The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-07
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.

The Contest for Speokcr-D Disqualification of Nr
Brocn Of Ky.-Abie management of the Republi
cGns-Proposed Union of the Democrats and South
Americans Winter Docis Voting ruth the Repul
Hedns.
WAsHINGToN, December G.
The position and prospects of the four contend
ing parties on the political battlefield at Washing
ton, is as perpleXing was the quadriatera and
the elbows of the Mnco to the military sage Of the
New York Times. 1t is, strictly speaking, quad
rangular fight. There are the Democrats % in
number, the Republicans lis, the South Americans
%, and the Anti-Lecomptonites 8. These make the
237 members of which this Congress is composed
There is little exception, however, to this CLASH
fcaton and number of members. There ought to be
237 members and SO Democrats. But young gen
tleman by the name of Brown, from Kentucky, had
the folly weakness to run for Congress, and to
suffer himself to be elected and comes on to Wash
ingtOn at the opening of the session. while all the
time he knew he was not of age to take his seat
have been told be will not be of the Constitutional
age till next midsummer. So that for more than
half the active business part of this Congress his
district will be unrepresented. In fact, there are
but 236 members, and 80 Democrats proper.
Now, no one of these parties can elect Speaker
without combination with some other party or
parties The only possible combinations are by the
soc allied anti-Lecompton men uniting with the Re.
publicans, or the Democrats with the South Amer
leans and antLecomptonites. BY the first combina-
ton the Republicans would triumph, and by the
other, the Southern conservatives, whether it be a
Democratic or a South American Speaker over the
anti-Slavery anarchical party of the North.
| 1t cannot be denied that the Republicans are in
the best position to succeed. They have under the
able management and whip Of Thurlow Weed and
| Greeley, laid down programme to catch the anti
| LecOmpton men, and that is to make Forney Clerk
! of the House. Haskn, Clark, Montgomery,
Adrian, Swa"tz, Reynolds and Davis, are the mem
hnrS thn nu-n
! of them only absolutely devoted to Forney.
! The question is, then, whether the rest can be
| bought or humbugged over. 1t is probable that
Forney and his friends will be cheated under any
| circumstances. Some Of the Republicans hate him
too much to vote for him. One Of them to-day, in
answer to the question ''what they, the Republi-
cans, really meant to do with Forney," replied,
"black his face and then drown him There is an
impression among those who profess to support
him, that though Sherman be elected Speaker he
cannot be elected Clerk.
The vote to-day on Mr.. Washburn's motion to Law
the whole subject OF Mr.. ClaTks resolution and the
amendments, with referenceto the Helper endOrseTs,
the table, indicated the strength Of parties. 1t
ll6 to ll6, tie-votc. Three additional votes
to that on the question of choosing Speaker would
carry the election. The vote the Republican
side is considered the same would be given for
Sherman. Can they get three more votes? 1t is
said, know, they put forth their full strength on
that vote. But, the prize is great one, and the
aStute and corrupt leaders of the Republican party
will bait their hooks very temptingly to catch the
three votes needed. The full strength of the Re
publicans is ll3; they had, therefore, three Ct the
anti-LecOmptOn votes to make lie. There were
but four members absent in the House: three of
these are Democrats. Had they been present. the
vote would have been 10 On that side-cnough to
have elected a Speaker had that been the question.
On the Speaker question it is doubtful if such
consolidated vote would have been cast
The only possible chance for the Democrats and
South Americans to prevent the Republicans or
ganizng the House, lis to consolidate some accep-
table man. BY the aid of a few scattering conser-
vative votes such, perhaps, three four of the
anti, Lecompton votes with those Of such men as
Briggs and Carter of New York, the House might
be organized in opposition to the Republicans.
The Republicans are greatly annoyed at the ex-
posture made about Helpers infamous book. They
say there are two books, and that it was not the
worst one they endorsed; that they put their names
to the subscription list not knowing exactly what
they signed, and that the book is not bad after
all These are their weak arguments to shift from
themselves the responsibility of having contributed
openly and palpably to an inSurrectionary work.
Winter Davis voted with the Republicans to-day.
What do the people OF Baltimore think of their
quasi representative W.