Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-22
Upon Whom Rests the Responsibility
Nowf


On yesterday, after our report of the Con-
gressional proceedings closed, the Hon. Mr..
Garlic, of Virginia, introduced a resolution
appointing the Hon. William Smith Speaker,
for which the Americans, and small portion
of the administration party voted, making in
all, in favor of the resolution, forty-seven.
The greater portion Of the administration party
voted against the proposition. A few days
ago the Banks men, nearly all Of them, voted
for resolution giving to the administration
three Of the officers; this they, with as much
unanimity, voted against Here, then, arc two
propositions, made by the two wings of the
opposition in the House of Representatives, to
the administration party to organize the House
The acceptance of either would have given to
the administration the largest share, and the
last would have secured the election Of Dem
ocrat. Whatever reasons they might have
assigned for declining the proposition made by
the Banks men, would constitute good reasons
why they should accept the proposition of Mr.
Garlic, for the objections they have urged
against Mr.. Banks do not hold against Mr.
Smith. Who, then, is responsible for failure
to organize?
During last Saturday and Friday the admins
tration leaders to throw the responsibility upon
the Banks men, contended that they might
have elected Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, by having
voted for the resolution of Mr. Thorington.
Messrs. Cobb, G. s. Houston, and Orr labored
very zealously to prove, mathematically, that
the Banks men, united with the Campbell
men, might have secured the election of the
calculation it can be demonstrated that, with
! the entire administration vote, Mr.. Smith would
have been elected Speaker yesterday. Upon
whom, then, falls the responsibility? Wewill
not dispute the accuracy of the former calcula-
ton, but we cannot see with what consistency
the administration party can reject PROPOSE
ton made to them to elect Democrat. 1t is
undoubtedly true, that the union of the Banks
men and Campbell men in favor of Mr.. Thor
ington's resolution would have elected Mr..
Campbell, and it is likewise true that the union
| of the Fuller men and Richardson men would
have elected Mr.. Smith; but the latter refused
| to unite with the Fuller men, even to secure
| the election of democrat
| Messrs Orr, Cobb, and Houston considered
the failure of Mr.. Thorington's resolution as
throwing the responsibility upon tho Banks
men ! then by the same process of reasoning,
the failure of Mr.. Carlile's resolution throws
upon the administration the responsibility. We
cannot see how the administration party in the
House of Representatives can escape from this
dilemma, unless they come forward aud pro-
pose by resolution the election of Mr.. Fuller
and in that event we are inclined to think they
will find, without the aid of caucusses and eau
Gus resolutions men who are willing to shoulder
the responsibility, or if that will not do, let
them take Mr.. Mace's resolution, they will be
apt to find backbone" enough then to bear
the responsibility; and thus they will be re-
lieved of the necessity of caucusing and will
divide the responsibility.