The true Democrat., 1856-03-04
From the Louisville Times
Letter from Hon. J. M. Elliott.

Letter from i1ODs .5s ElllOus
 We publish below letter from the Hon. J. M Elliott, member of. Congress from the 9th district, to some of his friends in Frankfort It was not designed for publication, but we can- not forbear putting part of it in print. It IS so clear and to the point, and explains the means whereby the election of Banks was effected, and upon whom rests the responsibility of that election, that 1t ought to be read by every body We ask for 1t an attentive perusal
 Washington City, Feb 4, 1856.
 GENTLEMEN: We have at last, after a long struggle, elected N. P. Banks, of Massachusetts, speaker of the House, and how 1t was done the iron horse has doubtless borne you the 'inteli- gence On Friday last we were informed that if we would run Gov. Aiken, of South Caro- lima, the l2ta section Know Nothing party would support him. We immediately q mean the democratic members) put Mr. Aiken in nomination, and the democrats and Know Nothings gave him 103 votes, whilst the black republican candidate received only 1O2. On this ballot Mr. Aiken lost two or three 18th section Know Nothings and still received a plurality. On this vote the House ad djoured.- On Saturday when we met learned that many democrats believed that we could elect MT. Aiken by plurality vote, and Samuel Smith, of Tennessee, moving the plurality rule it car ried by some ten aority. 1 did not vote for it, because 1 very much feared that the north ern portion of the 12th section Know Nothings had voted for Mir. Aiken to induce us to adopt the plurality rule, and then abandon us and let Mir. Banks be elected, which 1 believe they in | heart very much wished.
 Mr. Smiths resolution provided that the House ballot three times and if no speaker was then elected that the plurality should prevail on the fourth ballot and the first vote taken after the adoption of this resolution. Fourteen twelfth section Know Nothngs refused to vote for Mir. Aiken. They steadily refused to vote for him up to the fourth ballot, and on the final vote every Know Nothing north of Mason and | Dlxon's line refused to vote for him, as von will see by the record and eight southern l Know Nothings refused to vote for him when | their names were called but changed their votes when the call was through and when 1t was certain that the change would do Mir. Aiken no good. Thus you see that this sweet band of Know Nothings fooled the democrats into the adoption of the plurality rule by their sup port of Mr. Aiken on Friday, and then came to the House and deliberately stood by and smilingly saw him slaughtered on Saturday, by the election of man who has declared on this floor, during this session that he represents the most ultra abolition district in the Union, and that he does not know which the white or the black race is the superior, and proposes to try the question of amalgamation and absorption The following are the twelfth section Know Nothings who refused to vote for Mir. Aiken or the last ballot: Broom, Clark Cullen Whit ney, Fuller, Hickman, Millward and Davis.- Thus you see that this secret oath bound party have deluded the democratic party into the plurality rule and then have turned traitors tC the Philadelphia platform, their Union degree oath, their God and their country, and have sub stantially joined the cohorts of abolition fana ticism The vote has just been for clerk, anc Cullom, of Tennessee, was nominated by al aboltionist for his anti N ebraska and freesoi views, and was elected by the black republicans and northern and southern Know N Nothings.
 There can be no conservative measures pas sed this Congress, you may co unt the Know Nothings and black republicans against us upor every measure of public interest.
 Your friend and obedeint servant,
 J. M. ELLIOTT.
 \. B-Five of the 5ht who refused tc vote for Aiken on Saturday, voted for him or Friday. J. M E.