Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-05


ent House of Representatives at Washington
represents with tolerable accuracy the political
feeling and party divisions of the country. 1t
is possible that the changes which have taken
place since most of the members were chosen
might now transfer some of the Southern op.
position" and "Anti-Lecompton Democratic"
members to the Administration Democrats and
Republicans; but the difference would not be
important At present the members of the
House are classed as follows Republicans
1l3, Democrats SO, Southern Opposition %,
and nti-Lecompton Democrats 8. The latter
come, 2 from New Jersey, from Pennsylvania,
and from New York and it is not likely that
all of them will return to the ranks of the adj
ministration forces, if indeed, any of them do
so. 1t is also well known that a portion of the
Southern Opposition members will not act
with the Democrats under any circumstances
whatever; and Messrs. Davis and Harris of
Maryland, Gilmer of North Carolina, and Eth.
eridge of Tennessee, are named as some of
those who will not go in that direction.
The Republicans lack six votes of MAORI
ty, while the administration Democrats lack
twenty-six. And the first question at Wash
ington is-"How shall we organize the
House? 2" On many accounts it is very i'm
portant to have the Speaker; but the man
chosen to fill this post must truly represent
those who make him their candidate, or his
election will be to them calamity. There
fore, what is done by the Republicans to or
ganize the House will go far to determine
whether they are true and wise enough to sue
coed next year. In this case, as in all others,
our strength lies in maintaining our principles
with utmost frmness of purpose. If some
man who is not a true Republican must be
elected Speaker, let him not be elevated to
that Office by Republican votes. Doubtless
there will be some arrangement in regard to
some other offices connected with the organic
alton of the House but it would be treason to
their constituents for the Republicans to give
the Speakership to any man who is not reli-
able friend of their principles.
1t is stated that Messrs. Hickman and
Schwartz of Pennsylvania will vote with the
Republicans and also one or two other anti
administration Democrats. The result in re-
gard to Speaker will depend on the course
that may be taken by these men and by few
of the twenty-three opposition members from
the slave states, three of whom are from Mary
land, one from Virginia, four from North Car
olina two from Georgia, one from Louisiana,
seven from Tennessee, and five from Ken
in 10 fl.o
that will be taken by these members come
from reporters and interested persons, who
cannot be very well informed on the subject
We shall soon know by their votes what they
will do
The course of the Republican members
will be watched by their constituents, and by
the whole country, with profound interest If
it is important to have the Speaker, it is, at
the same time, still more important to know
that our Representatives at Washington are
incapable of betraying the cause they have
been appointed to uphold. The spirit of com.
promise and compliance is always dangerous
to integrity, and especially when it assumes
the control ofprinciple. This spirit never has
faith in anything, and it cannot possibly COM
prehend the wise policy of an honest pur-
pose. There are not many Republicans who
fail to appreciate the Importance of forming
such combinations as may strengthen the par
ty in all the doubtful states but they must be
honest combinations, such as do not crush out
Republican principles, or they will bring
curses instead of blessings. There will be
much eager questioning and consulting as to
the best means for making our party sure of
carrying certain states; bnt, will there be an
equal amount of solicitude to avoid such a
policy as may overthrow the party in half the
states where it now has the ascendancy? We
have faith in our representations and in the
future.