Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-02-13
SPECTATOR.
.--STAUNTON:@
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1856.
The Election of Speaker.

The Election OF Speaker.
We had barely tilae to announce, in our last
paper the termination of the protracted contest for
the Speakership Of the House of Representatives
by the election of Banks, the candidate OF the
Black Republicans. This result was not une1-
pected to u.s. and we cannot perceive that much
harm is to come of it. Regarded as triumph u
fanaiica agitators it is certainly to be regretted;
but that the peace and prosperity of the country
are one whit more in danger now than before we
do not believe. Mr.. n. P. Banks in the Speak
ers chair will be just as impoten for evil and we
doubt not less disposed TO it, than he would have
been as a member of the House simply, privileged
to preach anti-slavery sermons for the exaspera-
ton of the South and the commentator of his
own constituents. There is something in the So
lemnity of an oath, even if it was administered by
that high priest Of higher-law traitors, old MIR.
Giddings there is conservatism about the very
position he has assumed, as there is about every
office of high public responsibility. that will mod
crate and temper the enthusiasm of MIR. Banks
anti,slayery notions, and cause him to act with
far.mors cau,ion than if the responsibility Were
divided among the hundred and odd free soil
friends who placed him in The Speakers chair.---
But supposing him to be utterly devoid of regard
to the solemn obligations he has Automatically
destitute of patriotic emotions and fully determin
ed to plant his feet upon the Constitution and the
Laws and carry out TO the letter, 50 far as in him
les. the reasonable purposes that he and his as
sociates do not hesitate to avow--he and they are
still powerless 10 accomplish their atrocious de-
signs. Let him appoint upon his committees, men
after his own heart, the blacklist and most deter
mined Of the free soil band J; let the committees
report and the House pass bills abolishing slavery
IN the District Of Columbia, and repeating the
the Fugitive Slave Law-7thus far the tide of
fana,icism may roll, but there shall its black
waves be stayed! To the Senate we would con-
fdently look. as bulwark against which they
would dash themselves in vain. No apprehension
need be felt then, of serious difficulties growing
out of the election Of Banks. On the other hand
it may result in much good. As before remarked.
the free soilers must now show their hand. IL
they dare to practice what they preach, we have
an abiding confidence that the conservative, ma
,onal masses at the North, viii be aroused to .
sense of danger and plant themselves in opposition
to the schemes of their insane leaders. IT, on the
other hand, the Republicans fail to act as they
have talked, they will stand confessed before the
country as band of asitators, demagoguss and
hypocrites.
We do not deem it necessary to inquire at
whose door the responsibility Of the election of
Mr.. Banks lies AS matter of course, the Dem
ocratc press endeavors 10 alix the odium upon the
American party, because in the exercise of an un
ceniat,e right, some I'VE or SIX Americans (and
only one from the South) voted for that substan-
tal national man, Henry Nj. Fuller, to the last
ballot. We regret that they did SO, and if they
had foreseen The result. their votes would proba-
bly, have been different. It is equally true, how
ever that two Democrats from Pennsylvania.
Boardman and Hickman, voted against Mr. Aiken.
1t is equally true that but for the persistent ex-
clusveness of the Democrats, who refused to be
satisfied with anything less than party triumph,
national man might have been elected six weeks
ago. 1t is also true that the Democrats had it in
their power to elect Mr.. Smith, of Virginia, and
did not do it. And moreover, it is certain
that, but for the adoption of the plurality rue.vo-
ted for by the Democrats, Banks would not have
been elected Speaker. But he is Speaker, and,
perhaps, it is all well enough. Ofone thing We
feel well assured that while one party may throw
the blame of his election upon another, the sover
eigu people are more disposed to ccnsure all PR
ties for not electng Speaker on the second ballot
Long before the baoting was through they had
ceased to feel an interest in the contest, and pa
thence having performed its perfect work had Civ
en- place to indignation and disgust.