The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-18
TIL E UN ION
JOURNAL,
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. Is, 1856.
The Speakership.

The struggle for the Spcakership still con-
tinues at Washington, and not the most
most distant idea can be formed as to the
time when it will terminate. Six times
have the friends Of Mr.. Banks voted for
the plurality rule, and they have voted for
every motion, come from what source il
would, which it was thought would hasten
the organization Of the House. They rep
resent a large majority Of the voters of the
whole nation, and did the rule that ga ma.
jority should govern" apply, Mr.. Bank,
would have been chosen weeks ago. But
the unequal provision in the Constitution,
which gives the slave holdeU n right to vote
for their slaves, counting FIVE slaves as equal
to three white men, thus giving the Slave
States near twenty members in the House
of Representatives, enables them to keep
things at dead lock. The Speakership OF
the House, as such, is comparatively of lit
tie Importance, but when it is known that
the Speaker appoints all the committees, and
that the business of legislation is mainly
done by those committees, it being impossi.
bic for the whole body of the members tc
understand every subject Of legislation, j,
is Of great moment. And at the present
time, when questions connected with the
preservation of freedom itself are to be set.
tied, the choice of Speaker is a matter Of
incalculable Importance. 1t is not strus,
gle for n man, or for party. but an antas-
onism of ideas, and struggle for their as
cendency-and the success of either is to
shape public policy. On one hand is the
idea that this government was not formed tC
extend and nationalize slavery, and the fact
that such were not the doctrines of the "a.
theirs of the Republic; and on the other,
doctrines which ignore the principles Of
freedom, and which would substitute for
the views of the trainers of the Consttu.
ton, such doctrines as have been promulga-
ted by the most ultra of the slaveholding
politicians. Such is felt to be the character
of the struggle all over the country.
There are, saying nothing of the few inn
practicables, who, like tho dog in the man.
ger, will neither act themselves or allow 9TH
crs to act, three parties-but there are real.
ly but two principles at issue-thoso be-
fore named. We regard Fuller as a more
deadly foe to freedom than Richardson him.
self, and the greater portion Of his supper.
tiers, being Southern men, entertain such
doctrines as arc believed in by the support.
ers of Richardson. Why do they not come
together and elect Speaker?
The answer is obvious. The Richardson
men, having committed themselves against
the doctrines of the Americans, cannot sup
port Fuller, who, it is claimed, is the can
didate Of the American party; and the Full.
Ter men would not vote for Richardson, be-
cause, should they do 80, twelfth section
knownothingism would collapse at once,
and in the collapse they be, most certainly,
destroyed. 1t is to support a party that
thcsetwelfth section men vote as they do
Were they intent upon elevating principle
instead of party, they would, by voting for
the plurality rule, aid in bringing about an
organization. AS the matter now stands,
the House should be organized at once, and
upon principle. If the principle of freedom
is in the ascendent there; Mr.. Banks, who,
everybody allows, is perhaps the best quail
fed man for the station in Congress, should
be elected; on the contrary if the principle Of
slavery is in the ascendcnt, Richardson, who
is its representative, should be elected. The
adoption of the plurality rule would bring
about the proper test and hence those who
resist its adoption, arc chargeablc with the
delay. We can see no other way that the
House can get out of its ENHANCEMENT, but
by its adoptiOn-and it seems to be as con-
formablc to the dictates of common sense,
as the result, after its adoption, would be
Indicative of the sentiment of the members
upou the great question which is uppermost
in the public mind, and beside which all
Others fade into insignifcancc.