Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-07


hanks Elected Speaker.
The National House of Representatives
has at length organized itself. Not, in
deed, as every patriotic citizen fondly
hoped, by the elevation to the Speakership
Of some member untainted with sectional
ism; aud, acceptable, generally, to the great
mass of the people North and South; but
by the eiection~of Mr. Banks, an avowed
Free-soiler, one who has lately advanced
doctrines, which, in the organization of the
new Territories, would prove most prejudi-
cial and unjust to the rights, both individu-
al and State, of the South.
The country was beginning to demand
an organization of the House, and any
body's election, we presume, would have
been regarded as preferable to longer de-
lay The protracted struggle was begin
ming to awaken most anxious solicitations in
the breast OF every one who duly appreciates
our form ofgovernment, and feels patriots
interest in its welfare and permanently
The election Of Banks, however much, un-
der other circumstances, we might depre-
cate it,. will serve to allay the uneasiness
in the public mind, and calm the tumult of
feeling which such aStruggle might well be
expected to arouse, and for this reason it
will prove less distastefui and Objectionable
than under other circumstances it would
deserve to be regarded.
But, now that the contest is over, inqui-
~ should be made as to its cause. What
gave rise to it 2 But once before in the
history of the government, has there any
contest occurred approaching this in length,
and the unwearying pertinacty with which
candidates were chung to. 1t is every citi-
zen's duty to investigate this question, and
ascertain, if possible, who is to be held re-
sponsible. 1t is easy to perceive, and can
be very readily said, that the immediate
cause was, that three parties, holding wide
ly different sentiments, found themselves on
the floor of the House, neither one of which
had sufficient strength to place candidate
of its own in the Speakers chair-to-wit
National Americans, Administration Dem
ocrats, and Republicans or Free-soilerS A
few days only had elapsed after the meet
ing of Congress, before it was evident that
there must be a union or fusion of some two
of the contending parties, before an organi-
cation could be had In fact it required
no unusual sagacity to perceive this, before
the first ballot was taken. In determining
where the fault lies it is well to remember
this fact
We set out with the proposition that the
Administration party are culpable in this
matter, both in acts of commission and
omission. We charge that they have nay
er really desired an organization until
conjuncture should arise which would prove
advantageous to their prospects and purpo-
ses. We insist that their conduct through
out this whole controversy has shown them
more welded to the interests of their party
than those of the country. We will prove,
incontestably, that this nine weeks strug-
gle, with all its deplorable results, sectional
differences, upbraidings, ordinations and
heart-rendings, not to speak Of the remote
consequences, the distrust and want of con-
fdence in popular government, which it
tends TO engender, has not only been per-
mitted by the Democratic party, when it
had the power to check it, bat prolonged
and maintained to serve party END
Read the resolution which the Democrat
ic members adopted in the caucus which
nominated Mr.. Richardson:
"ResOLged, That the Democratic members of
the House of Representatives though in tenn
porary minority in this body, deem this fit
occasion 10 tender to their fellow citizensof the
whole Union, their heartfelt congratulations
on the triumph, in the recent elections in sew
eral of the Northern, Eastern and Western, as
well as Southern States, of the principles of the
Kansas Nebraska bill, and the DOCTRINES OF CIV
piOLeRtly assaiLed by secret, political order,
known as the Know Nothing party; and though
10 a minority, we hold il 10 be our highest du-
ty to preserve our organization and continue
our efforts in the maintenance and defence OF
those principles and the constitutional rights
OF every section and every class of citizens,
against their opponents of every description,
whether the so-called Republicans, KRep Moth
tngs, or .fasiOnists; aud TO this eud we Iook
with confidence TO the support and APPRECIATION
OF all good and true men friends of The Con-
stitution and The Unioa-throughou the coun-
try"
Now, this resolution, insultingly stigma
tizingt the American Representatives as ene-
mics, and rioleat assailers Of eira and re
6gioas liberty" was adopted in the face Of
facts which plainly indicated that if there
was an organization effected it must be
through compromise aad concession, and
not by insult aud denunciation. We ask,
does the spirit of that resolution be-
tray an honest aud sincere desire TO organ
ize 7 Does il not rather appear like an OBJ
stacle wilfully interposed TO prevent such
resulti Not only did they adopt this reso-
luton, but their organists and Spokesman
repeatedly declared they would support
no man who would not relinquish every
principle be held dear, and meet with them
in caucus, and merge himself, sOul, body,
aud estate. into the Democratic orgahiza-
ton. Can it be surprising il h,gh-souled
and ehivalrOus men refused to doisg Might