The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-17

should inquire into the by which that party has OBJ
tanned power in the House OF Representatives. and while
do this, do not want anybody TO consider that regret
the introduction OF the plurality rule under the operation
of which an organization OF this House effected am
free 10 say here shall give these gentlemen the adyan
tage OF the declaration that introduced the plurality
rule without reference TO whom il would elect Speaker of
the House Of Representatives. did 1t to organize the
House, or to contribute my humble thereto 1t is
true had right to expect that under its operation the
! gentleman from South Carolina Mr. AKESl would be
elected had right 10 cuate the state OF things
which existed the day of the election Of Speaker
had right TO calculate that who had voted for Mr.
AIKEN on the day before, and placed their the
record would the next day vote against him. These men,
the day before, had voted for Mr. AIKEN and against
the gentleman from Massachusetts, but that day after
the adoption of the plurality rule and when they knew
their votes would elect Mr. AIKEN they voted against him
refer to Messrs. CLARK, Brook, MMLwARD, WHITNEY
Walk, and FULLER had right, say, to calculate
such state Of things subsequently, transpired
garded all men in this House acting on principle Never
till then did know that vote would be given here for
the purpose simply Of making capital against the demo-
cratic party as must have been done the day before the
election OF the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. BANKS
as Speaker OF this House But sir in referring to this
am not making defence of my action; and, if were,
should not defend it that ground would have Of
tered would have voted fortbe plurality rule on that
day without reference to whom it would elect Speaker of
this House say that here and shall say everywhere
The party with whom have acted not responsible for
my action in that regard because most Of them advised
not to do it. and most of them voted against it, take
1t for granted that every here acts under of
public duty. believe all did So shall not call in ques
ton their conduct or their acts and have dispo
sition their part to call in question my motives that
occasion
But ask Mr.. Chairman who are the great majority of
this House, and by whom the Speaker elected Z
spoke at the last Congress- and at the last session of it. of
the objects organization and principles of the secret
order which had sprung up in the country and swept
it like avalanche carrying most Of the elections in
the northern States do not wish to 60 into that discus
sion again. have nothing to take back of what then
said. have not yet found any in the
which then made. But sir find in the present House
of Representatives that there two hundred and thirty
nj that me hnud and
twenty were elected knownotbngs Americans. !
have their names here and will publish them and will
thank gentlemen to point out any in the list if
error has been made, that may correct it.
Several MEMBERS Read il.
MIR. SMITH. AS there seems to be general desire to
hear the read will give the classification and
thank gentlemen to correct error which they dis
cover
In the House of Representatives there are two hundred
and hiryfour members of these l20 before stated
were elected as know-nothings what is now called
Americans The following the Of those elected
as know-nothings or Americans:
Messrs. Albright Allison, Ball. Barbour, Bennett of New
York, Bingham, Bhep, Bradshaw, Brenton Broom Buing
tom Burlngame, Campbell Of Pennsy lvania Campbell of
Kentaekys Campbell Of Ohio Garlic, ,Ghaaee, Chds,
MARYLAND, Davis q Massachusetts,, Dean; Witt Dick
Durfee, Dunn, Edie Edwards, Emrie Etherdge Eustis
sstts Harlan Harris Of Maryland Harrison, Haven Hof
knight, Knowon, Knox, Kunke, Lake, Letter, Lndley,
Als1sndsr X Marsha Humphrey & Marshall Mace Matte
Norton Payne Pearoe, Peton Pennington Perry, Petit
Pike Porter, Puryianee Ppryear Reade Ready Risaud
Scott Sherman Smith Of Alabama, Sneed, Stanton Strana
han sw3Pe Tagpsn ThGrpytGn Thu,ston Todd Traton
Walker, Watson, Weeh, Whitney, Wood, Woodruff, and
Zollicoher-l20.
Mr.. BROOM. have not heard you read my name. /
ask by what authority you leave my name off that list
Mr. SMITH II not on, will ada your name to it But
find the gentemans name is on the list and be is the last
one would leave off
Mr. WHITNEY. Have you my name tbere2
Mr.. SMITH The name of the gentleman from New York
is there
Mr.. WHITNEY. was afraid my name was not on the
| list and wanted TO have it set in. [Laughterl
Mr. STANTON hope the gentleman from Tennessee
will permit me to set myself right My name is on that
| list believe?
Mr. SMITH Yes, the name of Mr. STANTON is here
| Mr.. STANTON Well If the gentleman means 10 In
clude being elected as know nothing he is msta-
but was never in know-nothing lodge In my lienever
in the world.
Mr. SMITH. The gentleman does not deny, however
that be was elected by the know wnothngs.
Mr.. BALL wish simply to correct the gentleman in
passing along far my district Is concerned The
know-nohing party in my district made organization
for any purpose except In countyWashington
ty They nominated the county district officers leaving
the nominations for State officers and congressman blank
Mr.. SMITH ] wish to ask the gentleman IL he is not
| Mr. BALL ! am merely correcting the gentleman
In regard TO his statement Laughter wish to say to
the gentleman II il be any consolation to him to know
1
csely the platform The democratic know-nothings
voted for my competitor, and suppose the whg know
nothings voted for
Mr. SMITH. If your competitor know-nothing
! he democrat
| Mr. STANTON. desire TO add to what said that
was nominated by an open republican convention.
Mr. SMITH. ! wish TO ask the gentleman from Ohio II
| he did not get the votes Of the know-nothjngs7
| Mr. STANTON. did, sir.
| Mr. SMITH. Very well, the gentlemans name is prop
crly placed on the list cannot give any of my
time now, unless gentlemen wish to have their names
| taken of the list
| The CHAIRMAN The Chair desires to remark to the
terrupions they shall not be counted out Of his time
| Mr. SNEED. desire TO know by what authority the
gentleman has left out OF bis list Of his coeagues2
| Mr.. SMITH. DO you mean the gentleman from the
Knoxville district His name is here.
! Mr.. SNEED, No, sir | mean the gentleman from the
district above knoIville-one Of the immortal 74-Ar
| WATKRs
Mr. SMITH. lie may have belonged to the order at the
time Of his election but he elected by the antknow-
nohings and in opposition TO the nominee Of that party
in the first district and Is openly doing noble service
| in the ranks Of the democratic party. a
Mr. SNEED In two Of the largest counties in the dis
| trct he received the know-nothiug vote.
Mr., SMITH. We'll, | will put him down as demo-
| crat
Mr. sNEED. would like to know from my colleague
by what authority he places his list the gentleman from
North Carolina, who sits behind me
| Mr. SMITH What gentleman is that2 #.
| Mr. SNEED. The gentleman from North Carolinar-Mr
| PURYEAh
Mr.. SMITH Was he not elected by the know.noth-
| ings7
| Mr. SNEED He bimsclfis not a know-nothing
| Mr. SMITH. know nothing about that | am speak
ing Of those who were elected bgtle kqoc-nohinos
| Mr.. PURYEAR II the gentleman will allow me for