Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-02-09

The Electlon of Sneaker.


The Election Of speaker
We suppose no man in his senses i disappointed
at the frantic howl sent up by the Democratic
presses at the South over the election of Banks
Being the guilty party themselves it is perfectly
natural in them to make great noise, and try L.
fix the responsibility upon the shoulders of those
who are innocent. In determining the question OF
responsibility we hold that the final vote is by no
means the only thing to be inquired into But it II
necessary to ascertain through WHOSE particular
agency the plurality rule adoptcd-and adopted.
to, with ,ull consciousness of the fact that Bank
would almost unavoidably be chosen under it. L.
then, we are not at fault in recollection, not
more than one National American voted for the plu-
raity rule while it was sustained 10y trtire proft>Sc
national DcmocratS-that is, by twelve Of the nmoi-
tai seventy four, who uniformly supported Richard
son Not only So but it was presented by Southcr
Democrats, who warmly urged its adoption, know
ing necessarily, that it would result in Banks cl,,-
ton These being the facts Of the case, we inqur,
ia an sincerely and candor, upon whom does the rc
spon~ibiy rest? And to this question, there cl.
be but one reply ii any faith Is to be put in IT,
urc, Ii rest, upon the Dcmocrat>-sud what i>
more aud worse it rests almost entirely upon S,gti,s
Democrats,
inc. that Immediately after the adoption Of the pin
lal.tv rule seycr; unsuccessful attempts were mad,
u, Southern Americans and Southern Democrats To-
have E, r,sciudcd Mr. Boyce, Of South Carolina.
one of the seventy four was the first 10 spring t
his feet aud moved TO rescind the plurality rc>olu
ton lust passed by the House" But-so runs III,
recori-.on motion of Mr.. smith Of Tennessee Is.
Richardson DcmQcrat-"NIr Boyce's motion Va,
laid ON the table
AGAIN Notwithstanding the defeat of MIR Boycc's
motion, SIR Walker. of Albanian American
member ,btaiued the hoor, and moved to resciud
ih. plurality rule" Well, what the fate OF Mir
Walkers motion: Why Mr.. Clingiuan, OF NORTH
Carolina. another of the immortal seventy four,
who had been in favor of the plurality re from TIA,
beginning sprang To las feet aud said that Mr. Wal
.ke.'s emotion was not in order. as tue House had
Just refused To rescind the rule To elect by plural
Is vote" 90 voting down the motion of Mr. Boycc.
And thus second attempt to have the rule re>cina
ed We, defeated by Southern Democrat VITA
tins review of the facts of the case before the tina
vote was taken, again ask who i responsible foi
Banks election:
Eu. ibis is not all After the final vote had b,.i
announced. ,ho ring the election Of Banks. a humble,
OF Southern members, both Democrats and Amcri
cans obtained the floor and protested that they had
been opposed to the adoption Of the plurality ru,
from tine outset, and that circumstances could
cur under which they would sustain it. M. Boycc
OF South Carolina again stated that "hc had vo-
tel lof te plurality rule, and could not vote for "a,
re,) tion Of Clingman offered subsequent 10 IL,
announcement the final votc-dccarug that Baui,,
had been duly elected Speaker. Mr. Harris, Of Ala.
baula smother Of the seventy -four. also took
ca-ipu to aver that mo man had been more oppose
,ian himself to the adoption Of the plurality rule.
The House, however had seen tit to pass it, and ui
der il, the gentleman from Massachusetts, had recc
we'd plurality of the votes. He was, therefore, lt
virtue OF a decision of the House, made Speaker
thereof Mr. smith, of Virginia, another OF H.,
sevcuty-lour also declared that 1.-THE result; 80 much
drpiurcl by so many upon the floor Of the Hou,,
arrsNs seYVeHcf ct0 bDHgi,Ag management, such
as hc should take occasion TO follow no more for
ever 90 Vow, the question arises why did 80 many
Sostheru Dcmoarats gttfr Banks election, manifest
$50 anxious wish To clear their skirts Of all re,pon-
biHly for ,hc aiopuouof the plurality rule? Wa IL
not the result Of deep anl earnest conviction tia
Elul, could never have been elected without th,
adoption Of that rule, which forced upon th,
House boy the united vote Of all the Black Republican,
Campbell Of Ohio only excepted with treif, De
mocrat-. aud most Of these twelve from the South
Such it evident is the true and only reason Of th,
anxiety of these 10 acqut thcmseIyc. before th,
public and their constituents of any agency in th.
adoption Ola rule which it wa, known to all, woul,
necessarily result Ia the election Of Banks
But take one other view Of the matter. IL To.
great bulk Of the Democrats, who voted against To,
plurality rule, did not know that its adoption woui.
bc equivalent TO Banks election, what excuse hay,
they for not voting for it, We put thi, que-uo.
because, n defence Of those Democrats who da
vote for IT, iti- now urged in Sauy quarter, thai
they were satisfied it would secure the election 90
Aiken Bul this s clearly rusc for the reason ti,.
most of these twelve bad voted ,r 1t from the start
and long before Aiken or Orr had been dreamed of
but "c drop the subject for to-day We ob-cr,,
however, that thciccord is an ugly thing and accor
ding 10 %, ilic Democrats responsible for Bank
election