Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-02-20
Correspondence Of Darrnpor, ea1etle.

WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. I'd, 1856.
M. EprroR: The great struggle for Speaker
Of the 34th Congress as you are aware, came to a
close on the 133d ballot. On the last vote the
entire South, Democrats and Know Nothings,
eoalesced and voted for Gov. Aiken Those of
the American party who had previously voted
for Mr.. Fuller threw their votes away. Mr.. Full
Ter himself paired of with Banks man, thus viz
tually voting for Aiken.
A more exciting contest or scene never wit
messed. The galleries were crowded from 10
until o'clock. When the crisis arrived and the
final vote was being taken, doubt was depicted
on every countcnancc. The frmness Of the Re-
publican party at this trying time seemed to in
force an awe into its bitterest enemies, and
caused fear to come even on the veteran forces
of the Administration. Frequent motions to
adjourn were made by the pro-slavery party OF
the House, motions to rescind and other
dilatory motions, all OF which were received in
good spirit and promptly voted down.
The effort made at the close to defeat the effect
of the vote under the plurality resolution, by re-
fusing to concur therein by majority vote, was
met with a decided rebuke and in manly man.
ner by Gov. Aiken, Gov. Cobb, and others from
the South. Campbell of Ohio, made some very
pertinent remarks on the subject, and appealed
to the honor of Southern gentlemen, to place Mr.
Banks in the chair under the resolution which
had elected him. But there were only SO votes
against the resolution. When the result was
announced, the house gave way to the pleasure it
felt, and one universal huzza seemed to 60 up
amid the crashing of teeth and occasional Kisses
of some of the defeated.
Mr.. Banks was conducted to the chair by Gov.
Aiken, H. NJ Fuller andL. d. Campbell,-
Aiken having previously requested that honor of
the House. How extremes meet! The wealth
lest man on the floor of Congress, who has abso-
lutte control and ownership of the persons and
liberties of some 800 human beings and prop
erty accumulated by their combined labor,
amounting to S2,000,o00, conducting to posi-
ton, honorcd as being the third i'll the gift of
the American people, man who represents sent
mcnts entirely antagonistical to his own. MIR.
Banks remarks on taking the chair, were terse
and remarkably pertinent. ..-.-..r.. ..
The fusion to-day formed is but a fOrerunner
of fusions elsewhere. Nationality as at present
manifested is but combination to spread the
black pail of slavery over territory now free
Whatever may be said of Americanism, we see
the bogus Democracy of to-day taking a fond
embrace of the proscriptive party as it is called
The platform is deserted by ALL and the candi-
dates, like the mice in Cinderella, have taken to
| flight
| That good time we have so often heard OF, has
come Let the Democracy be but half as honest
| in Iowa as they have been on the floor of this
Congress- and the remnants of the old Banner
| newspaper and other kindred sheets of your
| town and State will float over some more congo
NAL spot; and the 'brds of passage" who are
now grinding out editorials in your midst, will
take flight for places where they will meet with
more sympathy, and need not be ashamed to
continue libelng and bctraying the cause Of free
dom and the rights of man. The elections OF
1856 will completely sweep away all such bogus
concerns, and the political Adventures who sup
port them. Yours in haste,