The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-18
ocnsrss-rhisteensh Dsy-No Speaker Yet
"A Preside asssi View OF the QurstIon
Fxplat0e tnm gxual.lsa~.

ccnsrss-ri,isteensh Day-So Speaker Yet
"A rsTtds asisi View OF the ourst,on
sspinias TIA s9assaa,.
: The proceedings In Congress yesterday we're
much iiyeli,r, more diversified, more interest
ing, iuDnnr, more exciting and more excru-
eating than ON any day since the commence
ment OF this singular, inevplicable aud mo
mentous triangular squabble for the Speaker
OF the House. We think, ho~ever, from the
sensation which h risipg among the contest
ing parties, that the Issue II coming 10 a focus,
and that ID Is possible that the plurality expe-
dent, by some convenient shuttle OF the cards.
may yet be adopted before Christmas, az in
tS49.
Our views and suggestions of the last two
weeks concerning THE delicate, perplexng and
important struggle for the Speaker, have been
amply sustained by subsequent events and
movements at Washington. For example, we
suggested that Weed, Webb and Greeley of
the negro fusionist lobby corps, we're dead
weight to their party and so they have proved
to be. Weed, accordingly, left Washington
the other day for the more genial climate of
Albany, very much disguised with the intract-
able reprobates of the Fuller and Humphrey
Marshall varieties. Greeley was called to
account yesterday III the House, by Mr.
Dunn, of Indiana, from whose testimony
it appears that our .Fourierite philosopher
is regarded as but little better than nuisance
by the anti Seward members of the anti-admin-
istration majority. Gen. Webb, on the other
hand, seems to keep unusually quiet To- q man
of his active habits of mind aud boz It may
be that he has not yet defn g decided
whether he is, or is to be- a blacL publican or
Know Nothing for 1856, and is still inquir-
ing, where am ! to go?''
Again: 1t will be seen that the House yes
terday infused an agreeable variety into their
ordinary days work, by adopting our recon-
mendation that the dull, dry voting for the
Speaker be suspended for time, and that they
proceed to discuss the subject with view to
the enlightenment Of each other and the coun-
try in relation to the ugly snarl of parties and
factions which fas tied them up, just as the in
fatuated Samson was tied up and betrayed
through the Establishments of the Infamous De-
lilah. We must confess, too, that our recorded
discussion of yesterday is in many respects
more valuable than all the ballotings which
they have had for Speaker put together.
We apprehend that the motion of Mr.. Nc
Mullen, of Virginia, (dem.,) that q pro tempore
Speaker be elected, that the regular appropria-
tion bills be passed, and that all the members
of the House shall then resign their seats and
return home for another trial before the people
absurd as the proposition appears upon its face
touches, point blonk, the great difficulty which
lies at the bottom of all this business, to wit
the Importance of this House and the Speaker
ship in reference to the next Presidency.
Let us state the case. The Presidential con-
test of 1856 may be scrub race--the three
candidates, democratic, Know Nothing and
black republican, (neither having majority
of the Electoral Colleges,) may be carried into
this House of Representatives for decision.
In view of thiss contingency, and the three
parties as they stand in the House, the Speaker
now to be elected may have most important
and influential part to play in bringing about
the final result. He may by his decisions upon
points Of order, questions Of precedence, Nc,
either prolong or shorten the contest in the
House, as may best subserve the interests of
his own party, to say nothing of the posi-
bic contingency in which the Speaker him
self may become the President Of the United
States. Furthermore, in the appointment of
the standing and special committees of the
body, he will be Immediately invested with
very great power in the shaping and directing
the legislation Of this session in reference to
the Presidential campaign. Thus he may soft
Ell or infame the slavery agitation, as the in
terests Of his party may require; and so with
regard to all the other issues which will enter
into the Presidential canvass and divide the
masses OF the people in the election.
Then, again, the House Clerk of this Con-
gress, with the unlimited franking privilege,
powers and perquisites Of this officer and the
Printer of the House, with his net profits
amounting to princely fortune in a single
year, will be most valuable Presidential &C
cessories to the party that may secure these
functionaries on this occasion. The Clerk can
save thousands upon thousands of dollars to
the central club of his party in the ranking
of their electioneering pamphlets, papers and
speeches; and the Printer WILL of course, be
able to contribute liberal per centage from
his liberal share of the plumber, for the good
Of the cause and the continuation Of his Off.
cial services in the next Congress-
These con siderations are sufficient to show
that this contest for the Speakers chair is the
beginning Of the struggle for the White
House, and that these partizan divisions upon
Banks, Richardson and Fuller are something
more than personal or temporary distractions,
involving, in fact, the active opening Of the
battle for the Presidency between the demo
cratic party, the national Know Nothings and
the black republicans We entertain, then,
neither surprise nor disappointment concern
ing this delay in the election of Speaker,
thon oh for the salSc Of the President and h;a