Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-02-06
CONGRESS.

.v Ysf CONGRESS. i On
The Senate was not in session on Wednesday, the
SOth. In the House, Mr.. Clingman offered the fol.
lowing resolution:
Resotred, That the House will proceed immedia-
tely to the election of Speaker cica voce and it,
after the roll shall have been called three times no
member shall have received majority of the whole
number of votes the roll shall again be called and
the member who shall then receive the largest num-
Der of votes, provided it be majority of quorum.
shall be declared to be chosen Speaker"
Mr.. Herbert, (democraD of California moved to
amend by striking out ' Immediately" and insert
ing tomorrow"
Mr.. Ciingman said, as to that point, will leave
it to the majority to decide whether the rule shall
take effect Immediately Tomorrow l am ready
to make it either to-day or tomorrow. But before
a vote be taken, desire to say word or two on
the subject
1t will be recollected that when the gentleman
who stands before me [Mr. Washburn, of Maine
offered proposition, some weeks since, similar in
effect to that which now offer, declined to vote
in support of it. and gave my reason therefor. On
that occasion referred to declaration made by one
of the candidates for the speakership. Since then
that candidate Mr.. Banks] has disclamed the opin-
ions which were at that time imputed to him. l do
not change my course for that reason, however, or
on account of that disclamer-my course now would
have been the same in either event then said
that was willing to delay for some time before
weeks have since passed, and am now prepared to
support it.
hold, Mr.. Clerk, that as period of two months
has elapsed since this House met, it has become
cessary for us to effect an organization. We
have tried great many cxpedcnts and have been
hitherto unable to elect Speaker. ] do not see
that any other proposition is likely to produce an
organization, and therefore offer this one. And
will say this, in reference to the plurality rule, that
no man can be elected under it who is not the choice
of majority of this House as against his opponent :
in other words, while the gentleman from South
Carolina Mr.. Orr and the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts, Mr. Banks, for example, are the two can
didates receiving the highest number of votes, any
gentleman who allows the one to be elected while
his vote would defeat him prefers him. of course
the other; and therefore majority must concur in
the election of that person, in fact We all under
stand, in truth, that the third party of gentlemen
who vote here for Mr. Fuller, will be the persons to
determine the contest If they choose to vote for
our candidate, they can elect him. If they decline
to vote for him, the gentleman from Massachusetts
Mr. Banks will be elected. | do not undertake to
advise any of these gentlemen how he ought to
vote; he is more competent to decide for himself
than am to advise him. If he votes TO suit his
own ideas of what is right. shall not, of course,
complain. But, sir, it is well understood that while
these gentlemen agree with US on the slavery qucs.
tion-or you will recollect, Mr.. Clerk, that the 9TH
er day, the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr..
ton OF all kinds, we came up in solid column and
passed 1.-THE question for them therefore, is,
whether, they agree with us that great sub.
ject slavery the change ofthe naturalization laws
is not of less Importance than the existence of the
government: That question leave to these gen
tcmen to Notwithstanding, however, that some of
them have declared that, in the event of the views
of the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.. Banks
being carried out, the existence of the government
will be n,periiled. Then, the point for these gem
temcn to weigh is whethe, they look UPON the
throw Of the government less evil than its
tnuatiOn under the present naturalization lawSy
do not undertake to say how they will decide that
question, but it is the one, take it, by which their
action is to be determined.
But, Mr.. Clerk, l propose to leave every gentle
man to vote in the manner he deems right on the
resolution have offered | have offered it OH my
responsibility, and hope it will be adopted. 1t
is said, however, that whoever supports it will be
responsible for the election of the gentleman fro Al
Massachusetts, if its adoption should have that T.
suit. do not think so at all. They Will only BE-
responsible for producing an organization by chang
ing the law regulating the election After the change
has been effected it will then be for the electors tc
say who shall be chosen Speaker under it. | am in
favor of changing the law; | am willing to bear the
responsibility of that When the law is changed
then it is for the electors to make the election The
responsibility of that rests with them. Some years
ago, for example, the State of Massachusetts, faleC
system. But recently that State had adopted the
plurality rule in the election of their members, just
VIC have in most Of the States, in fact. Now th:
Congress has right to alter that law. Suppose
then, that gentleman should get up and say: -
propose to alter the plurality law by which mem
bers have been sent here from Massachusetts, be
cause find that it is owing to the plurality system
that the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.. Banks,
and others who do not like, have been returned
members of the Horse of Representatives" Well
you might just as we'll say that responsible
for the election of those gentleman if refused t.
been chosen.
am governed by general principles, and prefe
the plurality rule in the election of members Of Con
gress. And, sir, although prefer to see the MAORI
ty rule in force in the election Of officers in thi
hall, in the first instance, yet, after we have give
it fair trial, would rather take the plurality rul
than to continue further in this state of dsorganiza
to-.
believe that the Importance of the Office G
Speaker in this House has been greatly exaggerate
| in this Congress. The Speaker has really, pract
| cally, little more power than any other member
He has only one vote, and right to cast that cx
cept in case of tie, while others vote every tim
| on the floor
But gentlemen have s,id that the Speaker has tn
appointment Of the committees and that the com
mttees which he may appoint may bring in propose
tons to abolish slavery, and every other sort Of
| gressve measures. No doubt of that. But suy
pose such propositions are brought in, and major
! ty of the House are opposed to them: they will
defeated, and no mischief can be done. On the 9th
err hand, if majority of the House should be i
favor of the passage of such measures, any membe
could move them at any time, and my friend fro1
South Carolina, Mr. Orr,] being in the chair, coul
not prevent them from being carried by the House
hold, then that the action Of the majority woul
not be materially affected upon any of the grea
questions before the House by the person whor
| you may place in that chair