Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, January 5, 1860.


Mr.. ETHERIDGE rose and addressed the House
on the subject of organization. He had PROPOSE
ton to offer, with the view Of facilitating that
suit. He had been voting for Mr.. FULLER, and If
his proposition should not be adopted he would
return TO him.
With regard to the Democratic Caucus resolu-
ton, about which 80 much had been said, he re-
gardcd it Of very little consequence. Like other
platforms, il was made to be approved to-day and
rejected and spit upon tomorrow.
He regarded il as inexpedient, In the present
condition of the country to elect Speaker, who
should represent an extreme section, either North
or South.
He was not one OF those who regarded the
Wing party as dead. He. had always belonged to
that party, and at the late election in Tennessee
had proclaimed his adhesion to it.
He proposed the name of Mr.. MILLsON, Of Vir-
gnia, although he was Democrat. Still, he had
opposed the Nebraska bill and was not member
of the caucus which nominated Mr.. RICHARDSON.
Mr.. M. was not his first choice, but he was willing
to take him, as gentleman experienced ia legis-
lation, and amply qualified to preside over the
House.
He trusted there were moderate and conserva-
tive men enough in this House to support him in
the position he was about to take. He nominated
the Hon. JOHN S. MILLsoN of Virginia, as Speaker
OF the House.
Mr.. BROOM addressed the House, and remark
ed that nearly every Republican member Of the
House was elected ON the issue of American prin-
ciples but, after their election, they had seen fit
to desert the party which elected them, and adopt
another issue as of primary Importance. The con-
sequence was that the Republicans were battling
here for the non-extension ofsavery, and allowing
the administration party to exert ITSELF without OPP
position, for the destruction of the American party
He did not agree with the gentleman from Ten
nessee as to the necessity of abandoning the high
position occupied thus far by the American party
He appealed to the Republicans to unite with the
Americans, and to disregard other questions. If
bill should pass this House repeating the Nebras-
ka BILL it would not pass the Senate and if it
should, it would be vetoed by the President. It
would therefore be of no practical utility 10 them
if the Republicans should succeed in organizing
the House. He therefore offered resolution to
this effect: that the several parties in the House
withdraw their respective candidates for Speaker
and appoint each committee of five to confer to-
gether and select some conservative member as a
candidate for that office.
Mr.. MILLSON rose, and remarked that he was
greatly surprised to hear his name mentioned by
Mr.. ETHERIDGE as a candidate for Speaker. He
requested him to Withdraw that resolution, for va
rious reasons which he assigned-the chief one
being his desire to vote for Mr.. RICHARDSON.
Mr. ETHERIDGE stated that he knew when he
made the nomination that Mr.. MILLsoN did not
desire the honor, and this was one reason why he
selected him. He knew also that he could not be
elected without spirit of forbearance and conc-
alton. He hoped, therefore, that Mr. NJ would
not make personal appeal to him to Withdraw his
| name.
Mr.. MILLSON then made personal appeal to
Mr.. E. to withdraw his name.
Mr.. ETHERIDGE then withdrew it,
Mr.. STEPHENS alluded to the remarks of Mr..
BROOM that the Republicans were elected by the
votes of the American party. The gentleman from
Kentucky had said that three-fourths of the men,
bers of this House were members of the American
party. II SO, what spectacle did the American
party present? A large majority its representa-
tives on this floor voting obstinatey for Speaker
on sectional grounds.
He then denounced the principles of the Amer-
can party, which he pronounced rcpugnant to the
constitution.
MEG. READE inquired Of Mr.. s. whether
he regarded man as worthy Of support for office
who should declare that he owed allegiance to a
church which was Numerically hostile to repub-
lican institutions?
Mr.. STEPHENS replied that he took no note of
any mans religious opinions.
Mr.. WHITNEY then asked Mr.. STEPHENS if he
would appoint man to Office whom he knew to
be hostile to a republican form of government
Mr.. STEPHENS said he would not
Mr.. WHITNEY remarked that this principle
formed the basis of the American party.
Mr.. EUSTIS declared that he concurred With
the gentleman from Georgia in all that he had said,
and that the American party of Louisiana had re-
pudated the action of the National American Con-
tention.
Mr.. BROOM replied to Mr.. STEPHENS and asked
whether he approved of the conduct Of those for
eign Catholics who slew the innocent American
citizens of Philadelphia? He then defended the
American party at some length.
L -
Ky Religious Notice.---rhe Rev. DR.. Teas