The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-17
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THE LAST WEEK IN THE HOUSE

THE LAST WEEK IN THE HOUSE,
The two events of the week, in the contest for
the Speakership, are, the protracted session,
commencing at IL o'clock, Wednesday, 9th, and
closing at O'Clock the next morning, a ueriod
of twenty-one hours; and the catechism of can
ddates, which took place last Saturday. The
details of the latter are given in our Congress
sional record. Of the former, no description
| can present an adequate idea. The report of
the debates and proceedings during that pro-
| tracted session of twenty-one hours occupies
| thirty solid columns of the Daily Globe.
The supporters of Mr.. Banks, constituting
the strongest of the three parties in the House,
have labored earnestly for its organization,
since the first day of the session. As we have
often explained, the adoption of the plurality
| rule would insure the election of Speaker in
| thirty minutes. No one can say with any Ger.
tainty who would be chosen; the chances would
be in favor of Mr.. Banks; a combination, bow,
ever, between the National Know Nothngs and
| the Administration men might defeat him. But,
the Republicans, the Party of Order, willing to
take the risk for the sake of the Public Bust
ness have proposed the plurality rule, six times,
and six times has the proposition been voted
down by the Richardson and Fuller men, aided
by the scattering votes and by three gentle
men who are voting from day to day for Banks.
MIR. Colfax, of Indiana, Monday night, when
this proposition was under consideration for the
sixth time, put the matter in its proper light.
A few words now as to the general course of
proceedings during the protracted session.
AT a caucus held by the Administration mem,
bers on the night fthe 9Th, they passed resolu-
ton that on meeting the next day in the House
| they would vote against all motions to adjourn
till Speaker should be chosen. The Repub-
lican members accepting this as an evidence
of sincere determination to organize the
House, cordially united in the policy. IT soon
became evident, however, that certain adherents
of the Administration and the Know Nothings
generally were determined to prevent an cleo
ton, and also to cut short the session.
On examination, we find that of the printed
report OF thirty seven columns the motions and
remarks of the supporters of Mr.. Banks occu.
Ply only about five columns, and three of these
were taken up in certain explanations by Mr..
Campbell, of Ohio, not at all calculated to pro-
mote an organization. Of the waste OF time
and the proftless debates in that Sci. fon Of
twenty-one hours, the Banks men are gtsltless:
their opponents, especially the National Know
Nothings, must be held responsible, as .he rec.
ord demonstrates.
AT times there was great disorder, nut the
record again shows that the Republicans were
not implicated in it. Always in their places,
prompt in voting, they were quiet, upmoved,
| orderly.
Unfortunately, few members betrayed indi.
cations of anything but sobriety-but again 1t
is satisfactory to announce that they do not be.
long to the Party which they delight to call,
| Black Republican.
Six times the roll was called during the ses-
sion in voting for Speaker, and, if we allow halt
an hour in each case, the House occupied only
three hours of the twentyone in legitimate bust
ness. The other eighteen hours were wasted
chiefly by Know Nothings and Administration
men, in fruitless motions and explanations.
We will now rapidly run through she pro.
ceedings, so as to give our readers clearer
idea of how the time was spent.
Motion for call of the House, by Wheeler,
IN.
Pending this, long speech by Smith, A.,
of Tenn; another by Whitney, K. NJ, If N. Y.
Proposition for plurality, by Knight, r., Pa.
Pending this, remarks by Burnett, X NJ,
Ky, and explanations by Campbell, amer,
Giddings and Sherman, r., of Ohio.
Speech by Talbot, K. NJ, KY.
Motion to adjourn by II. Marshall, X. ~,
Ky.
Withdrawn, to allow Campbell, X. ~, KY,
to explain.
Haypast four O'Clock. Plurality laid on the
| table.
Motion to adjourn, by Campbell, X. ~, H
| disagreed to. I
Voting for Speaker.
Motion to adjourn, by Keitt, Ad., 8. c., lost.
Yeas and ays>demanded by ZollfN,ffer, Il.
NJ, Tenn.
Call of the House, by Sneed, X. ~, Tenn.
Tellers demanded on yeas and nay I, by Nc
Mullen, 3D., Va.
Yeas and nays called, and motion ,st
Pending I
Explanation by Dunn, Scat, Ia.
Motion for call of the House, by n cMuilen,
3D., Va.
Vote for Speaker.
| Pending
| Resolutions of the State Senators of Ohio
endorsing the course of the Ohio Represents
tives voting for Banks, read by Galloway, r..
Ohio.
Remarks by Harrison, K. NJ, and Moore, K
NJ, of Ohio; and by McMullen, Ad., Va.
| Sir o'clock.-Motion to adjourn, by Millward
K. ~, Pa, lost.
One hundred and third VOTE
Motion to adjourn, by Keitt Ad S. c., lost.
| Motion for a call of the House, by Keitt.
Motion to adjourn, by II. Marshall, K. ~.
KY, lost.
| Motion for a call withdrawn, and a speech
from Kennett, K. ~, of Mo-, to rescind ter
minutes rule.
Speech by Caruthers, Wing, Mo-. Cox, K
NJ, Ky; again by Caruthers.
Motion to rescind withdrawn
One hundred and fourth vote.
Pending
Speech by Campbell, K. NJ, KY, and Porter
K. ~, Mo.
Nine o'clock.-Motion to adjourn, By McMul
len, 3D., Va.
Motion to adjourn till Friday, when the
House adjourns, by Etheridge, K. M.,STenn.
Motion to rescind ten minutes rule, by Nc