Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1856-02-13
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.
WASHINGTON, FEBRuARY.4. 1856.

WASHINGTON, FEBRuARY4, 1856.
The contest ended-A sectional acknowledgements
Of proeeedings- Passage Of the plurality rule
me final 6atlot-A scene Of contilsion-Gop
Dodging and scattering-A Batimere Represen-
tdtare deserting the South Compliment to CoI
Forney-Election Of Clerk today.
The long contest is ended, and the black Repub-
licans have triumphed. After an extraordinary
struggle, lasting nine weeks, the representative of
strictly sectional party, standing upon sectional
platform, and united in hostility to the institutions
OF one portion of the Union has been elevated to tire
position of presiding officer of the National House of
Representatives.
The defeat of the plurality rule on Friday by two
majority only, Indicated its certain success to be
close at hand The different resolutions offered on
that day to effect an organization of the House, re.
suited in giving to Mr. Banks lO2 votes and to Gov.
Aiken, Of S. g., 103. These votes seemed to show
that the chances for the election Of either under the
operation OF the plurality rule, were about equal;
and this consideration doubtless had great weight
with those who, Saturday, changed their position
and voted Tor this mode Of bringing the struggle to
close. 1t was passed on Saturday morning by
nine majority, and provided that if election was
effected on the three succeeding ballots, then that
the candidate receiving the highest number of votes
on the fourth ballot, should he declared Speaker of
the House.
The ballotngs commenced amid good deal of
excitement. The galleries and lobbies were crowd
ed by dense throng of interested spectators The
three preliminary baotings followed each other in
quick succession, each with about the same result
Mr. Banks receiving 1O2 votes, Gov. Aiken 3D. and
some twenty votes scattering. The excitement in
creased as the last and final balloting commenced
Some of the 18th section national Know Nothngs
declined to vote when their names were called At
the close of the CALL several came forward to vote
and to assign their reasons for supporting Gov
Aiken. MIR. VIM. r. Smith, of Alabama voted for
the distinguished South Carolinian under protest.
Col. Paine hung back until the last moment and
with evident reluctance voted for Gov. Aiken
Finally the result was announced to be-Banks l03,
Aiken lou, and some scattering votes. The black
Republicans on the floor, and the mass of human
beings in the galleries, raised deafenng applause as
the committee experimenting the balloting declared
MIR. Banks to have been elected
Here follo0ed scene of great confusion some
members declaring it unconstitutional to elect by
plurality that the Clerk and the gentlemen assisting
him had 10 authority to declare the result others
that if there was any doubt of the legality of the
election, it should be settled by the passage of res
oution declaratOry of the sense of the House. At
this point Gov. Aiken claimed the floor and asked
the permission of the House to conduct Mr.. Banks
as Speaker elect to the Chair. This manifestation
of good feeling and liberaty greeted by tumul-
tuous applause. Finally a resolution was adopted
by large majority, declaring Mr.. Banks to have
been duly elected. With the general appreciation
of the House, the Clerk appointed Gov. Aiken, of
s. c. Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, and Mr.. Fuller of PENN
committee to inform MIR. Banks of his election and
to conduct him to the Chair. In few moments
the committee had discharged this duty and were
observed escorting the Speaker down one of the
aisles towards the Speakers desk. Here he bowed
his acknowledgements to the committee, and then
to the House, and proceeded Immediately to deliver
brief inaugural address. Upon its conclusion the
usual oath to support the Constitution of the United
States was administered by Mr. Giddngs the oldest
ember Of the House. when the Speaker took his scat
M a M vptn1 f,,rG Gov 4
on Friday supported him on Saturday, he would
have been elected. He had the benefit of one ad-
dltional vote-that Of his colleague, Mr. Boycc; but
four 18th section Know Nothings, Mr.. Brown, of
Penn, and Messrs. Walk, Whitney and Bayard
Clark, o! New York, threw away their votes on Mr..
Fuller, in effect voting for Mr.. Banks. 1t is past
comprehension that grown men should deliberately
slultY themselves by backing out day from their
record of yesterday Yet so it is. Mr.. Fuller for
,ohona Southern HnOo Nothingshar uoted Jor many
6allotings. dodged ehsn the fnat trial came Four
black Republicans threw away their votes Had
every man been compelled to vote, and to choose
between Banks and Aiken, incline to the opinion
that the former must have been elected by two or
three majority. Nothing but dissensions among the
black Republicans themselves, prevented the same
result during, the first week of the session.
Among those who threw away their votes on Mr.
Fuller, contributing in reality to the election of Mr..
Banks, was MIR. Henry Winter Davis, one of the
Representatives from the City of Baltimore.
seems remarkable indeed, that City OF a Southern
State, laying claim to Southern trade because of an
identity of political interests should select as one of
Its Representatives, person who, in emergency,
when the whole South were striving to defeat the
success Of the abolition party, should desert South
crn interests, and aid indirectly, yet less effect
ually, towards the election of sectional Speaker
On the other hand two of the Representatives from
Philadelphia, City of free State, have stood by
the South and sustained national principles through
out There are no truer men in Congress than Thos.
B. Florence and John Cadwalader-sound Demo-
Gratis, who have struggled against abolition success
with no less earnest esS than Southern Representa-
tives themselves. The business men of Baltimore
should understand that this desertion of Southern
interests at critical period, is noticed by the
South and may be remembered to their loss when
future claims are pressed for Southern trade.
Before the House adjourned on Saturday, a reso-
luton was unanimously adopted, thanking Col John
w. Forney for the able and impartial manner in
which he had presided over its deliberations during
the prOtracted struggle for election of Speaker
Col. Forneys discharge of the difficult duties de-
volving upon him, has been most acceptable to the
House, and the compliment paid him is just trib-
ute to the success and impartiaty with which they
have been administered. OF,
The House met to-day, when the members were
sworn in according to the requirements of the Con.
sttution. An election then held for Clerk, Gen.
Cullom, of Tenn, being chosen by considerable
majority, receiving the votes of the dark Republi-
cans and Know Nothngs; the Democrats voted for
Mr.. Banks Editor of the Petersburg Daily Demo-
crat. The remainder of the day was consumed in
drawing for seats Tomorrow the other officers Of
the House will probably be chosen when an nd.
journment for two three days will follow, to give
the Speaker opportunity to arrange the standing