American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-02-07
[Ffon the National tntclllgsncsr.l
Mr. CamPbeil's Letter.

III gtVln " pNbce, WNitu W. HDst Oles''
fully do, TO the letter Of the Hon. LEWIS ID.
CANpBntL. we think it,an ACT OF justice To-.
warii that gentleman that we should add u
word ourselves. To whom hs alludes As
having r~elee.el on his course IN the con.
text about tho Speakership wa do not
know, but we should think thai any impu-
tation on his consistency or correctness in
TINT contest could only bc Dictated by par
ty or personal prejudice. Without mean
ing to pass on his peculiar opinions. it
seems % us that there is not one Of the
members who have occupied so prominent
a position in tho struggle whose conduct
has been more faithful to his protested
principles aud at the same time more hon
orahle and aboveboard than Mr.. Camp
BELLS.
~ IousE or REPRESENTATIONS.
WAsHfNdToE. Jan. 25. 1856.
~ tie Eltors Of the IateRigpaccr
, GESrLExsy: The struggle to elect a
Speaker has been surrounded with much
embarrassment. md the peculiar '%ralation
which it has been my misfortune, pursu-
Ing tha advice Of friends, To- occupy with
regard to IL, renders itinlslirato for ms
noiO 10 give any opinion as to the cause OF
the existing diff oulties. | prefer, there
fore. 10 submit quietly to the ~virulent as
siults which many Of the anti Admins
iration papers are making, until n plain
statement Of facts may BIS given without
the danger of producing further delay in
tho transaction Of the public business. ]
mn called upon, however, by numerous
private letters, as well as by n portion o
the press entitled To a respectful reply, fol
my reasons for voting against au election
Of Speaker by a Pt4ydtity vote.
| came into Congress, inexperienced IL
legislative duties, in lB49. when there wa
a similar contest. the prominent candidate
being Mesers. Winthrop and Oobb. Tn
Freesoil party was represented by Mcssrs
GidIings, Wilmot, Root. and some six 9th
ers. who held lhs balance Of power
After i protractcl struggle many effort
wero mlle TO adopt q plurality rule. Al
though q supporter OF Mr.. Winthrop.
united with the Freesoil m,n on this qIes
ton an uniformly vossd az 'inst il, asre'
ing with them in the arguments which the
presented that il was OF doubtful oonstltu
uonalily. and departure from the uniforl
usage since the org ,niz ition OF the Cover
ment OF hazardous tendency. II was FL
ally adopted. aud the result was that
House, u majority Of which was eleulcd
advocates Of the "Wilmot proviso," ~
fused 10 apply thu restitution To the TER
tories acquired from Mexico. wbi,h. b
tia laws OF that government, had bee
previously dedicated to free institution
aul closed its Legislation on the SLAYER
question by the ,enaetmsnt Of tho fusitiv
slave law. ,0ithOat securing trial By jury.
recommended by Mr.. Clay and the Con
promise Committee Of the Seuate.
On one occasion during the contest r
forred To-. when tho plurality resolutit
was before tho House. Mr.. Giddings pr
posed the following substitute, in the pr
prieIy Of which fully concurred;
"Whsreas the election Of the Speak
ofthis body is one of the highest and inc
important duties incumbent upon It's mot
bers; and whereas, also. by common co
sent OF every House Of Rrpreseulatis
since the adoption OF the Constitution.
majority Of all the votes has been regard
as necessary to q choice Of that Office
and whereas the freedom of debate has
4r been regarded rs one Of tho safeguaI
of American liberty: Therefore
"RssOipsd. That a change in such el
tion, sd rs to elect a Speaker by a plural
II votes. while the minority are not p
mittel to discuss the proprisly or con
tuiionality Of such change, will be opprt
i've il operation, Of dangerous tenden
AMI ought not q be aiepted,'
During the first week Of sis sessi
whpn il was suggested to me by the frie
who kindly supported me Cor the Speak
chair that.a plurality resolution woult
sure success: | again ayewsd my OPP
! ton lott.
Without celebrating On the subject.
reasons for voting agaips. il now !
State: