The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-07
THIRTY-f0URTH CONGRESS-.
First Session.
Tuesday, January 29, 1856.
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
The Senate did not sit to-day.
Mr.. A. K. Marshall, of Kentucky, submitted
the following resolution:
ReSolUed, That it is the opinion of the mem.
bers of this House that the presentation of party
nominees has tendency to retard an organiza.
ton, and therefore it is the duty of the different
parties to withdraw such nominations, leaving
each member free from the control or influence
of caucus determinations.
Mr.. Allison, of Pennsylvania, thought, that as
the resolution dictated to the Republican party
what course it should pursue, it violated the
great Democratic principle of suuatter sover.
eighty, which acknowledged the right of every
people to take care of themselves. He trusted
they would have no more resolutions attempting
to dictate to those who were supporting Mr..
Banks for whom they should vote and what
course they should pursue
MIR. Cobb, of Georgia, regarded the preserva-
ton OF the organization of the Democratic party
as essential to the best interests of the country.
and he was not willing to waive it by the aban-
donment or withdrawal of its principles. In his
opinion, the organization of the National Dem
ocratlc party was more important than the cleo
ton of a Speaker, and he believed that the best
interests of the country would suffer, if that or
ganization should be sacrificed TO attain that
end.
Mr.. Whitney, of New York, could not sup.
port the resolution of the gentleman from Ken.
lucky, nor any other proposition based ur on the
probability of an organization by the election
OF Democratic Speaker. AS this was not the
first time that individual members of the Amer.
lean party had, upon their own responsibility
made tenders to the Administration party he
deemed it proper to say that he should be bound
by no caucus, by no combination, to support the
Administration in its present position either by
Legislation or by the election Of Speaker of the
House.
Mr.. Cullen, of Delaware, declared that he
would never vote for any member of the Dem
ocratic party of the House, while the resolution
adopted by the caucus of that party remained
in force.
Mr. MeMullin, of Virginia, opposed the reso-
luton, as he did not deem it in accordance with
that courtesy which should characterize the
conduct of gentlemen here, for the Democratic
party to dictate to the other side of the House.
Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois, was willing to
take any man of his own party, but would never
surrender his principles-so help him God,
never! Opposing both the Republican aud
American parties he did not choose to act with
either
Mr.. Marshall then withdrew his resolution.
Mr.. Stewart of Maryland submitted the fol-
lowing resolution:
ResOtUed, That, with the concurrence OF the
Senate, on and after the 5th of February next,
unless a Speaker is elected before that day, the
House will adjourn over until the 9th Of May
next.
On motion of Mr.. Todd, of PENNSYLVANIA, the
resolution was laid on the table
The one hundred and twenty ninth vote for
Speaker was then had, and resulted as follows ;
Mr. Banks of Massa chuaetts 90
Mr. Orr, Of South Carolina 90
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania 81
Scattering 8
Whole number of votes given 2l0
Necessary TO choice 100
SO there was no election.
Mr.. Whitney, of New York, submitted the fol-
lowing resolutions
Resolved, That the Hon. - be and he is
hereby declared Speaker Of the House of Rep
resentatives of the Thirty fourth Congress of the
United States
Resolced, That the above resolution be report
ed by the Clerk in blank, and it shall be in or
der for any member to move that the blank be
filled by the insertion of a name, and that the
resolution be adopted on that motion the yeas
and nays shall be called; and whenever such
motion shall receive a ma jority of the votes, the
person then named in the resolution shall be
Speaker of the House.
Resolced, That the name of any member once
proposed to I'LL the blank shall not be again pro.
posed without the consent of majority of the
members present and voting, shall it be in
order TO move one candidate a second time, so
long as any member desires to move the name
of one not yet proposed and voted upon.
Resotced, That all questions arising upon a
second motion to insert the name of any person
who has been once proposed and voted for to
fill the blank, shall be decided vica yoce, or in
case Of a doubt, shall be decided by tellers.
Mr.. Davidson then moved to lay the resou-
tons on the table, declaring that he would not
vote for any man, unless nominated by a caucus
of his party.
The question was taken, and the resolutions
were laid upon the table-yeas 1853, nays 49,
Those who voted in the negative were chief
ly Fuller men, and with them voted, Bishop Of
New Jersey, Campbell of Ohio, Dunn and Scott
of Indiana, Edie, Kunkel, Todd, and Tyson of
Pennsylvania, Harrison and Moore of Ohio.
And then, at three o'clock, the House ad
journed.
Wednesday, January 80, 1856.