Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-12-17
An Historical Retrospect.

Organization Of Congress.-Within
the last twenty years there have been
three instances of long delay in the or.
ganizalion OF the House of Representatives
at Washington. lThe Cincinnati Inquirer
recalls the facts in the following sketch
In 1899 and 40. toward the close Of
Mr.. Van Buren's administration, the
House, which met early in December, dId
not succeed in choosing Speaker umui
about the first Of January. The choice
then fell upon X. NJ. +. Hunter, now a
United States Senator from Virginia, bot
then serving in ,he House Of Represents
tives. 1t was his first session, and lie was
entirely unknown to the country. lie
was Southern Stae-righ's wing. and
was elected by the wings and the demo
cratic friends of Nr. Calhoun. Before
The session was over Mr.. Hunter joined
the democratic party, and supported Mr..
Van Buren, for President in the memOra-
bic "hard cider" contest Of 1910.
Again, in lS49 and 80, there was a
long delay in the organization. The can.
tidates for Speaker were r. G. Winthrop,
whig, of Massachusetts, and IioweII Cobb,
dem, of Ga.,now Secretary OF the Treas
ury. After baIiotriag for three weeks 1t
vas found impossible to elect by ma.
jority, so rule was adopted declaring
that the person who had Ihe highest num-
ber of votes should be elected, whether II
vas majority Of the whole number OF
votes or not. Under this rule Mr.. Cobb,
democrat, Of Georgia, was elected. But
the most remarkable Inetaace Of delay was
in 1855 aud Sc. The lIonse Of Repre-.
seuratlves which convened in December,
1852, dlI not succeed in electirga Speak
er until February, 1856, period of eleV.
en- or twelve weeks. Mr.. Banks, repuh-
Iican, OF Massachusetts,, was then elected
under the plurality rule, similar TO that
adcpled in 1850. II received one hund-
red and ihIse vCtes 10 one hundred cast
for VIM. Aiken. democrAi, of South Car
olina. With these exceptions, we be-
llese. there ls no instance IN our conGres-
siona history where tho house Jailed TO
organize the first week Of rhe session.
The Speaker is a very important PoIlil.
cal officer, and ls worth while contendInG
Tor. He has the appointment of all the
committees Of The house, and under the
rules of Parliamentary law in regard 10
the dispatch of business, can, BY his de-
cisions, have most potent influence IN
determining the character Of the legl,la-
ton Of the county.
A CASE OF CoNsCIENCE.-Mr. Cobb
has received letter from Jersey Cry con
tanning twelve hundred dollars, which The
writer says he derouled Inc government
out Of, and returns The amount 10 secure
him peace Of mind lie requests the fact
of lo receipt 10 be noticed. Mr.. Cobb
will comply.
The Arabian horse Imaum died on
Monday morning last, al The farm Of the
lale Garret Vsnmeter, near Richmond.
He was one of the two horses presented
10 President Van Buren in 1897, by the
Imaum of Muscai, and must have been al
the time OF his death about 80 years old.
WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM We un-
ders,and that al lae meeting Of The
Board of Directors of the Western Luna
tic As, lum, the purchasing agent was IN
s,ructed 10 make his purchases Of all sup
plies of every description within the Stale
of Virginia. and as lar as possible OF do
mestic growth and manufacture.
Col. r. +. Fsunlleroy. U. S. A.. has
has arrived at Santa Fe and assumed com
mand of the military department in New
Mexico. Immediate measures will be ia
ken by him to prevent further Indian dep
relations in thai Territory.