Washington sentinel., 1856-02-07
THE ssFIRsTn GREAT SECTIONAL VIC
TORY-THE NEW YORK TIMES.

AS everybody expected would be the case,
all the Freesoil presses from that great mastlff
the Tribune to the tinest flee dog in the aboli-
ton pack are curling their tails in pride, and
yelping in delight over the election OF Mr..
Banks TO The Speakership of the House. In
some Of the villages and cities OF New Eng
land they have held meetings. made speeches,
exchanged congratulations, and fred cannon
in honor of that event. Accustomed, indeed,
as they have been to defeat in the Federal
Capitol, however successful at home, habituated
as they have been to ridicule, reproach, and
chastisement on the floor Of the House, 1T IS
not surprising that they should feel elated at
the success they have achieved.
In the delirium of JOY which has so trans
ported them, we may expect them to be thrown
off their guard, and TO make some confessions,
which they have hitherto avoided making.
Neither III extreme prosperity or adversely, can
any but man Of sound, well balanced mind
maintain reserve and caution.
The Abolitonists have all along charged the
sound constitutional men of the country with
being sectional, and denied thatthe same charge
was applicable to themselves. This is the
chief capital on which they have traded. But
mark what is now said by one of their leading
organs. the New York Times. Speaking of
Mr.. Banks's election the Times says:
..His election marks a new era in our poiti-
cal history. Il is the first time that Speaker
has BEEN elected on purely sectional consideya-
tions. He did not receive single vote from
a slaveholding State, and the triumph which
has crowned the persistent rectltude OF the
Republicans In adhering to their candidate,
will have a moral effect, worth more to them, .
thousand fold, than the Speakership can be-"
We have no comments TO make on the de-
claraton of the Times, that the election of Mr..
Banks is the first pure sectional victory that
the North has gained.
Contrasted with this party, how proud is the
position of the Democracy! RepIdating all
sectionalism, and espousiug 10 ism, it stands
upon the Constitution and the rights of all the
States Instead Of taking candidate for the
Speakership from the South, our party took
their candidate from State, which, in politics
though not in geography, is known as North
ern State-Illinois. That candidate was the
gallant Colonel Richardson-a gentleman as
chiyalrous in the field as he is true in politics,
and who signalised his devotion to the Consti'
tuition and to the country by an able and zeal
GUS advocacy Of the Nebraska bill. He was
supported by the Democratic Representatives
from the North, the South, the East, and the
West. No sectionalism entered into the vote
which was cast for him. After his withdrawal,
a gentleman from South Carolina, Colonel Orr,
who is considered to possess peculiar qualifca-
tions for the ofite Of Speaker, in the same
manner, united the Democratic Representatives
from all sections Of the confederacy.
Next came that popular member from the
same State, Governor Aiken, who came within
two or three votes Of examining the thousand
slaves he owns down the reluctant throats OF
the Abolitionists On him, too, we're cast the
votes of the National Democracy of all Sec
tons. Barring the triumph Of the thing, II
would have been good joke il Governor
Aiken, perhaps the largest slave holder in the
South, had been elected Speaker. 1t would
have thrown the constitutional men into con
vulsons Of laughter, and the Abolitionists into
convulsions Of rage.