The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-10
No election having been effected

INO eltctOu having De6n eHecC9Q-
Mr.. Walker, Of Alabama, sal 4 that the whole
resolved itself into this simple truth that the
feeling Of the Democratic party was so fixed
and so rigid as to have thus far prevented any
thing ike a cooperation and union of the con-
sentative elements of the House. On one side
was presented large and firm body, under the
name OF the Republican party, casting their
suffrages for the distinguished gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. Banks, solely upon great
sectional question. Another portion Of the
House, whom the press of the country had
termed the Immortal a." were rendering
their support to the distinguished Representa-
tive from Illinois, Mr.. Richardson, predica
ting their support of that gentleman on his
identity with well-known political measure.
There was third and still mailer party, com
posed, as they believed, of men eminently con-
sentative in their political opinions, and desi-
rous of having such an organization as should
insure good order and decorum in the House,
and everywhere, so far as presiding officer
could have the power, a strict observance of all
the obligations of the great organic law of The
country.
He trusted that the resolutions which he
should offer would receive the sanction Of a
ajority of the House, as he had named in it.
as candidate for Speaker, q gentleman aot
entirely identified with any Of the parties ar.
rayed one against the other in this country,
but who had stated that he claimed not to be-
long to that party, in the strict technical sease
of the term, but acted with it because of GEN
eral coincidence and harmony of opinion; a
man who had said that he was not in the eau
Gus that nominated the gentleman from I'LL.
nois, that he had nothing to do with it, and
that he refused to 60 into it, and that his sup
port of Mr.. Richardson was not the result Of
g. - L
he knew that the gentleman from Illinois was
sound upon what he conceived to be the great
ruling question of the day.
1t was known that for weeks past he had
steadily and unhinchingly given his suffrage
for the distinguished gentleman from Penusyl.
vania, Mr.. Fuller. He had for DAYS past,
however, seen and felt that it was beyond his
power, and the power of the small body of nen
with whom it had been his honor to act, to car
ry out their wish, and put him in the Speakers
chair. If he now withdrew his support from
him, it was in no wise the result of any distrust
as to bis competency or his patriotism, but from
the conviction that his party had not the ability
to place him where they desired. He would
now submit the following resolution;
Resolced, That the Hon. William W. Boyce
of South Carolina, be declared Speaker of this
House.
Mr.. Galloway, of Ohio, moved to amend the
resolution by striking out the name of Mr..
Boyce, and inserting that of Nathaniel p. Banks,
of Massachusetts,.
MIR. Dunn, of Indiana, was Just as anxious
as any gentleman for an organization of the
House. He would propose, with view to &C.
cemmodation, and without having any person
al preference, gentleman whom he supposed
had sufficient experience to preside over their
deliberations--a gentleman of undoubted integ
rity, who was true upon the subject of which
so much had been heard, whose antecedents
were Democratic, and therefore differed from
his own, and yet who was clear of the Difficult
ties which some had suggested. He moved to
amend the amendment by striking out the name
of Mr.. Banks, and inserting that of Mr.. Letter.
of Ohio.
Mr.. Letter, of Ohio, repeated what he had
said en- a former occasion, that under no cir
cumstanees would he permit the use of his
name in connection with the Office of Speaker.
1t had been charged, because he had received
few votes from time to time, that he was per-
haps operating in such manner as to embar-
rass the organization of the House. He had
no aspirations for the position in connection
with which he had been named, and he hoped
his friend from Indiana, for whom he entertain-
ed the highest regard, would withdraw his nom
ination.
Mr.. Dunn then withdrew the name of Mr..
Letter, and suggested that of Mr.. Pennington,
of New Jersey.
Mr.. Sage, of New York, moved to lay the
resolution and pending amendments on the ia
BILE, which motion was decided in the affirma-
tive.
During the call of the roll, many members
explained the reasons which governed their
votes, and warm debate took place between
gentlemen on the Democratic side of the
House, as to the propriety of sustaining or op-
posing the resolution. 1t was commended by
several members, that to sustain the resolution
would be tantamount to a withdrawal from the
support of the platform and nominee of the
Democratic caucus; and it was also suggested
that the party of the mover of the resolution
had generally voted against it. Tie result of
the discussion Yves, that most of those on the
Democratic side of the House who had voted
against laying the resolution on the table,
changed their votes to the affirmative, amid
much merriment from the Opposition.
Mr.. Covode, of Pennsylvania, submitted the
following resolution:
Resolred, That from and after Saturday next,
no member of this House shall be entitled to
receive his pay until Speaker shall have been
electe6