Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-09
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Blanks. lO4 Richardson 10, Fuller 81, scat
tering 81" This, or something very like it, is
still the sterreotyped intelligence from Washing
;on.. We;are heartily sick of announcing it 10
impatient q,sid names upon the arrival of every
mail really tired of gazing upon it under the tel
egraphic head in the daily prints; absolutely in
disposed to cast eyes in that direction lest the
same little paragraph that has been kept standing
in the newspapers for the last five weeks, like the
prices current, varying only occasionally IN the
change Of figure, should meet our eyes, and
compel US, parrot.lkl to repeat, banks lO4,
Richardson 70, Fuller 81, scattering 81" 1t
would be some little relief, if Mr.. Fuller could
swap places with Mr.. Banks, and Mr.. "Scatter-
ing" creep up to Mr. Richardson, but such a
change In the relative positions OF the candidates
is not to be hoped for al this late day. Even Mr..
Scattering" The representative OF no party sect
or ism, although the fayorie of but few, steadily
and persistently stands his ground, refusing to
bulge more than an inch one way or the other
Such indomitable perseverance, is emlnently wor-
thy of success, and it would not surprise US to
hear of his election yet An intelligent snbscrl-
Der, who is great at arthmetcal calculations and
profound in political matters, comedies with us IN
the opinion that s'Scatering's" chances OF ulti-
mate triumph are decidedly hatiering.
But speculations aside. the delay in the organ
ization of The House of Representatives is becom-
ing serious matter. Sent to Washington to
legisa,e upon grave and important matters, in
volving the highest interests of the country, the
representatives of the people have consumed more
than one whole month in futile efforts to elect
presiding officer, and it is time the costly amuse-
ment should be brought to a close. Instead of
balloting day after day, and week after week,
with the same unsatisfactory result. let the par
ties, if they do not intend to yield, cease to at
tempt the accomplishment of an apparent impos-
sibilliy, and 90 back home, like men Of sense, in
the first train of cars. We seriously doubt wheth-
er all the good that they could accomplish during
the session, If Speaker were elected on the next
ballot, would be worth one-half of the sum now
due them for pay, which amounts already TO near
ly, if not quite LOCO. IF they are determined
TO spend the winter in Washington, however, at
an enormous expense to the government, it is
questionable whether their time and talents would
be more proftaby expended if The House were
organ zed, than they are at present. The spirit
manifested already. would seem to indicate any
thing but calm deliberations, wise counsels, and
harmonious labors TO promote the welfare and
prosperity of the whole country.
Ii is impossible to predict the final result Of the
efforts to organize the House. The friends of the
several candidates seem 10 be mmoyable, and the
chances Of election no better than they were ai-
ter the first ballot was taken. The probability is
tina. Banks may ultimately be chosen, and we are
not Of those who would consider such an event as
very disastrous 10 the peace Of the country and
fatal TO the Union. Let Mr. Banks feel the re-
sponsibility of that position, and we believe he
would be cautious-nay, conservative. To rave
and rant about the horrors Of slavery on the floor
of Congress, to hurl anathemas ard threaten ven-
geance, is one thing; to practice what they
preach, when clothed with the power, is another
and different thing, which the most violent OIL
tho Giddings School would not dare.
The mails having failed to arrive, we have no
We may safely calculate that the vote still
stands Banks l04, Richardson rs, Fuller 81,
Scattering 5.