, 1859-12-06

Speaker OF tho House Of Commons.
As there is probability that M election Of
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives will
be chosen to-day Or tomorrow, We print from
cha philAtAale eAta (sxt4 An account nC the man.
uer in which the Speaker Of the English House
Of Commons officer from whom cur Spcnk-
ers are Encally descended chosen:
The election Of the English Speaker takes
place this wise:
On the day fixed far the meeting of new
Parliament, the members of the House Of Com
mons are summoned by the Gentleman Usher
of the Black Rod to attend the Queen, or her
Commissioners in the House Of Lords. Pro-
ceeding to that chamber, and standing at the
Bar. Tor railed-in end Of the House, they make
their obeisauce to the Throne; that is, they are
supposed to bow to it. Then in the Queens
mime, the Lord Chancellor commands them to
choose Speaker for their House, Who shall
not only he their chairman and the regulator Of
their proceedings during their sittiugs, but also
the mouth-pieca or channel of communication
between them, and the other branches Of the
lament. Theu, the Commons, returning to the
House, thus choose one Of their members:
On the death Of n Speaker, OF On the assem-
bling Of every new Parliament, the Mace-a
massive truncheon Of richly-carsed silrer-Eit,
which Oliver Cromwell contemptuou*fy called
"baub1e;" when he dismissed the Loug Par
Lament, which-lies upon the table while the
Speaker is in the Chair--is placed under The
table. Tie Clerk of the House occupying his
usual seat under the Speakers chair, d Member
rises, and in short speech moves that Mem-
ber whom he names shall take the Chair. This
motion being seconded, and no opposition Of
fercd, the mover and seconder lead the person,so
Of the House, to which they conduct him, bow
ing three times, up to the Chair, where being
placed, be stands up and returns thanks to the
House for the honor they have done him, de-
clariag himself unable to perform such task,
and requesting the House to choose an ADLER
person to be their Speaker This not being
done. he submits to their pleasure, aud after
receiving the directions Of the House respect
ing the usual requests to be made on his appear
ance before the Sovereign, adjoutns the House,
to the day on which it has been arranged that
he shall be presented for Royal approval, which
is o matter Of course.
ou that day, formally summoned rs before,
dresses the Speaker, whereas be previously ad-
dressed his summons to the House, the COM
mons proceed to the Bar Of the House Of Lords,
with the Speaker at their head, nlnkc their
obelsance as before, and the Speaker then IN.
nounces to their Lordsh;ps, the Sovereign be-
ing rarely present on that occasion, that the
Commons have chosen lin, and requests that
But the reply almost invariably being an ap-
proyal Of the choice Of the Commons, The Lord
Chancellor, acting in the name of the Sovereign,
admits him as Speaker.
That fuuctionaEy {who is then arraycd in q
b'nck robe and plain whig, the ordinary legal
Commons may have, during the sitting Of
Parliament-tirst, freedom from arrests for
debt and disturbances; secondly, freedom Of
speech in their OWN House; thirdly, free access
to the Sovereign; and fourthty, that all their
may receive a fayornbfe construct
ION. The demands granted, the Speaker and
Commons retire to their own Chamber, where
taking his seat, with the Mace upon the table,
lie announces that the Sovereign has approved
of their choice, and has granted the demands
he, as their Speaker, had made. The oaths sre
then administered to HIM By the Clerk, after
which the other members are sworn in. The
Speaker then puts on his magnificent state
robes, stir with gold lace and embroidery, and
q full bottomed white wing, such as Judges and
Queens Counsel wear on occasions Of great dis
play. Thus nttired, he heads the Commons
when they nEc summoned to attend ut the Bar
Of the House Of Commons and hear the Queens
speech read By herself, or by the Lord Cnanccl-
appointed for that special purpose. Returning
to the House Of Commons, the Speaker reads
the Ro5al speech {nerely ministerial pro-
granme filled with empty genera!ities), aller
which the business Of the Session commences,
BY soma member mosipg IN address to the
speech" aud ec6oing it al through. Debates Of
several nights duration frequently occur on
this motion, whereby the strength Of the Minis
try is tested.
B5 virtue Of his Office, the Speaker is "tbe
first Commone1 in England ranking immedi-
ted since l5ol. The Speaker is elected before
the MesnberS haye taken the ,,sua1 Ona H. az xurt