Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-08

who were chosen as Independents, even when,
as in the case of Haskin, Clark, j. G.. Davis.
Hickman and others, they received the en-
tire republican vote, and owe their election
chiefly to that party. On the other hand we
have reckoned as Democrats those who re-
ceived the regular party nominations. al
though many 20 classified Gas those from Illi-
nois. Montgomery of Pennsylvania. Howard
Of Ohio. and many others) are really Anti
Lecompton men. We have also. Of course.
reckoned those members who have the
regular return, although there can be little
doubt that two or three Democrats who have
received the certificates. will be compelled,
after the organization, to give place to Re-
publicans.
The House. then, at the opening Of the SEES
sion, on the first Monday in December. will
contain ll3 Republicans, "a Democrats, 8
Ant-Lecompton Democrats, and % Southern
Oppositionists The whole number being
237, it will require 119, on full vote. to con-
stitute a majority. No party having this
number OF representatives. the organization
of the House is a problem, the solution of
which attI acts much attention and specula-
ton.
AS compared with the two previous con-
tests of this sort (within the last few years.,
in which no party had an actual majority,
the solution does not, to us, seem very diff
cult. We anticipate no protracted strife over
the matter, for organization is not only an
absolute necessity, and 10 be obtained as
speedily as possible but the experience in
former instances has been valuable, and af-
fords sure precedent, in case the question
is not readily disposed of at the outset, by
which a long series Of trials t. elect will al
most certainly be avoided. 1t is highly pro-
bable that there will be an agreement before
band, by which an organization will be
promptly effected, by combination of par
ties, or that individuals enough will quietly
90 over to the candidate of one of the leading
parties to elect him, without any special bar
gaining, or else that the plurality precedent
will at once be acted upon by the House.
We do not see any necessity for entering
into any traffic in regard to the Offices nor any
in so doing. Let the Republicans
stand firmly by their colors, aud it can hardly
be very difficult to organize the House. If
hey allow the idea TO become current, that
hey are ready to bargain over the matter,
hen they may find the work less easy than
by going straight forward. The latter, at
east, is their plain duty.
In our opinion, the Republicans may and
should elect both Speaker and Clerk. Each
office is politically very important, and the
latter, surely, little if any less so than the
former. Let the other Offices be bestowed as
they may, the Republicans ought to insist on
having their own men in these responsible
and influential positions. 1t is their due, az
having decided plurality, and as represent
ing the political sentiment of States havinga
majority of the electoral votes, majority
OF the free white population, and n vast ma
ority OF the business of the nation. 1t is
due TO themselves and to their constituents,
that they Insist on this just demand. They
have no right to bargain away either of these
strong political positions to any little frag-
ment of party, claiming to hold the bal
ance of power, yet really having no future.
How can this desirable and deserved endbe
gained! Without great difficulty, most as
suredly, il all ideas of bargaining are dis
missed at the outset, and that point is clear
ly understood on all sides. Do you say that
the Democracy will then step in. and sue
cessfully traffic with the assumed balance Of
power! We deny that such result is posi-
BILE. But admitting il were, most certaily,
in that case, the "balance of power" is II
very poor ally to rely upon or to be compli-
Gated with. Nothing can lbs gained, even
by such y conrse.
No. there will be a positive and decided
majority in the next Congress opposed to Mr..
Buchanan's Administration. or this Opposi-
lion force, the Republicans constitute abOut
0ur- fifths, even according to the liberal way
Df reckoning which we have adopted in the
above table. They have ll3 members, and
need but more to give them an absolute
And there are more than that
number, who, hdUiRg been elected chiefly By Re
publican UOtes, are morally bound TO help that
party in organizing the House. Let them he
brought fairly to this test, without any such
or side arrangement as would
seem to release them from this obligation.
1t is easy to state where these six add
Iional votes should come from. for the rea-
sons that we have intimated, and we prefer
TO he explicit on a matter so important. We
say. then. that Hon. John @ Davis, of Indi-
ana, having received the entire Republican
vote in his District. and having been elected
over the regular Democratic nominee. as
,uming, to all ntents and purposes, the atti
tude OF Republican. is bound in consistency
and good faith, to aid the Republicans in
the House. His sympsthies are
naturally with them, rather than with the
party domineered over, as it
l., by the ultra men of the South. We see no
sufficient reason why he should not per-
act with the Republican party.
Hon. John Hickman, of Pennsylvania, &C.
lpies essentially the SAME position. He was
'lected by Republican votes. Indeed. the
Douglas organ at Washington classes him
with that party. and we are confident he will
Identity himself with IL henceforth. Messrs.
John b. Haskin and Horace Clark OF New
Y FORK, were sustained 10y the entire Republi-
can vote, when members oil that party might,
with little doubt, have been elected in their
stead When forced 10 decide between the
candidates of that party for Speaker and
Clerk, and those of the Democracy, no one
will dishonor them by a suspicion that they
could choose the latter. Indeed. we are by
no means certain that they will not act with
the Republicans. on this matter, at the out
set. In our Judgment, such is clearly their
duty. Mr. Reynolds, or the Albany district.
was the regular Republican candidate, and
perhaps ought to have been set down GU that
side, bat as his affiliations have recently been
aud as he received some Demo
cratic support, he has been commonly classed
with the Anti-Lecompt0n men.
We think he will vote for the Republican
candidates all the time, aud that be Is here
after 10 be accounted TO be a member VI that
party. Ii il morally certain that Hon. John
Schwartz. the successful competitor of John
Clancy Jones. will vote agains. the nominees
OF the Administration party, under all cir
IL would Dc hardly too much
To set him down la the Republican column.
He cannot affiliate with any other party.
We have thus Internationally shown where
the requisite votes TO elect Republican
Speaker and Cl rk are to come from, and oHs-
not kBtf 20 h. had, at least ia tue last resort.
Ia addition Ia these. we know no reason why
we may not equally rely upon the aid oil
Messrs. Adrian aud Riggs, Of New Jersey,
the two remaining members elassed as Anti
Lecompton Democrats In the above list srAlch
includes only fAos- srAo osss their eieaioa 10 hs
RspgIlican party. The only consistent OF pru-
DEM course these gentleman can take, will
give US clear majority ia the House, rs We
have seen. With two votes 10 spare.
What we have 90 say as 10 the relations
that may subsist between the Republicans and
the Southern Opposition mrn. (which We
consider OF minor consequence aud also Ia
regard to particular candidates, we reserve
for another occasiou.
wAsHINaros. Nov. /.