Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-10
Political Complexion of the House.

The following is from the Washington cores
pendent Of the Baltimore Exchange 1t gives the
bes. analysis have yet seen Of the political COM,
plex'on Of the House Of Representatives:
WAsuiNoroN, December G.
The position and prospects Of the four contend
ing parties on the political battlefield Mt Wash
ington 10 rs perplexing as were the quadrdate.
raj and the elbows Of the Mincio ~ the military
sage Of the New York Times. 1t il. strictly speak
ing. a quadrangular fight. There arc the Demo.
Gratis % in number, the Republicans ll3, the
South Americans %. and the Anti Lecomptonitcs
&. These make the 237 members of which this
Congress is composed. There is one little excep-
ton. however. TO this classification and num CIR of
members. There ought To be 237 members and
80 Democrats. But young gentleman by the
name Of Brown, from Kentucky had the foily or
weakness to run for Congress, and to suffer him
self to be elected, and comes on to Washington ut
the opening Of the Session, while all the time he
knew he was not of age to take his scat have
been told he will not be of the Constitutional
age till next midsummer So that for more
than half the active business part Of this Con-
gress bis district will he unrepre.entod. In tact,
there are but 236 members and % Democrats
proper.
Now, no one of,hese parties can elect Speak.
er without a combination with some other purity
or parties. The only possible combinations are
by the so-called anti ecompton men uniting with
the Republicans, or the Democrats with tho South
Americans and antiIccomptonites. By the first
combination the Republicans would triumph, and
by the other, the Southern conservatives wbeth.
err it be n Democratic or a South American Sneak.
er. over the anti Slavery anarchal party Of the
North.
1t cannot be denied that the Republicans are
in the best position to succeed. They have, un.
der the able management aud whip Of Tburlow
Weed aud Greeley. laid down q programme t.,
tab kkaa III MA ii
Forney Clerk Of the House. Haskin, Clark, Mont
gomery, Adrian, Swarts. Reynolds aud Davis, art
the members the Republicans are counting rw,
or three of them only are absolutely devoted tt
Fornsy.
The question it, then, whether the rest can b,
bought or humbugged OVER 1t Is probable tina
Forney and his friends will be cheated under an,
circumstances. Some Of the Repu blcans hate hin
too much to vote for him. One Of them to-day, il
answer 70 the question 'what they. the Rcpubii
cans, really meant to do with FGrnev." replied
.black his face and then drown him." There is ar
Impression ever among those who profess to sup
port him. that though Sherman he elected Spec
er he cannot b elected Clerk
The vote to-day on Mr.. Washburn's motion "a
lay the whole subject Of Mr.. Clark's resolution
and the smendmsnts with reference To the Hail.
or endorssrs. the table, Indicated the s,ren.,t
sfyartiss. 1t was ll6 to ll6, tie-yo,c, Thrce
additionsl votes TO that on the question of choos
irg Speaker wsuld carry the election. The yu,,
on thesRepubliean eide Is considered the same n
would DO given for Sherman. Can thew get thre,
mors vatesi Il is said, know they put ior.l
their full strength IA that vots. But the prize
great one. and the aststs and corrupt loader. ~
re Republican party. will bait their hooks YER
tenptingjy y catch ihe hires sstes needed. Tn
efuilstrength II TIE Responsiveness 10 1i3; they had
tbafef.ss, three ofths anti Leeomptoa votes :
> make ll6. There were hat fosr member. abesn
~ tbs Hous<; three Of thses ase Dsnoerasa. TIa,
shsy bssa present, the vote would have besn II.