The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-10


Mr.. Pennington. of New Jersey 6
Scattering
22l
There having been no election, at quarter
past three o'clock the House adjourned
Saturday, January 5, 1856.
Mr.. Etheridge, of Tennessee, moved that
John S. Millson, of Virginia, be Speaker of the
House. He thought the Republicans night
support him because he had opposed the Ne
braska bill, and that the Fuller men laight
support him because he had voted for the
proviso excluding alien voters. Subsequently,
at the earnest request of Mr.. Millson, he with
drew the motion.
Mr.. Broom, of Pennsylvania, deemed this
the proper time to remind gentlemen O, the
distinctive paramount issue upon which they
were elected to represent the will of their con-
stituents-the American issue. Gentlemen
who were elected upon that issue had des rted
1t, and resorted to another. He trusted u at a
months experience in unsuccessful ballo ings
had fully convinced them that the only ssue
upon which they could stand here was thft to
which they owed their seats. 1t was. therefore,
necessary that he should appeal to those gen.
tlemen who had been elected as Americans to
change their positions, and, returning to their
main principle, see if they could not thus sue
coed in effecting an organization. Every in
telligent man knew that there could be no leg
isation whatever during the present Congress,
upon the subject of Slavery in the Territories,
or with respect to restoration of the Missouri
compromise
Mr.. Howard, of Michigan, wished to ,:aow.
if the House should unite on the Anne lean
basis, and proceed to pass laws recogI sing
any one of the American principles, oud
they not be defeated either in the SensSe or
the White House? Laughter.
Mr.. Broom replied, that to unite OF the
American basis would be an effort of p, triot-
ism that would cover the interests of the ,ntire
country; but union upon a sectional Sssue
was Objectionable to the South, injurio Is to
their rights, and dangerous to the Union He
submitted, that all the candidates be withd avn,
and that the members representing the differ:
ent parties on this floor are hereby requested
to meet together, and appoint committee of
five from each, with a view of selecting a con-
servatlve member Of this House as a compro-
mise candidate for the position. Laughter
Mr.. Stephens of Georgia The gentleman
had said that the American party in the House
were elected upon the principles of that party,
as paramount to all others, and had therefore
invoked an organization upon the basis Of that
party. He (Mr. S. did not know the strength
of that party in the House, though the other
day the gentleman from Kentucky, NJ. H.
Marshall, if he did not misunderstood him,
informed them that they had a majority here.
1t might be, then, that ma ority of the House
could organize upon the principles of that
party. But what a spectacle would be pre-.
scented to the country, if it should be organized
upon that basis ! 1t might be that there was
majority of the House-one hundred and seven.
teen members-in favor of the principles of
the American party; and if so, there were only
about thirty-six, all told, who had supported
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Full,
Ter, and the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr..
II. Marshall !; and of these, he believed there
were but six from the North. All the other
members of that party, amounting to perhaps
about three-fourths of it, were standing in solid
phalanx against one entire section of this
Union.
Mr.. Stephens, continuing, said that if he
understood the principles of that party-and
gentlemen could set him right if he was in.
error-because they, outsiders, had only got a
little glimmer Of light that had shot forth from
the dark caverns of that party. Laughter.
1t set out on the ground that none of its mem
bers should vote for any one but native-born
Americans, nor for Roman Catholic
Mr.. Whitney, of New York Suppose a
person was presented to you for appointment
to office, and it should be made known to your
own satisfaction that he entertained POLITICAL
opinions hostile to the interests of the country,
would you appoint him
Mr.. Stephens. should not.
Mr. Whitney. That is the basis of all our
hostility to Papacy.
Mr.. Stephens. The gentleman says that thai
is the basis! Yet the party rests upon the
principle that no Roman Catholic shall ever
be appointed to Office and this assumes that
every man who holds that religious faith is an
enemy to his country, which ! spurn, on behalf
of those who profess that faith.
Mr.. Eustis, of Louisiana. | take occasion
to state to this House, and desire it to 90 to
the country that coincide with the gentleman
from Georgia in every respect, as regards his
opinions on the subject of this religious test
The American party in the State of Louisiana
has repudiated, in the most formal and EN-.
phatic manner, the action of the National
American Convention with respect to that qaes.
ton.
Mr.. Stephens. / have no doubt that the
American party of Louisiana has done as the
gentleman has stated, and that they have done
so in other States; and have no question that
they will do it, State by State, council by counr
Gil, until the great fabric Of Americanism,
"growing small by degrees, and beautifully
less" will be extinct in less than twelve months
Laughter.
Mr.. Campbell, of Pennsylvania, replied to
the remarks of his colleague, Mr.. Broom1
He Mr.. c. had been elected as an Anti-Ne
braska man, and would remain so, and would
continue to act with those gentlemen whe were
opposed to the principles of that measure vet
upon all distinctive American doctrines he
was as sound as his honorable colleague. The
State of Pennsylvania had repudiated the 18th
section of the Philapelphia platform ard If
the gentleman acknowledged the authority Of
the council that met at Reading, he could not
vote for the election of any gentleman Oh that
distinctive issue along.
After some further debate,
The House proceeded to the nnety,third
vote for Speaker, with the following result.
Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts 105
Mr. Richardson, of Illinois ~
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania 30
Mr.. Pennington, of New Jersey
Scattering
Whole number of votes given 2l9
Necessary to choice ITO
No election having been effected, the ninety
fourth ballot was had, and resulted as follows!
Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts, 90
Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois ~
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania 20
Mr.. Pennington, of New Jersey s,
Scattering 81
2lo
There having been no choice, at quarter