The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1859-12-29
From the N. O. Picayune.
Contests for Speaker.

1t seems to have become chronic disease Of
Congress that every ton years there is q pro-
tractcd and exciting contest for Speaker Of the
House of Representatives.
In 1889, was the famous struggle between
parties, which lasted to the 18th OF December.
and resulted in che election of 4. NJ. T. Hun
ter. OF Virginia, as Il comprurlise candidate,
instead Of either Of the regular nominees Of tile
two great parties then existing, of Wings and
Democrats. The contest was complicated with
the celebrated case Ut tn. New Jersey members.
The whole number from that State were chosel,
by general ticket; the vote was close. Some
inlormaltics aud Irregularities were alleged,
and two sets of candidates appearad-olie with
the certificate Of Gov. Pennington, the same
gentleman who is now a Republican member
from one Of thelistricts Of that State, aud the
other Will certificates from returning officers OF
an electson in fact. Willie the contest ragged,
The House elected ex-Prnsilent Adams Chair
man, protein, with all tile necessary powers tn
preserve order. He retired when Mr.. Hunter
was chosen Speaker, OIL the 11t Lnllot.
In 1910 the House was in condition like TIL,
present-ro party having Il majority of tie
Whole House. a long anil excited struggle took
place, which was carried through sixty-three
ballots, and was only terminated by the alop-
ton of the plurality rule, on the 22,l duy OF
December. After dfty-,line ballots, in wllicl,
the candidates had heen changed to e,nlcavnr
to elect by majority, the House came to the
resolution, that after three more trials, without
success, The candidate having the largest n,m-
Der vi votes should be declared elected. The
Three ballots We're accordingly held, with the
came fesult-no candidate receiving nlai.ri-
~ On the siXty-thir,1 ballot Howell Cobb
was excited by plurality vote, as follows
Tor Cobb, lo2 Robert G. Winthrop, of Mas
sacfusetls, 80 scattering, 20. The motion for
The plurality rule was made hy Mr. Stanton, of
Tennessee, then Demo Graf Of that State. Row
q Iraesciler in Kansas.
Ihere was, moreover. a like contest in 1855,
Which was continued during the whole months
OF December anil January, and was only termi-
mated On the 1881 Ballot in the election Of N.
Z. Banks by The plurality rule. The original
Democratic car'lidatc was Richardson of ILL
Iiols, but twas changed several times and on
the last ballot or two they cnncentrated on Mr..
/ Aiken, of sout!, Carolina. The melton for I,
plurality rule was made by a Democrat, Mr. s.
NJ. smith, OF Tennessee, Oh the belief that The
American members would Vote for the Demo
cratic nominee as national man Oh tile slave
~ Issues. The final vote on this ballot was
Banks, lO3, Aiken 100, with nine scattering. of
wh"n six were for Mr.. Fuller, of PENNSYLVANIA.
Now, in 1859, there is again House with no
majority for any party, and an excited contest,
Which has been carried to eleven ballots. with
no sis'ls Of closing it without IL rreort To The
same rule which obtained in 1910 ard 1855. fer
the election by plurality. The circumstances
are So different, and the temper Of the co.nry
SO much excited now, that resort to the ,,ll,-
ralty rule will he much more difficult than i,
was Oh either OF the previous occasions, N.
s"'Ithern man ofany side of political divisions
Is supposed to he willing to give even that di-
rect sanction 10 the possible election Of Black
Rerub!itan, and to effect this change Of rul,
yitlIings must all be among Northern members
OF the party Of scalterng.'' There haze
hceh some symptoms Of the giving way of the
little squad Of anti-Lecompton Democrats, but
thus far of not enough to carry The rule, or to
carry the election without it. If they can car
ry the rule, it will not lie necessary to vote for
Sherman, hut the voting for the rule will he To
all intelts and purposes vote to make him
Speaker.