The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-07

Nothing Party. A motion to lay it Oh the table
failed-yeas 80, nays III. The resolution then
was rejected-yeas l03, nays ITO. Barclay
and Hickman voted nay Dunn, Scott, Moore,
and Haven, nay; Harrison did not vote. Broom,
Bayard Clark, Walk, Wheeler, Whitney, and
Williams, voted with their Southern Know
Nothing friends, in the affirmative.
The House adjourned.
The result of this vote was so encouraging, thSt
the plurality began to find more favor amoI.s
the Administration men. 1t was determined
to carry it the next day. The President, We
learn, was delighted with the prospect of 1T
last securing the organization of the House.
Some of the supporters of Mr.. Banks were,
alarmed, and began to cry out, it was not
their fault that things had come to such a
pass-if they could have had their way they
would, ere this, have had another candidate"
But, as usual, the great body of the Par.y
was steadfast and immovable. off we fall, re
fall with our colors flying" was the reply 70
all the wavering. This faith and resolve SAVED
them.
THE STRUGGLE CLOSED
Next day, Saturday. the crowded Hall and
thronging galleries showed that the hour bad
come for final struggle. The plurality rule
was moved by Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee, and
carried-the Republicans, facing all hazards
consistently voting for it. Three votes were
taken-the Republicans each time throwing
l03 votes, Mr.. Aiken receiving 80 or SO.
Then came the final vote-the one hundred
and thirty-third- vote by which plurality
was to decide the struggle of nine weeks The
House listened in breathless silence. One and
another of the electors, who had reserved their
votes, now rose, and desired to explain, but this
privilege was accorded only to A. X. Marshall,
of Kentucky, who claimed that the American
party had conquered, by driving the DeIna-
cratic party from its platform and all its caa-
Gus nominations. The vote was then declared
Banks l03, Aiken 100, Fuller 6, Campbell 4,
Wells /. The announcement was received
with shouts of applause that stamped the
event as unparalleled in the annals of Con
gress. =
All the Administration men voted for Aiken,
except Barclay, who refused to vote, and HEX
man, who voted for Wells: and all the Kiiow
Nothings voted for him, except Broom, Clark,
Millward, and Whitney, from the free Stases,
Cullen and Davis from the slave States who
voted for Fuller, and Walk and Haven, of New
York who did not vote. Messrs. Dunn, Har.
rison, Moore, and Scott, voted for Campbell,
An attempt was made by some of the Sofith-
ern members, who found it hard to yield, td(ob
ject to the election on a technically. fhe
particulars are given in our record. The Jete-
ran members from the South lnterpOsed, IN
support of the dignity and order of the Ho,Sse
and Mr.. Aiken, with true courtesy, asked per
mission of the House to conduct Mr.. Banks to
the chair. The technically was overrule& <by
an overwhelming vote Mr. Banks, esc6sted
by Messrs. Aiken, Campbell, and Fuller, took
possession of the Chair, with the bearing IS
man accustomed to preside, and, with gface
dignity, and propriety of manner, not to be ex
celed, made short address to the Hoose
which was greeted with the most enthusiastic
applause, both from the hall and the gale yes
According to usage, Mr.. Giddings, as Ahe
senior member then administered the oat ! of
office. Standing in the aisle, in front O. the
Speakers desk, he prOpounded to Mr.. b AXIS,
standing, with his right hand uplifted, thu fol-
lowing oath:
-" You, Nathaniel p. Banks, do sole, tnly
swear you will support the Constitution o. The
United States, so help you God!'
Immediately after, Mr.. Stanton, Rer l.bli
can member from Ohio, moved the folio Ting
resolution, which was carried unanimous v by
a most emphatic aye:
Resoloed, That the thanks of this ouse
are eminently due, and are hereby tender d, to
John w. FOrney, Esq, for the distingu shed
ability, fidelity, and impartiality, with viii h he
has presided over the deliberations Of & the
House of Representatives during the ar hous
and protracted contest for Speaker whic., has
Just closed"
And never was such testimonial bett T be
slowed Mr.. Forney's conduct, as pre-, iding
officer during the extraordinary struggle m the
House, has won him golden opinions frohi all