Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-03
Facts Political History.


the election of Mr. Banks, as speaker of the
House of representatives. We maintained
further that this result was brought about
solely by the course OF seven Democrat,
three of whom were representatives from Il
South. In prof of our allegation on this
polrt, We cu' Join the following extract from
an article 10 tle Lynchburg Nirglnian, which
gives q brief and accurate history OF the
conclu-ively thai The ele
ton VI Bank was resisted throughput by
the Wing and American members, and that
he would have inevitably been defeated bst
for the adoption of the plurality rule, which
was passed 10y the votes Of seven Democrats.
Indeed, the adoption Of this rule was ti'st
proposed by Democrat--Alr. Smith, of Ten
nessec-and then passed Dy Democratic votes.
But here is the Nirginians article, which
we here rC-Iu5Iish merely by way ct retre-h'
ing the memory If cur readers: -Richmom
Whig.
I'VE know it is frequently asserted that ne
is responsible for the election of Mr.. BInkS
to the speakership of the last Congress. We
undertake to say that 10 such fact appears
from the record, and no sucn conclusion can
1t will be recoilected that, for two months
the House Of Representatives Wa engaged
in futile effort To elect a Speaker. The
rule was that a ma Jrly should circt-hnd
neither OF the three paIteI had "a majority.
But tie Black Republicans had u mucn lai-
ger mum Der than either Of the other and
about tied both OF the Others cDmblbcI.-
From this statement it will appear that tue
adoption of the plurality rule--that is, that
the candidate having the highest numf or Ut
votes should be declared Speaker-wOu' d ne
ce,sarily result in the election Of Black Il =
publican. THAI party knew this very well
and consequently, tor six weeks proceed
ing the election, they made an effort almost
every dav, to have the plurality rue adopted.
Mr.. DAVIS, in company with every other
member of the House of his party, except
Mr.. Bayard Clarke, of New York. invaria-
bly, voted against the plurality ruIc-and
that the reasons why the Americ ans voted
against the plurality rule may be made per-
tectIy apparent, we quote the remarks OF one
OF the leading members OF that party, MIR.
Trippe, OF Georgia:
81 speak Tor myself said Mr.. Trippe,
'and believe speak tor nincteen-twentleths
of members OF the party with whom |
am acting in she House, when | say that the
adoption of the plurality rule will result in
the election of Mr. Banks. We tell you be-
furehsnd what will be It's effect We will
not agree to the adoption OF the plurality
principle, and then be told that we must take
the responsibility of the election of Banks,
because we could have voted for the Demo
A.. : u,,1ar hn pF NAT
ri e. The gentleman from North Carolina,
Mr.. Clingman,) told the House tAIs morn
ing that he intended, by Offering TINS plurall-
ty rule, to force Us to vote for the Democratic
candidate, or take the responsibility Of elect
ing the gentleman from Massachusetts,
Sir that is principle OF driving under a
pressure which he will never be able to &C
onmplish. lie will never he able tU force Us
into the ranks OF the Democracy by any such
means. 1t you force n collar round my neck,
| will fight to the death before you shali put
upon it the inscription My Dog"
"Mr. Trippe also said: Every member OF
this House kn0ws--they have Geen tod 1t
again ami again by mcmb ers Of every part! ;
and |, sir, as \ member OF the American pal
ty, now repeat that information to them
that the plurality rule will result inevitably
In the election Of Mr.. Banks.
This occurred Oh Thursday, January 3lst.
On Saturday. the I'd day of February, the
plurality rule WAS offered hy Mr. Smith, OF
Tennessee, Democrat lie called the pre-
vIous question on it SO as to cut OF all De-
bate, and refused to let any amendments be
offered. GA the final passage OF the resoiu-
tiUG--thc vote being Is u lOi--hOw does
the record stand? Seven Democrats voted
for il, and but one single AmcrlcaL--Mr
Bayard Clarke, Ol New York. These seven
Carolina. Herbert, of CAiIfurnia, Hickman,
OF Pennsylvania Jewett Of Kentucky, Nelly,
of New York, Smith, Of Tennessee, anu
Wells, Of Wisconsin. Everybody will see at
once that but tor Democratic aid the plural
ity rule would never have been adopted, and
Mr. Banks never would have been Speaker
They will further see that the Americans had
no part or lot in the adoption OF that rule, ex-
cept in the case OF Clarke, VINO was halt
Black R'pubIican any way. MIR. Henry
Winter Dav ; vote stands recorded III the
negative, as It had always previously done on
every similar proposition.
Now, Mr.. DAVIS was in no way respOnsI-
bile Tor the adoption of the plurality Iule --
Was he responsible then for It's consequent
cos? The consequences had been Tor, told
and Mr.. Trippe, IN behalf Of the party, hai
protested against the dragUonlng to which
they were - be subjected. NV on the final
vote between Aiken and Banks, We are free
to say that we would, ourselves have voted
for Aiken. But was there any obligation on
the part of Mr.. Davis. or any other AmsrI-
can thus to vnta? NOne whatever. Wha'
did he do then? lie voted for neither Banks
nor Aikcn-but for Fuller, the candidate Tor
whom he had been voting all the time. HIS
conduct was such as To say, you have
thought proper, gentlemen, to adopt the piu-
rality rule against my steady opposition
IL wing adopted 1t, you must now take care
OF the consequences. and not hold me respOr-
sibe. Sauce qm peut"
This was the conduct Of Mr.. DAVIS with
regard u the Speakcrshlp.'
A correspondent of tue Richmond Wing.
writing on this sui Jet say-:-"l am not the
champion of Mr.. Davis, nor do | pretend 10
endorse all his sentiments and actions. lie
owes his respO nslbIIity not to me or the pro-
fessors Of the University, but to his own cIG-
stiru.nts They have endorsed him and sent
him back to Congress by triumphant ma
iority-what right have | Ut the professors
to 20 behind this ,juigmanR'
But what has Mr.. Davis done to meri
tn. indignity sought to BE- put upon hIm
His Opponents say be ian American refused
IA v,t. for Aiken a Democrat anu that by