The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-24

Il
ty-but, on the first day of the session, it ap
pears in the House, audaciously Haunting in the
face of the People the abominable measure
they had so signally denounced, making that
measure the test of fitness for the Speakership
making the man who had carried through that
measure its candidate, and insultingly declaring
to the People and their Representatives, elect
this man, and endorse this measure, or there
shall be no organization.
1t was the Administration that first disorgan
lied the country-it is the Administration
that now disorganizes the House.
On it, we repeat, devolves the duty of pro-
noting organization, for, without it, it cannot
administer the Government, unless by drawing
moneys illegally from the Treasury. How can
it promote organization? Easily, and without
assuming responsibility for the particular re-
suit. Seven weeks has the House labored to
elect by concentrating maj ority of all the votes
on one man-seven weeks, in vain. Mr.. Banks
has received thirty-one votes more than Mr..
Richardson, sixty-seven more than Mr.. Fuller
He, then, represents the strongest sentiment in
the House, and all concede his eminent fitness
for presiding. Now, it is madness to suppose
that his supporters will vote for either |of the
other candidates. Their supporters will not
vote for him. If the several parties maintain
their several positions, there can be no election
One mode only remains-the adoption of the
plurality rule. This was tried in lS4S, by the
Wings and Democrats of the House, and re
| suited in the election of Howell Cobb Its
constitutionality is undoubted; its necessity
manifest. No plurality, no organization.
Now, from day to to day, the Banks men
propose to the House this mode Of settling the
difficulty: willing to take their chances, al
though sudden combination of the Richard
son and Fuller men on one candidate might
defeat them, they propose it to secure organi
zation. From day to day, the Administration
rejects it, although it knows that the organiza
ton of the House is absolutely necessary te
the maintenance of the Government. And ye
it coolly disclaims all responsibility
What does it mean? Does Caleb Cushing
its constitutional adviser, who thinks l wal
with England necessary to arouse the senti
ment of patriotism among Americans, cCntem
plate coup detgt? Has Caleb come 70 the
conclusion that the House unorganizeG is 9
House of Representatives in the c0ntem
plation of the Constitution; that resolution tc
adjourn should be passed in the Senate, and SEN
to the House, so that, if disagreed to, the Presi
dent might interpose, and adjourn tn, Con
gress of the United States Does Caleb thinl
that the Representatives of the People are
troublesome and impertinent and that he ant
Franklin Pierce, with the surplus in the Treas
ury, can get up war with Great Britain, OF
their own account?
But, not upon the Administration, bad as i
is, rests the whole responsibility of disorganiza
ton. The Fuller men share it. They, too, re
ject the only mode under which the House ca,
be organized. Not man of them votes 70
the plurality proposition. Still, they can pu
in the plea that they represent their tonstitu
ents, who would prefer seeing the Hou,e unor
ganized, to having Republican elected Speak
er. No such plea can be entered by Messrs
Dunn, Scott, Moore, Harrison, Bayarf, Clark
Williams, Wheeler, Whitney, and those Who hav
heen scattering their votes. They wee elect
ed, some of them exclusively, all of them main
ly, on the Anti Nebraska issue, by Ant Nebras
ba constituents, and they have it in the ir powe
every day to choose an Anti-Nebraskf, Speak
or, perfectly acceptable to their constituents
for a man coinciding in opinion with tb EN- upo
the paramount Question, that which North an
South alike regard paramount, the House ma
yet elect Pro-Slavery, Pro-Nebraska Speake,
or remain unorganized for an indefinite period
while civil war broods over our Western boz
der, and their brethren in Kansas cry in vai
for help! Perhaps they may satisfy the mel
who sent them here, that they are Saving tn
Union, preventing the extension of Slavery, AM
etfectually checking the forays of Atchison an,
Stringfellow, but We should like to see them ex
plain the modus operandi.