Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17
Whole number of votes. .207
Necessary In a choice. l0l

Necessary choice .l0f
No person having received majority of the
whole number OF votes given, there was no cleo
ton.
Mr.. MILLSON, OF Virginia, duripg the proceed.
ing ballot remarked that he had been supporting
Mr.. RICHARDSON for upwards of six weeks, during
which time he had voted for him more than one
hundred times He had thus given proof, which
perhaps in the history of the world had never be-
fore been given, OF his sincere desire 10 elect that
gentleman 10 the high position Tor which he had
been proposed candidate. On which party
or what person the bl9me OF the failure 70 elect
might fall, or whether on any; il would be vain -
inquire. One thing he did know: that there was
a separate and equal responsibility upon every
member 10 elect the necessary officers of the
House, in order that they might proceed 10 the
dispatch OF the public business. He did not agree
with those gentlemen who had said that they
would voie for none other than Mr.. RICHARDSON,
nor with those who, if they had not said so in
words had al least proclaimed in their votes their
determination 10 vote for none other than Mr..
BANKS and Mr. FULLER. He did not concur in
the opinion, which had been several times
pressed here that the Government might b. car
ried on very successfully even though The House
might ffl 10 effect organization. lie thought
that such an experiment would be apt To fail; he
certainly did not wish IL TO be a successful one. A
King OF England once endeavored 10 carry on The
Government without the aid of Parliament but
the people decided that he should not. He did
not wish an American President 10 be more
cessful than was the king 10 whom he had re
ferred.
There were many gentlemen in the House for
whom he would cheeriully vote There were
others for whom. If cheerlully, he would will
ingly vote. He did not, them in again giving his
vote for Mr. RICHARDSON, wish 10 be considered
as in any degree approving the determination Of
gentleman vote for none other than him. He
had voted for that gentleman most cheeriuily and
earnestly, but had never intended that his vote
should be regarded n ratification approval of
the opinions entertained by the honorable member
from Illinois. The gentleman and himself differed,
but this did not in any degree lessen bis conf.
dence in his integrity, ability and honesty. But,
ms he had understood that those gentlemen with
whom he had been associated had declared that
they would adhere 10 the original nominee of their
caucus. he had risen merely TO protect himself
from the inference that he approved their deter
mination. 10 the extent. perhaps, OF allowing the
affairs Of the Government, foreign aud domestic,
10 fall into confusion rather THAI that the Hou,e
should he organized under The leadership of any
other than that OF a certaa gentleman. Bot hi,
single vote, given TO any other gentleman, would
not I've likely be felt or 10 produce any success.
ful result. He was willing now, as he had always
been, 10 aid IN any proper conservative organiza-
lion OF the Hose; and, in again voting fJr Mr..
RICHARDSON he wished Il 10 be understood that
he was IN no wise committed TO the line Of policy
which seemed TO oblge gentlemen TO pursue
single course hut stood free 10 dispose Of his vote
where il could be effectively felt
lie thought that too much importance had been
attached To The question ofihe choice Of a Speaker
The Speaker was not the representative OF gentle.
men on this floor, and they did not become his
constituents II not absolutely necessary
hat he should concur in opinion with them upon
ell questions. The Speaker was the representa-.
live Of his district, and would remain such after
his elevation TO the chair. They were not, then,
his constituents, and had no right TO exact from
him rigid conformity 10 their individual views
One thing was certain, that f the Speaker was 10
be the representative Of principle then they would
never have Speaker; for there was no principle
which controlled a majority OF the members Of
the Hon.e
Mr.. wAsHBURN, OF Maine, submitted the FOL.
lowing resolution
Resolrd, That the House will proceed i'm.
mediately 10 the election Of a speaker vira rocs;
and ", after the roll shall have been called three
times no member shall have received majority
Of the hole number OF votes, The roll shall again
be called, and the member who shall then receive
the largest number Of votes provided il he n
majority Of quorum, shall be the Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives Of the thirty fourth
Congress.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, supposed that every
members mind made up ne 10 the resolution
ard he therefore suggested 10 the gentleman from
Maine that he call the previous question
Mr.. WAoHBURN replied that il was his
intention TO call the previous question; but as the
gentleman from North Carolina desired 10 say a
single word he would refrain from doing so at
present.
Mr. CLlNGMAN desired to say word in
explanation Of the vote ha should give on the
pending resolution. So far as the adoption Of the
plurality rule was concerned, he could no
obj ction TO il in principle. II was mere
proposition 10 change tbe,mode Of election They
might adopt the majority rue al one time, and ~
another they might adopt the plurality rule, as had
recently been done in many Of the States. Feel
ing a siroRg anxiety TO see the House organized,
he had felt willing 10 change the law and allow an
election by the plurality rule. But although he
had repeatedly expressed the opinion that the
House had better adopt that rule he now felt al
liberty 10 do as he pleased on this as on n other.
questions ofexpediency For Two week. previous
10 Saturday last he was in favor of and had
endeavored 10 get his friends 10 adopt the plurality
rule, and thus allow the majority TO effect an