The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-02-18
Closing Scenet of the struggle Cor the
Spenkcrship.

We extract from the Washington CORES
pondence Of the n. y. Times:
The final charge was now made, amid
/ breathless anxiety and the most intense ex-
element. The one hundred and thirty d
ballot was now taken--the one which must
decide the contest When his name was
called, Mr.. Barclay, Of Penn, Democrat,
who had generally voted with his party from
the beginning, but had not voted for Aiken,
rose to speak. 1ht Democrats listened, for
they thought he was about to preface his
clying into the party pit with few words Of
excuse. Not SO. lie said he saw no reason
why he should change the record he had
made. He had, from the first to the last,
been aversQ to anything that looked like a
coalition with Know Nothingism, whether
I it came from the North or from the South
Before he voted gain, he wanted to know
( Of MIR. Aiken whether he had made any
pledges satisfactory to the Southern wing of
+ The National American Party. This wasn't
the right tune, an Mr.. Rust objected TO the
/ geatlama proceeding but he made no
objection 10 lettir MIR. Aiken answer that
4 he was not candidate for the Sponsorship
i which was the only answer he made TO
I Barclays very pertinent interroratory.
The fact was that Mr.. Aiken had author
I lied the assurance TO the South Americans,
that he had never opposed the sentiments of
/ ths American party, and the intmation that
he rouid not lie could not think Of denying
this, and SO he wisely said nothing on the
subject, anu los; Mr.. Barclays vote. which
he certainly could not have cot if he had
answered.
Several s'South Americans now came in,
ono b} one, and voted for Aiken. notwih-
standing their repeated declarations that they
would never yield 70 an opponent Of Ameri-
cauism. But they stood ont to the last, and
then surrendered Internationally, wretched
prisoners OF war TO the enemy they had so
long and galiantly defea. At last all the
ammunition seemed to be exhausted. The
Clerk and the Tellers cast up the VOTE
Meant me Brown and Mlward, Of Pennsvl-
yania, Cullen Of Delaware, ana others, who
had voted for "Ilenry N. Fuller 10 the last"
as Cullen said waen his name was called,
were besiegcd ~ an anxious host who. with
arms around their necks, eoquently besought
them TO vote for Aiken. and save the Union
from Banks 'I'llbc -- if do Twas the
emphatic response which rolled across to my
corner Of the Hal. from one of the number.
and $50 say they ALL"
After several minutes delay, the Clerk
called to order, Mr. Benson, Of MARYLAND,
rose 10 announce the result, as one of the
teliers II was now nearly 7 O'Clock. and
the great ehandel er cast It's glare over the
intensely excited concourse. clicked, by
thnndcrn' Kissed one Of the chvalry through
hls set teeth. scot 'em, bows" said Mat
teson, as he cavorted around sleepy hollow
aud rolled his eyes from Father Giddings
TO one and another Of the sold guard who
had fought battles, but never won such
victory before And the dc sely crowded
galleries looked down upon the scene ia ago.
NJ Of suspense and hope and fear. "Orderr
"order" shouted the Clerk and silence like
death cnsued. Mr.. Benson announced that
Alr. Banks had received one hundred and
three votes, Mr.. Aiken one hundred, and that
Nathaniel 7. Banks, Jr., was elected Speaker
for the Thlrtv-fourth Congress.
And then there rolled out upon the OPP
pressiye stiffness Il long, loud shout Of iov
from a thousand willing throats the ladies
rising u a body, clappcd their hands, and
wildly waved their handkerchiefs; in the
l1hb.rS members threw up their oyercofts
and beavers, and for few minutes the scene
IN a galleries and one side of the House.
wa one Of tumultuous JOY. And then the
friends Of Mr.. Banks embraced each other,
AMI Northern men shook hands half IA dozen
times over with the men by whose sides they
lad been fighting all day, ijust as though they
had long been separated. Massachusetts
mea n particular, were in danger Of being
'uitoeated, and ! was somewhat alarmed
lest Trend Bardngame, ''the sleepIess,'
should be crushed with kindness.
Yea know already Of the humiliating
scene which folloYed-how a few attempted
even now to plucn from Us the fruits Of the
long contest-And how Mr.. Aiken, with the
nobility OF q true gentlemen, east a wither-
ing censure upon the factious opposition to
the Speakers taking his seat, by rising in
his place, and asking the privilege Of now
conducting Mr.. banks. rs Speaker to the
Chair. The applause which hailed this act
OF magnanlmty was only equallcd hy that
which succeeded. the announcement Of the
result; and more than one strong man, who
halncyer faltered when the tight was licreest,
nov ~ank in his seat, oyerpowered by gener-
Gus emotion.
RFrCRNISG REAsoS.-The Baltimore Pat
riot concludes an article on the election Of
Alr. Banks as follows: s'The slavery ques-
ton must be met and set at rest forever. if
that be possible. This can never be accom-
plished by extreme measures, but middle
course would undoubtedly meet with very
general acceptance. The South might pos
sihiy he willing to accept the restoration of
the Missouri Compromise as a ffldlity, but
beyond this we are perfectly satisfied she
viii never recede n single step
This is one Of the first indications we have
seen that the bold and unyieldng stand taken
81 the North, will bring the Southern fire ca
tors to their senses. Like any bully or bra
Yado, they require to be met fearlessly and
determinedly, Lot the South take the initia
TIVE and give Over advocating IFS ssax+rar,o