Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-01-04

o. The proceedings in the House of Represents
tives Thursday were rendered somewhat lively by
certain ordinations and determinations, between the
supporters of MIR. Fuller and the supporters of Mr..
Banks. Pending the calling of the roll for the seven
teent time, Mr.. Millward of Pennsylvania, Fuller
man, got up and stated that he had been approached
privately by member and assured that he would
be made Chairman of Commi,tee-the Committee
on engraving, printing or lithographing if be would
vote for Mr.. Banks. The name of the member who
had approached him was John J. Pearce of Pennsyl.
vania MIR. Millward stated distinctly, that Pearce
had given him 10 understand that he had Mr.. Banks
authority for making the offer which he had made.
Pearce said that he had laughingly made the propo-
sal on his responsibility. NJ. Miward said
emphatcally that Pearce told him that Banks had
promised TO make him (N1illward,) Chairman of a
Committee in case he voted for him, (Banks.)
Mr.. Banks desired to say word to the House
He had given no assurance cf any kind, whatever to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, nor to any other
gentleman.
| Mr.. Mward had in the course of the incidental
debate. in question by A. K Marshall
stated that he had heard assurances given to mem
bers, that the interests of Pennsylvania would be
safe, &C.. ID the event of the Pennsylvania delega-
ton going for certain gentleman for Speaker Sew
era of MIR. Millwasd's colleagues were down " on
him for thus as they insisted. casting mputatons
his colleagues Mr. Paine said that instead of blam-
| ing the honorable gentleman, who had exposed the
fraud, gentlemen ought to be very much obliged to
him He had himself heard Mr.. Pearce say that he
had that Mr. Banks would construct the
Committees take of the interests of Penn
sylvania.
| Mr.. A K. Marshall wanted further baotting dis
rensed with for the balance of the day. in order that
members might have opportunity of examining
into these serious charges thus openly preferred
against prominent candidate for the Speakership.
The House refused 10 adjourn. The roll was called,
and Mr.. Banks came within three of an election
The total failure of these charges and exposures
to produce the slightest effect upon the ballong, is
one of the strange phenomena of the times Is this
to he accounted for the hypothesis that political
morality has reached so low point in the present
House as to render such tamperng with members
simply matter of course or, on the other hand,
these lawful disclosures merely regarded in the
light of shrewd eectoneering dodge the part of
Mr. Fuller's friends to kill off Mr. Banks? There is
surely something strange in the matter. 1t is odd
chapter in the history of the times. Verify, the ad-
|
this
One time the vote for Mr.. Banks came within two
of majority that was the nearest. The aggregate
vote increased and his did not so that comparative
ly speaking, he fell off,
| Is there any in specializing upon the future
| Not much we think, but the number and pertinacity
of Bankss friends are certainly beginning to tell
| They stick like wax, only more so. Banks certainly
stands the best chance. Some think that of the
gentlemen yet voted for be elected but that
time in the first ten days in January, a Democrat,
not yet named, will quietly take his place Speaker,
and return bis bert thanks in his smoohest tone,
for the unexpected honor &c.
The Herald of Monday last, says that ia our re-
ference to the revelations in the House of Re-
representatives., where member charged another
with endeavoring to procure his vote for Mr.. Banks,
as speaker, by improper influence, we have forgot
ten friend Brown, &c. Now that is the very
thing we have not forgotten 1t is one of the very
things not TO be lost sight of in this connection The
peculiarly of the recent affair consists in the fact that
although charge was openly and positively made
the floor of the House, by member of that House,
and circumstantial evidence corroboratory of this
fact by Others /! seemed have been passed over as
matter of course. The majority refused 10 ad-
iourn so as give members chance for cation
into grave matter, and with this grave matter
before the House, the ballot proceeded with and
no change whatever exhibited in the vote.
How different the of Brown. On We'd
ncsday the 18th Dec l849 Mr.. Brown of Indiana
| had come within two votes OF an election, and
it was confidently anticipated that he would re-
ceve these the next ballot. In the meantime, in
the course of some discussion it was asked whether
some correspondence had not taken place between
! Mr. Brown and the Free Sellers This drew from
MIR. Bayly of Virginia, an indignant denial. But
the question being put to Brown directly, he ad-
mitted that David Wllmot had written letter 10
which he had given an answer He had in fact
promised to constitute certain committees in a way
that would be satisfactory to Wilmot and his friends
MIR. Brown endeavoured to explain but without eff
feet. The state of excitement was without parallel
Mr.. Brown never got vote after that revelation
His name was instantly withdrawn. That was the
way the Democratic party acted when its nominee
was caught in wrong place, tampering with Free
Soilersor any body else.
We do not forget the case of Brown. We recol-
lect il WE'LL and we know in what bright contrast
the conduct of the Democratic party then, stands
out in opposition to that of the dominant party,
1t is due to Brown 10 say that after all the bitter
denuncation which had been heaped upon his head
he in that very Congress, went the whole stripe
Fuqitiye Slave Law, included We believe tina
years after after he had been fully tried he ap
ponted to some office in Ohio or Indiana.
H. H.