Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-02-13
a,-rsa From tho Washington Sentinel.
THE ELECTION OF FSpEAKER-BLACKs sATURDA,

1t WAS a custom OF the ancieDts TO mark with
black those days that brought misfortunes to
themselves or their country. Initiating their ex-
ample, we may well mark last Saturday with
black. We may with some appropriateness de-
nominate it black Saturday-for on that day
Abolilonism, under the new name OF Black
Rcpablicanism, proved itself to be the control
ing power in the popular branch OF the AmerI-
can Congress.
Whilst we acknowledged and felt the impor-
tance Of organizing The House of Representa-
tiYes, we cannot help deploring m organization
that establishes Black Republican ascendancv,
and lifts up Abolitionism from its congeaial gut
ters 10 the high sents of the Government. For
the first time; in the history of our country, con-
Temporary journalists and future historians will
be called on to record the triumph in the Ma
tional Legislature of odious and fanatical anti
slavery doctrines.
OF Mr.. Banks, the Speaker elect, We shall not
speak in terms Of personal disparagement. He
looks like a gentleman, he has the manners of
gentleman, and he certainly has the cultivation
of q gentleman. 1t is conceded, on al hands,
that lie possesses more than ordinary abilities,
and that he has marked qualifications for the
position of presiding officer. But for MIR. Banks
political view. and principles we have sn aver.
sion that language cannot adequately describe
lie belongs 10 school of politics, from which
emanate all those peruicious errors and heresies
that threaten the existence Of our institutions
and the stability of our Government. As If not
content TO choose from its rank. frcesoiler OF
the ordinary stamp, the opposition has saddled
the House with gentleman who Is marked by
extraordinary and f,na!ical zeal as an ant-slave
ry man-a gentleman from The very hot bed.of
m-Massachusctts-a gentleman who
is reported 10 have said, that rather than yield to
slavery extension he would " letthe Union slidc"
land who, lately, on the floor of the House Of
Representatives,. and in the face of the whole
nation, soemnly declared that he could not de-
eide the problem, as to the equality of the black
and white races!
When Mr. Banks election was announced. 1t
is said that the galleries ,hundcred forth the
most stunning applause, and that ladies waved
their perfumed handkerchicfs in all the deIirium
of frecso ecstaey. II will seem strange 10 our
Southern readers when they learn that this city,
located on slave ground, and within few miles
of the grave of Washington, should contain any
considerable body of people who would rejoce
and huzza over a triumph won by Black Rcpub-
lica,ism. But so it is. Where such people
came from wc do not know, and shall not take
the pains 10 inquire. But certain it Is that num-
bers of them were present in The capitol when
the result of the two months balloting for Speak
ar was made known on Saturday evening.
W. rather incline to the opinion that the
Speaker will find, ere long, that he has hard
road to travel, and that his Office will prove no
bed of roses.
1t is said that the ceremony of swearing in
the Speaker was performed by Mr.. Glddngs, tile
great head of Abolitionsm, with great JUNCTION,
allt in the most dramatic and pompous manner.
lie looked rs if The souls of all the old negro
martyrs and young negro babies we're Infused
into him. lie locked as grand as Jupiter, and
rs pleased ms u "baskct Of chips" Then came
clapping of hands, stamping Of feet, and waving
of handkcrchiets. Abotionism was jubllant
and exultant But this, which, to use the Ian
guage of Mr. Pickwick, was "lie proudcst mo-
ineut' of their lives, was to the friends of law,
order, and the Constitution 4 moment OF pro-
found modification and humiliation.
The longest day must have nm end, and tho
longest lane Il turning. This election, which
iu many aspects was very important, was delay
cd for two MONTHS thing unparalleled in our
Legislative annals; but il could not lust always,
and black Saturday closed the sharp and trying
c0ntest
mand the cordial appreciation of the country.
Nor will The course Of those Of the conservative
opposition, who co-opcrated wah the Democrats,
fail 10 command equal conmendation. They
fought good fight, and although outnumbered
bv the enemy, they kept that enemy ont OF It's
victory for two months, and only then failed OF
winning it BY few votes.
EXECUTION OF SoN FOR THE MURDER OF
HIS FArHEE.-We have already briefly mention
cd that Jos. T. Williams Was executed ut RoX-
boro,' (N CD on Friday of last week, for the
murder of his father, wealthy gentleman, for
merly of Pittsylvania county, Va, The Milton
(N Co. Chronicle has the following notice of
the execution:
On the day of his execution be called friend
or two in jail, and besought them to join him in
prayer until tho last moment of his earthly exIs-
tence; lie sent out supplica.ion for the pray
ers of the vast multitude then and there assem-
bled. The hour arriving for his execution, the
sheriff, with bleeding heart and tear.moistened
eye, called for him.
Taking Mr.. VIM. Lyon (his fathers friend
and neighbor) by the hand and begging him, to
20 with him and pray for him, he proceeded to
the gallows, praying all the way until he arrived
in sight of the gallows, when, trembling like
loaf, he gave vent to an expression OF feeling
that no pen can describe, and which touched the
most callous heart Arriving at the gallows he
sued for the ast moment, and begged every
christian on the ground 10 pray for him.
1t was here that tho sheriff read him brief
note, reminding him Of future rewards and pun
ishments-of the awfulncss of dying with lie
on his lips, and invoking him TO say, while he
looked eternity in the face, whether he was
guilty or innocent of the murder. lie replied
that all that he had TO say about it-he was
"not gulityw So the prisoner protested his
innocence TO the last moment. Mounting the
scaiiold and 4" forgiving every body" at Is min
utes past II o'clock Williams soul was launched
into eternity.
THE spEAxERsHIp.-We take The liberty of
publishing the following extract of letter re-
ceivcd from friend at Washington. 1t will be
found interesting as showing how Banks was
elected Speaker:
81 SUPPOSE you have already learned that
Banks is Speaker Aiken would have heen
elected, if ali the National Democrats had voted
for him, but they did not; two-Elickman and
Barkley, of Pcnnsylvania-would not vote for
Aiken. So if all the Southern Know Nothings
had voted for Aiken, he could have been elected !:
but two did not--Davis, of Maryland, and Cul-
len, of Delaware.
Again, Aiken would have been elected if
the three Northern twelfth section Know Notl-
Jugs, who voted for him on Friday, had voted
fo- him on Saturday"
FIFTEEN CHILDREN AT A FUSERAL.--Mr. Otis
Russell, who died in Marlboro last week, was
the father of sixteen children, all of them by