The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-13

The farce at Washington has been kept up
long enough. More than a month has been
spent in ballotings for Speaker, while the coun-
try is kept waiting for needful legislation. It
is tine this were brought to an end.
It is well understood that the democrats de-
sire the election of Banks, though they are un-
willing to place on the record their own votes
in his favor. They vote on, and on, standing
firm for Richardson, in the hope that some
thing will turn up to elect Banks without their
overt aid. The ground Of their position is very
plain. They say that the black republicans
can command small working majority for
purposes OF ordinary legislation, which they
cannot: that though Banks should be elected
there will still remain majority of national
men in the House sufficient to check black re-
publican measures; and finally, that Of all the
men who have been proposed, Mr.. Banks
is the one who, from temper and expert
ence, is the best fitted to discharge the duties
OF the Speakership. On these grounds they
will not oppose his election further than by
Withholding their votes, and if Mr.. Clingman
proposes his plurality rule, they calculate in
the end to vote for it.
There can be 10 question but this position
and these sentiments are eminently disgrace
ful TO the politicians who hold them.
Either it will be an advantage to the country
10 elect Banks, and in that case the democrats
are traitors for opposing him, or it will be an
injury, and they are traitors for conniving at
his success.
II the difference of opinion between the
party Of which Banks is the champion and the
two national parties in the House, were of
slight and temporary characterize for in
stance, they were divided upon the question of
the public lands or the tariff or the foreign poll
cy, or upon any other question which did not
possess a vital interest for the nation, and
which time would be sure to settle satisfacto-
rily to all-then the democrats might be sane
toned in yielding the point Of the Speaker
ship for the sake of fastening the transaction
of the public business. But, in the pre-
sent instance, the gulf between Banks and
his opponents is impossible, unbridgeable.
There can be no compromise, no Cancellation
between them. lie is the nominee of Seward,
Weed, Garrison and Giddings, and his princi-
pies must inevitably conduct to the dissolu-
tion OF the Union The question at stake is Of
all possible questions the most vital to the
nation. Time cannot heal the breach; refec-
ton is not likely to bring the black republicans
and nationals nearer together. They are. and
so long as the black republicans exist must be,
irreconcileable antagonists, if the national
men are tue to their principles. No national
man can consent to or connive at the election
Of Banks without betraying his country, his
constituents and his honor.
The treason appears still more odious when
the position Of the black republican party is
carefully examined. Under the spur of the
excitement produced by the passage of the
Nebraska aet--the Northern men hallooing
for their life that they were being tram
pied upon, and the conservatives taking mat
tiers coolly, and lying idle--the black republi-
cans carried nearly every Northern State. As
soon as reflection came their voters fell Off by
the thousand: las. year-lsJ5-th NAV be
said not only to have lost all they gained by
the Nebraska law, but to be even weaker than
they were before. The recent democratic and
national Know Nothing majorities are almost
unexampled II happened, however, that the
present Congress was elected during the tenn
porary ascendency Of black republican prnc-
Piles, and before the reaction to common sense
took p ace.
Tie ninety odd members therefore who
stand in phalanx round Banks, are not only
at variance with all national and right minded
men, but with their own constituents. who
have long ago repcnted Of having elected
them. They are without principles, par
~, Or supporters. When they 20 home to