The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-15
ELECTION OF SPEAKER.


of Representatives, Saturday, which resulted
in the election of Speaker, by n plurality
vote. Two months have been wasted in the
unovaiing effort to organize. No other Gov.
eminent on earth could have endured, for half
the time, that condition Of paralysis. In
France, one weeks suspension of its func.
tons, by either department of the Govern.
ment, would have preciptated coup d'etat, or
the erection of barbados and revolution
In England, where more freedom and better
knowledge of the freaks of freedom exist, a
longer federation might be accorded to the
unorganized than in France; but even John
Bulls patience would have been exhausted in
less than nine weeks But here, we verify
believe, Congress might have continued until
March the 9Th, 81, precisely in the state in
which 1t has been for two months, withou,
provoking any stronger demonstrations of
violence than general disgust among the
people for the individual members. The
Representative department of the Govern.
ment would have remained unaltered and
untouched-ihe popular conviction of its i'm.
portance to free government would have
continued unimpaired, and no mans faith in
the excellence and permanency of the Gov.
eminent, as n whole, would have been shaken
in the least. The people would have felt
that in their hands was the remedy for what.
% ar "a mint tE,t ii.
suiier-that public affairs might be temporari
ly embarrassed, but that no lasting detrimen,
could be inflicted upon the Republic by the
impotency of ii single Congress.
The public have, accordingly, looked on
with grea: patience and good nature upon the
disorderly scenes which have been transpiring
in Washington. The daily announcement o.
another day fruitlessly spent, was received
with shrugs of contempt or marks of indiffer
ence. Some began to think and to argue
that no possible good could come from 1
body, which, for two months, had proclaimed
to the world, that it did not contain n sinrI,
member fit to preside over its own delibera
tions-and, therefore, no great harm coult
ensue, ifit never organized. This view of il.
worthlessness is rather confirmed by tn,
general feeling of indifference with which tn,
result has been received.
| But there is in this result somewhat tha
vindicates our foresight, to which we shall
very briefly refer.
Some six weeks or more ago, we predicted
that the plurality rule would be adopted
that it would he adopted at the insligatio
and by the votes of Democrats--theS outher
Democratic members, almost without exccI
ton, preferring the election of Banks, 70
party reasons alone.
Our prophecy has been fulfilled to the lie,
ter. N. p. Banks is the Speaker of the Hous
of Representatives, and he is Speaker in cor
sequence of the votes of Southern Democrat
for the adoption of the plurality rule.
We call the attention of the Souther
people, of all parties, to the facts developed
the course of the long protracted struggle ft
the Speakership. On almost dozens of o.
casions the National Americans indicated the
preference and their readiness to CO operat
with tho conservative elements of the HOus
come from VIVA! quarter they might, in Ii
organization. But these offers and propos
tons were almost instantly rejected on evel
occasion on which they were presented.
was the deliberate intention of the Democra
OF the South to so manage and intrigue du
ing the conflict, to mid in the election
Banks, so far ms they could do so witho
publicly casting their votes for him. Henc
while, as n whole, they refused to vote for Il
plurality rule, yet they sent out enough W
unteers to effect their object. And the co
, sequence inevitably was that Banks W
} elected.
We, therefore, appeal to the country,
| say, whether the Southern Democrats are
. solely responsible for the unfortunate a
. ominOus result of Banks election.
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