the Missouri Compromise, and
IL he would vote for its restoration
Mr.. FULLER said that when that question came
up In this House he should vote upon II in accorN
dance with his convictions and bis conscience.
Mr.. TODD, Of Pennsylvania, stated that he had
voted for Mr.. FULLER under the impression that
his sentiments on the slavery question were very
different from those he had just avowed, and that
he would have seen his right arm withered before
he would have voted for him had he known his
real opinions.
a~We hear n rumour that the Democratic