Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-19
Who is Responsible?

eight weeks without effecting an organi-
cation. Day after day the time has been
in unsuccessful ballotings, while
the people have as constantly looked for
their representatives, to elect Speaker
and allow the government to proceed in
its usual course. For a time they hoped
that, after a few Intellectual efforts, an
election would be made, but successive
disappointment has taught them that
their hopes were vain and filled them with
disgust. After protracting its session
through the night with an apparent de-
termination of succeeding in putting an
end to the long contest; after having had
the different candidates to define their
positions on the important questions that
divided the parties, Mr.. RICHARDSON on
ly candidly and satisfactorily answering,
the House is still unorganized and the
result of the ballots shows but little
if any change in the strength of the par
ties, furnishing little hope of Success
Designing politicians are utterly at fault,
unable to secure their favorite schemes,
and an indignant and Disguised populace
asks the significant question, Who is
responsible for the delayY We answer,
not the Democracy. The opposition en-
deavor to fix the odium upon the noble
band of seventy four, but their efforts
have been in vain. The country knows
that the Democratic delegation is vastly
in the minority-that, at the beginning
of the session, they adopted a platform
broad enough for all the friends of the
Union to stand upon, and in that plat
form incorporated principles which all
good men may honestly cherish-that
they nominated for Speaker, Col. Rich
ARDsoN, a gentleman eminently qualified
for the distinguished position, states
man standing on the Democratic plat
form, honest and patriotic, "above sus-
picion." Faithful to their convictions Of
duty these sterling Democrats have voted
constantly for Mr.. RICHARDSON, and stood
firmly upon their national and compre-
hensiye platform. 1t is impossible for
them to vote for any candidate of the OPP
position. They would so voting stultify
themselves and render themselves fit OBJ
jects of contempt.
One portion of the conglomerated mass
says to them, surrender your national
platform and join with us in electing a
sectional man to preside over the Council
of the nation-a man who has openly
ayowed his hostility to the union of the
States -whilst the other portion asks
them to disregard the wishes of the peo-
pie who sent them to Washington and re-
pudiate their principles of civil and re-
ligious liberty, and vote for man for
Speaker, who, though claiming to be ma
tional, was elected over Col. WRIGHT, q
national Democrat from Pennsylvania in
the last Congress, and who voted for Mr..
PENNINGTON, abolitionist, from New Jer-
sey, for Speaker-thc latter gentleman
voting for Mr.. BANKs-a man who would
degrade the honest immigrant to the L.
vel of the free negro, and make reli-
gious belief a qualification for Office
Both wings magnaaimoasly propose to
the Democracy to desert the gallant Rich
ardson and aid them to elect Speaker
who will constitute the Committees OF
Know Nothings and Abolitionists, and
then they will cordially make a truce and
unite against the Do,no0raVic P"tJ ..-,d
the National administration. This in.
deed would be magnanimous act on the
part Of the Democrats, yet "more ro-
mantle than wise"
If then the Democracy is not rospon.
sible, who is p! The opposition, of course.
1t matters not what they may be called
Know Nothings or Abolitionists. An
opposition exists in The House, agreeing
on every principle in opposition to the
Democracy, and it possesses the numeri-
cal power sufficient not only to elect a
Speaker but to carry every measure that
it may desire. If they choose to fight
over the spoils, it is not the fault of the
Democracy; if it had one majority there
a Speaker would have been elected weeks
ago, for it is unanimous in its preference.
The fact cannot be concealed--it is the
opposition WHICH is responsible for the
diggraceful scene at Washington, and the
people will note the fact. How that OPP
position wrs elected is also known
Know Nothingism has the whole respon-
sibility on its shoulders, for it was the
leading cause. The country is Witness
ing the effect and the people taking " the
sober second thought" The longer the
House is un7rganize' ;, the better for the