Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-08

The journal OF yesterday was read and APP
proved
Mr.. ETHERIDGE rose, and, after some COM
plimentary remarks 10 Messrs BANKS, RICHARD
SON, FULLER, and PENNINGTON, went on 10 show
that the popular sentiment was decidedly in favor
OF the election of Speaker who not a sec
uonallst, and placed IN nomination the name of
JOHN s. MILLsoN of Virginia who he said was
not Objectionable 10 either the anti-Nebraska or
American sentiment of the House, having OPP
posed that feature in the Kansas and Nebraska
bill which related 10 alien suffrage and then
voted against the measure Itself. Besides this
gentleman had not taken part in the Democratic
caucus which nominated Mr.. RICHARDSON and,
therefore, was the more acceptable.
Mr. BROOM remarked that ninety-tWo ballots
had been taken without the slightest prospect of
any result. The House had heard much in re-
gard TO the position which different parties and
different individuals had assumed in this contest.
He thought that this the appropriate time TO
remind gentlemen of the House that the para
mount issue upon which they had been elected
TO represent the will Of constituencies who COM
posed majority OF the people OF this nation was
the American issue. The American people had
made it so, and those who had been elected 10
Congress as Americans had been sent here as
representatives Of that principle, and not OF Free
soilism, which was an entirely subordinate issue.
II seemed strange, then, that those who had been
so elected would now, at this particular Juncture,
desert their principles, and he trusted that
months experience spent IN successive baotngs
had convinced them that the only issue upon
which they could stand in this House was that TO
which they owed their seats. He, therefore, APP
pealed TO them TO change their position, and come
back TO the main principle, and see If a majority
OF Americans, upon that principle, could not
coed in bringing the House 10 organization.
lie thought that every intelligent representative
knew that there could be no legislation had upon
the subject OF slavery, either as 10 It's extension
IN the Territories or as 10 the restoration of the
Missouri Compromise. If such measure was
even 10 pass the House it would be defeated in
the Senate, and if il should pass both the Senale
and House it would be defeated by veto when
IT reached the executive chair; so that this con-
test was waste Of energy and the public trea-
sure, and they meeting day after, day. and
engaging in ruitless efforts to organize the House,
when, II they came together Americans ire
spectve of that issue, they would be able 10
agree. He said that il was the only alternative
either TO pursue that course adopt the resolu-
luton which he would now submit:
Resolred, That the friends and supporters of the
prominent candidates for the speakership be, and
they are hereby, requested TO withdraw them from
the further consideration and action of this House.
and that the members representing the different
parties on this floor are hereby requested to meet
together and appoint committee of five from
each, with view OF electing conservative mem
Der OF this House as compromise candidate for
Speaker
[Great laughter1
Immediately on the close of the remarks of the
gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. ETHERIDGE, /
and would have done so had he not lost the OPP
pouunlty by being engaged in conversation at the
time with two friends, who were endeavoring in
efectually 10 move him from that position which
he thought il necessary TO assume. He had come
into the hall while the gentleman from Tennessee
was addressing the House, and was engaged in
specializing to the object that gentleman had in
view, when he was surprised-he would not say
started-at the announcement of his own name
as candidate for the speakershp He hoped
that he would be allowed 10 appeal most urgently
10 the gentleman 10 withdraw the nomination
That gentleman must be aware that he stood here
associated with his political friends in an honest
effort 10 elect the honorable gentleman from ILL,
nols Mr.. RIcHARDsoNl as Speaker of the House,
and that the very considerations which had pre-
vailed upon the gentleman 10 place his name be-
fore this body would be, in the estimation of MANY
OF the gentlemen with whom he was acting
grave objection. That while there was no proba-
blllty OF the nomination meeting with any success
il would be placing him in painful position and
he asked the gentleman 10 withdraw his name as
candidate for the distinguished post OF Speaker.
Alter some further conversation between Mr..
ETHERIDGE and Mr.. MILLSON
Mr.. ETHERlDGE withdrew the name of that
gentleman reserving himself the privilege of vo-
ting for him.
Mr.. STEPHENS was opposed TO the resolu-
ton of the gentleman from Pennsylvania fMr
BRooMl The House could not be organized in
that way, in his judgment, and if il could r would
not be a good method. He wished 10 reply 10 the
gentleman however, who had said that the Anne
rican party in this House had been elected on the
American principles as paramount 10 all Others
and that therefore they ought 10 organize the
House upon that basis. He did not know the
strength OF that party in the House. The gentle
man from Kentucky Mr. MARSHALL had some
days ago Informed them that there was a majority
on the floor OF the House belonging 10 that party,
and who could organize upon the principles OF
that party; but what spectacle would have been
presented 10 the House and the country if an or
ganlzaton had been effected on such basis as
that? There might be a majority in favor of the
principles OF that party; but, il so, there were
only about thirty-six votes, all told, cast for the
gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. FuILERl and
the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr.. ii. MAR.
sHALLI and but SIX of those votes from the entire
North. The remainder of the party, consisting of
about twothirds three -fourths Of the whole
stood in solid phalanx against one whole section
OF the Union. If this was the American partv
what spectacle did il present TO the country7
Might he not appeal TO The gentleman from Penn
sylvania himself as well as that gentleman's
southern associates, and ask them, ii that party
had become so corrupt in its beginning when Il
was only two years old, TO stand arrayed In
SOLID phalanx against one section of the Union
whether u ought not 10 be put downs He was
therefore, opposed 10 the organization Of the
House upon the basis of the principles OF party
so organized and so constituted. The gentleman
had said that the American party in the House
had been elected upon the principles Of that party
paramount 10 all others. He did not know and
could not say anything against that but, 80 far
his own election was concerned, he would saw
that he had been elected upon the principle Of
maintaining the Constitution Of the United States
in all It's length, breadth, and depth, every clause
and every section, as paramount to all other cues
tons.
Mr.. BROOM. The gentlemen will permit me
TO say, and so was |.
Mr.. STEPHENS said that, as he understood
the principles of that party-and he asked the
gentleman TO set him right il he made any mistake.
because the outsiders had only the benefit Of the
little glimmerings Of light that shot through the
secret caves and dark lanterns Of that party-it
set out by directing that memher Of that party
should ever vote for any who was not n
native American and in favor of Americans ruling
America, nor should he vote for n Roman Catholic
He asked the gentleman IL that was not the corner
stone of that party? II So perhaps il was the |
reason why some gentlemen could not vote for |
Mr.. RICHARDSON. True, that gentleman was a |
native born American, and was not a Roman |
Catholic; but he was not in favor of Americans |
ruling America 10 the exclusion Of all oregn-born
citizens from Office The constitution Of the i
country did not exclude these men: and because
his friend RICHARDSON would not assume position