The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-25

Georgia. lectured in Boston on the slavery question
last evening. We give an account Of his reception
and sketch Of his discourse, under the telegraphc
head. The Senator made favorable impression
upon his audience.
The spealership-A New De., with the
Old Cards.
The withdrawal of Col. Richardson by the
democrats, and nominating Col. Orr, followed
by the re-enactment of the old platform as q
measure Of compromise, is the last piece Of alb
surdity we have heard of. If the principles Of
the democratic party are such as to require
reasserting once month"; the fidelity Of
democratic members is so questionable and
doubtful that when one is to be trusted he
must be tied hand and foot to the old platform,
the proceedings Of the caucus nominating Coz.
Orr were strictly proper.
But we must remember in connection with
this new shuttle of the old cards-every one OF
which is marked--that Congress has been at
work two months or Whereabouts in fruitless eff
for is to elect Speaker. During all this time
it has been divided into three parties, neither
Of which has controlling majority vote. Two
of these parties, it has been supposed, have q
little affinity for each other-there is one plank
at least upon which they can stand They
are protested friends Of the constitution
they declare it their purpose to make that
compact the basis Of their respective organiza-
tions. In this, if in nothing else, there is a
p oint Of affinity between the democracy and
the national Know Nothings. At length Col.
oh "a, ind, To rac;nr tho oonIi1ocu
of the democracy. He did 80, and forthwith
another caucus is called, and Col Orr, gen.
tlemanly and competent man, is placed in no.
minstion for Speaker. There is presumption
arising from this movement, of course, that
the democrats in Withdrawing Richardson, in
tended to effect, if possible, an organization
of the House.
The country heard Of the movement. and re-
joiced. Parties had long enough usurped the
place of patriotism, and long enough stood in
the way Of the discharge of public duties.
The presentation of Col. Orr, too, was in many
respects fortunate. He is an unexceptional
national man. Unsncumbered by the platform
which in itself is we'll enough, he could be
elected Speaker; tied down to that platform,
from which Col. Richardson had just been re-
leased, he is no better than the latter. Be
sides, under the circumstances, the reassertion
spectful to Orr, and utterly menacing to the
national Know Nothings. The latter force
for a small party, has chosen it occurs to US,
to make blunders enough in this whole bust
ness, without imposing upon them this new
trial.
The House wants Speaker. The country
demands the defeat of Banks. He is an aboli-
zionist, and has so declared himself There is
no misfortune involved in our future history
equal to that which shall call to the Speaker
ship of the American House of Representatives
an avowed disunionist We trust the virtue Of
our system of government will never be put to
such test. An abolition member of the House,
an abolition Senator, may be endured; but the
Speaker of the popular branch Of the Legisla-
ture, contingent heir to the Presidency of
the federal Union, should not be disunionist
even in theory.
In this condition Of things the proceedings
of the democratic caucus nominating Colonel
VII, IL otllhcs uS, VCAS hooe ubJuoeih"oiS'
They not only close the door to the national
Know Nothings, but defantly insult that in
terest. There was no more necessity for now
platform than there is now for new constitu-
ton. 1t was not demanded even by the in
teTests of party 1t bears the impress alone of
menace and OF an intention, deliberately form
ed, Of postponing the organization of the
House. Granting that the Know Nothings hold
position utterly antagonistic to the demo-
cracy, so far as the legislative policy of the
government is concerned, that is point
that should be overlooked in the present con-
dition Of the House. The object now is two
fold-to defeat Banks and elect national
man. 1t is manifest that in order to secure
these ends there must be compromise
in initiating this compromise, by one party or
another, it will be understood to have been the
result of necessity. The re-enactment of the
Richardson platform, then, as a basis of
union, was playing the old game Of "heada
| win, tails you lose.i The Know Notbings
were thus driven back to Fuller and literally
compelled by the folly of the democrats to
protract the contest for Speaker. It would
have been easier and less offensive, indeed, TO
unite on Richardson than on his successor. in
this state of things. So long as the voting was