New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-26
ORGANIZING THE HOUSE.

On Monday week, the XXXVIth Congress as
sembles at Washington, and the organization Of the
House already exctes buzz of anxious expecta-
ton. The fact that no single party has clear ma
iorty in that House justifes the apprehension of
another protracted and desperate struggle Like that
which terminated in the election of Howell Cobb in
1850 or that which resulted in Mr.. Bankss eleya-
ton to the Speakers chair in 1856.
By why should such struggle be courtedl Why
should il not be ayerted In former instances of
failure to elect at once by majority vote, it has
been found necessary to resort at last to the Plu-
rality rule, whereby the highest vote is made to
elect This viii inevitably be done in the present
case. If, after months ballOting, majority can
not be obtained for any candidate, Plurality will
be made to suffice Then why not avoid the excite
ment, irritation and estrangement of protracted
contest by passing The Plurality rule at the outset
What is to be gained by keeping the House disor-
two? What wholesome or laudable interest can
profit by such an interregnuml
Millions of dollars are due to mail aud other con-
tractors for services rendered months ago, and for
which payment should have been made long since.
The public faith and honor, the rights and interests
of citizens, require that provision for such payment
be made at the earliest possible day. But nothing
can be done toward this end until the House shall
have been organized. Why then, should not all who
value the nations honor, and believe that rulers
should be lust. unite to organize the House at oncel
We trust no adjournment viii be carried until the
last officer shall have been chosen and committee
appointed 10 notify the President that Congress is
ready to hear from him.
AS TO the prepOnderanee in such organization,
we are BY no means settled as TO which side VIII
have il, though We know that the Opposition are
entitled 10 it. OF the 237 Members l2l were
chosen distinctly as opponents of the National Ad-
mipstraton and lis LecomptOn pOlicy-elected
either wholly or in good part BY Republican votes
Those who cast those votes uEd9ubtingy expected,
aud had good reason TO expect, that the men Of
their choice would vote 10 organize the House IN
the interest of the Opposition. If an exclusive
Republican caucus should be held, and candidates
for all the Offices of the House nominated from
among those who voted for Fremont in 1856 the
Anti-Lecompton Democrats might plausibly argue
hat they were counted out, or under no moral
obligation to support candidates so presented.
But if no caucus shall be held, or
none to which all Members opposed to the Lee
compton policy Tor to the present National Admin
istration) are not invited, We do not see how the
anti-Lecompton Democrats elected by Republican
votes can stand aloof from the Republicans In the
organization, without gross breach OF faith.
The Illinois Douglasites, having been chosen IN
defiance Of the Republican vote, stand IN differ
emit category. With regard to the others, We take
no account of any supposed pledges or special as
surauces Of any kind We rest on the general and
unquestonable truth that the snti-LeeomPton
Democrats elected from States this side Of Illinois