The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-21
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1859.

Something more than q year ago, we had the
misfortune 10 excite the ire of the two distinguished
gentlemen, who then, as now, by the Right of
MIGHT and the grace of the clubs claimed to
represent this city in Congress We had charged
upon the political organization 10 which they be.
longed, the vices and corruptions which we had
been taught to believe were inherent in all Small
Parties We had applied to the little faction of
"South Americans, " the observations ofM. De Toe
mountaineering the sefshness which that French
philosopher pronounced to be the distinguishing
character site Of all inconsiderable political mnori-
ties The observation and experience of twelve.
month have detracted nothing, in our opinion
from the justice Of the application which we then
made of VI. De ToCQUEvHLE's wisdom. The number
of South Americans in the House of Representa-
tives has increased from fifteen to twentv-two.
but we are unable to perceive that it has been at
tended by any corresponding enlargement of views,
increase of liberaity. In the veritabe spirit of
the dog in the manger, Mr.. DAVIS and his political
associates have set themselves to oppose, and
thus far succ ssfully, every attempt, by either
of the great parties of the country to organize the
House. Too inconsiderable in number TO furnish
even Chairmen for the Committees, and without
the means, therefore. of originating, much less Of
passing any single measure they have had the
audacity to insist that the Speaker sbould
be chosen from their side, or rather corner.
Of the House, aud because the Democrats and Re-
publicaus have refused to accede TO this unrea
sonabe proposition, have attempted to throw
upon the latter the responsibility and the blame
Of the present contest. Clearly the right to Or
tbo LcIo e
ties we have named Neither possessing major
ity, both are entitled to demand that those mem
bers who profess to be neither Democrats nor Re-
publicans, and who consequently hold the balance
of power between them, should say which of the
two they will support, and so end the struggle.
Between the Democrats and Republicans them
selves there can of course be no compromise. 1t
would be unreasonable to expect Democrat to
vote for Republican, or a Republican for a
Democrat. To do 50 would involve on either side
something more than a sacrifice of feeling-a sac
rihce Of principle. Weare not disposed, therefore,
to tax either party with undue obstinacy in ad-
herring to its own organization and its own can
didate. With the South Americans and the Anti
Lecomptonites, the case is different With no
claim on their part to organize the House, they have
right to obstruct forever the business of the coun-
try It's idle for them to pretend that their prnci-
pies are so equally opposed to those of both of the
great Parties in the House. that they cannot choose
between them. They must choose. They cannot
enjoy the adyantag which the possession of the
Balance Of Power entails, without experiencing the
burdens and responsibilities incident to the position
as well. Upon their own showing, they have no
riobt IN Of D
unite with them, for the same political an
tagonism which keeps a South American from
voting for a Democrat or Republican, should
also prevent Democrats and Republicans from
voting for a South American. As one side
however, must eventually yield-if the House
is to be organized at all-t is but reasonable to
insist that it shall be the smallest and not one
Of the larger parties of the House-that the thirty
votes shall 90 over to the ninety to the hundred
and ten, and not the ninety or hundred and ten to
the thirty. We trust, therefore, that both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans will continue to preserve
their organization strictly, and compel the others
to decide between them. It is the only honest and
legitimate way of organizing the House. The
adoption of the Plurality rule, as proposed by tn
Republicans-by the aid of Democratic votes
NOd4u nc d NlItudl SURRENDER 10 the Rc-
publicans. It's adoption by the aid of South
American or Anti-Lecompton votes, would be only
an indirect method of accomplishing a result of
which both Of those factions are afraid to assume
the responsibility openly. We can readily under
stand that the necessity Of making choice under
the circumstances, between the Democrats and the
Republicans, will be, to some gentlemen, exceed
ngly dis2greeable 1t will compel some TO an
open ayowal Of sympathies and proclivities which
they had much rather conceal. 1t will force others
to hoist honest coIors, instead of the false ones
under which they have hitherto sailed 1t will
drive traitors to an exposure of their treason, and
hypocrites to a confession of their hypocrisy. We
Go not know that the public will greatly regret
such an advertisement. 1t will, on the contrary.
we imagine, he rather pleased to learn, for the first
time, the true position of some public men, whose
present attitude is something less than equivocaI,
and whose associations are something more than
cusneotrI