The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1856-02-15
Banks Elocted by the BLACK and
Red Republicans.

Red Republicans.
! The Telegraph informed US all lastweek that
that'N. P. Banks'thc Black Republican Candi-
date for Speaker, was elected. The Mississippian
and other kindred printsin the face Of the same de-
spatch, which announced this calamity 10 the
South, dlso stating that Mr.. Humphrey Marshall,
of Kentucky, contended that be was not duly elect
ed. and Aiken, of South Carolina an anti Amer
icpn, persisted in his being duly elected and con-
Quoted him the chair, knowing os these editors
and the whole county know, that Marshall, of
Kentucky, zoilicoffer, of Tennessee and Lake, of
Mississippi. with the other American members of
the House have been unit during the whole ex.
citing time of ballotting for Speaker in the face
Of this it seems strange them that have a de-
sire that even their own party should believe
them in the remotest degree disposed to be fair
and honest in political dealings, should make the
statement that Banks, tire Black Republican was
elected by Know Nothing votes. The SPEAKER
himself said he was sent to Congress by Democrat
ic and Freesoil votes.
BANKS is a frank, bold man, who does not con-
ceul his Abolitionism, but says 'et the Union
slide" If the abolition of Slavery will give it its
death blow. For the election OF such man, says
the Memphis Eagle, the responsibility rests either
ION the American party or on the Democratic par
ty in Congress. These two parties. claiming TO
be conservative national men, constituted atTimes
q majority, and might, by uniting, have elected
conservative, national Speaker. They failed to
do and the responsibility therefore, lies between
them. We shall state the facts in the history OF
the long, and disastrously terminated contest for
Speaker and leave our readers to determine, for
themselves, where theresponsiblity rests.
On the meeting of Congress, the three parties
the Black Republican, the Administration and
the American--each expressed desire for a
speedy organization Of the House, aud each nom
mated q candidate, representing their respective
principles. At the very outset the Administration
caucus passed resolution substantially proclaim
ing the American party traitors to their country
and declaring that they the Administration men,
bers, would not, under any possible state Of cir
cumstances, support an American candidate, or
Democratic candidate who failed or refused to
endorse the denunciatory resolution. Throughout
the whole contest they adhered pertinaciously to
this determination, refusing to elect such men as
Smith, of Virginia, and Akin of South Carolina
(both true aud tried Democrats, and supporters
of the ADMINISTRATOR when they had it com.
pIetely in their power to do so, by the co-opera.
! ton of the Americans, who, from the beginning
were ready and willing to give their aid in the
election of any national man, and who unanimous
" voted for Mr.. Smith. The administration men
without impugnng the Democracy, the nationali
| ty or the soundness of Mr.. Smith on any single
issue held by themselves, refused to vote fer him
for the reasons that he did not endorsethe caucus
resolution impeaching Americans for treason, anC
that americans were willing to compromise upor
him. The administration men refused positively
to elect any member oftheir own party by the as
sistsnce of the American, except upon the cond,
ton that the Americans would confess themselves
traitors to the Constitution, foreswear their prin
cipes and dis olive their organization. These were
the only terms upon which they would consent tt
accept the assistance of Americans in the election
Of sound national Democrat.
As we have said the Americans, devoted a
they were to their principles as represented b,
their candidate, Mr.. Fuller, we're willing, fol tn
sake of their country, to forego their first choice
and elect Speaker from the administration par
! ty; and they continued to manifest the same pa
triotic and conciliatory disposition by droppin!
their own candidate and voting unanimously 70
a national Democrat whenever there was the re
hottest prospect, the fantest hope of the election
of snch man by the votes of his own party. The
rallied to Mr.. Smith Zone of the "immortrl sever
ty-four,') and his own party friends dropped hin
when, had they supported him be would have boe
elected by majority of two votes. The Amer
cans rallied to Mr.. Akin, and his own friend
dropped him, when their votes could have electe
{ him. The Americans opposed tie adoption {
the plurality rule, fearing that it would result
: the election Of Banks,1 which was finally passie
over them by Democratic votes; ard when the {
nal struggle came; in order to avert the Nations
humiliation of an abolition triumph. the Amer
cans abandoned their candidate and rallied to til
support OF the candidate Of the Administrative
party Bot their concessions and their sacrifice
were fuitless. Esough of the Administration pal
d ty it appears by the Geographic dispatches al
e nouncing the result, abandoned the Administr'
ton candidate to ensure his defeat and secure ii
election of Banks.-They succeeded. Banks VIZ
elected. Where does the responsibility rest?
g
In letter to his constituents upo
the subject of the Speakership, Mr.. A
X. Marshall, of Kentucky, who is
!. member of the American party, thu
g locates the responsibility of not organ
izing the House:
!. "We have not the power to elect Democr'