Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-28
The Insincerity Of the Democracy
False Claims ofDevotion TO the south.


False Claims ofDevotion TO the south
The contest for the Speakership of th'
House of Representatives has exposed the
utter want of sincerity OF the democratic
members, and the hollowness of their decla
rations Of alarm at the prospect of the cleo
ton of the candidate of the Republicans
They have pretended to regard the contest a.
of the greatest moment and, in view OF tn,
"irrepressible conflict doctrines of the head
of the Republican party, calculated to have
material effect upon the permanency of oul
institutions. Some of them have gone so fal
as to express the opinion that the success Of
the Republicans ought to be received and
treated as an assault upon the South, justify
Ing the immediate retirement. in body, OF
the Southern members, and the Initiation OF
measures to form Southern Confederation
All of them called loudly for a union ofSOuth-
ern members to prevent the election of Re-
publican candidate. They wanted nothing
more, they would have had the country be
lieve, than the election of a sound, conserva-
tive. national man ; but we have already
seen that, when put 10 the test, their vaunted
patriotism and love of country was found to
be as baseless ''as the fabric of vision" AZ
ter it had been fully asccrtained that it was
impossible to elect a democrat to the Speak
ership, the Southern Opposition asked the
democracy to unite upon Mr.. GrMER, a South
ern man, "true a. steel'' to his section, and
the owner of eighry-six slaves. TWAS OBJ
jected that inasmuch as he had gotten but
twenty-three votes and the democratic cand-
idate lightweight, he could not he elected
even with the democratic vote, and, there
fore, it was useless to make the experiment
The Southern Opposition replied, but give
MS your votes, and we will get enough addi-
tional help from Northern members TO elect
Mr.. GILMER. The democracy pretended to
doubt whether the Northern aid could be had
They were apparently sufficiently willing to
make the trial if this doubt could be resolved
To make the thing sure, on the seventh bal
lot, number of northern men voted for Mr..
GILMER, so increasing his vote that had the
democrats voted for him, be would have been
elected Speaker by eight majority,-the con-
test ended by the triumph OF the South, and
the success of the republicans quieted. Thus
put to the test. the democracy wilted-caved
iu-Showed the coven foot. They refused
10 vote for and elect a Southern man. Hav
ing thus placed themselves before the country
a. partisan alarmists, incapable OF a gener
Gus act OF devotion TO the public good, for
the sake of the beneficial results to the whole
country, which would follow, various rxcu
ses have beer trumped up to shield them.
One of these excuses was made in the House
by Mr.. BURNETT, of Ky, on the 22d. He
said
The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr
GnMER) gave the gentlemen on this side no
opportunity to vote for him, II we had de-
sired to do it. Why, Because he immedi-
ately withdrew his name. And | confess,
very frankly, that when saw the distin-
guished gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr
SrxvENs.) and others vote for him, believed
then. and believe now, that il the Demo
erats had gone over and voted for him. they
would have Immediately changed their votes"
Now, If the Democracy really believed
this, they ought to have changed their votes
TO Mr.. GuNER, and forced Mr.. STEVENS, and
oshers. to show their hands. That the De
mocracy did not do this, IL proof tina. their
doubts were not very strong. But to put
this matter to rest forever. Mr.. HARRIS. Of Md,
drew from Northern members who had voted
for Mr.. GfI.NER, n statement Of their inien-
tiou,. They declared that they had voted
A. NJ In Al auI
their willingness to do so again, II they could
elect him by doing so. We make the follow
ing extracts upon this point from the debate
a. reported In the Congressional Globe:
Mr. Campbell-I wish to say to the gen
tleman from Kentucky, that l. rs a Penn
sylvsnian. voted tor the honorable gentleman
from North Carolina for Speaker Of the House.
I voted for that gentleman ON his record rs
national, conservative man, standing on The
resolutions OF 1850. aud l would not have
changed my vote under any circumstances.
(Applause.1
Mr. Bururtt-Can the gentleman speak for
all who voted with him on that occasion
Mr.. Campbell-l speak tor myself alone.
Mr.. Hale-I speak Tor anuther of those
gentlemen. / voted for Mr.. Giiner ca the
same ground as my colleague. and would
not have changed my vot..
NJ. Morris, Of Pennsylvania will say to
the gentleman from Kentucky that Whenever
the Democratic party agree 10 unite on Mr..
Gilmcr. / will unite With them 10 place him
10 the chair. (Applaasel
Mr.. Harris, OF Maryland. Now, Mr. Clerk.
the great anxiety OF our Democratic friends
for an organization Of the House by the elrc-
ton OF national aad conservative man Is
about to be realized. il they are honest in the
expression of thai desire. | wish TO saw to
the gentlemen from Kentucky thai when that
vote Of northern gentlemen was cast the
other day Tor my friend. Mr.. Gilmer. had
previously assured myself by conversation
with the gentlemen who voted for him, that
they did |. in perfect and entire good t-slh. aud
knew that they intended. let the result bc
what 1t might. TO adhere Ia that position.
am relieved, sir, almost from the necessity OF
saying anything about that, because spon-
tsneoasly. In reply 60 the iaterrogatory al
the gentleman from Kentucky, these frank,
national, fair northern men, who really de-
sire to organise this House. get ap In their
places and sag they voted for Mr., Gilmer hon.
estly then. aud win do IL agzla.
Mr.. Nixon. Will the gentleman from Ma
ryland allow me a moment, Idr~ire 10 say,
- one OF the Representatives from New Jrr-
sey, who cast their votes for Mr. Gllmer, thai
] voted for him In good faith. and am ready
70 do Is again 10 order 20 place thai geatis-
man 10 The chair.
Mr.. Millward. As one Of the delegation
from Pennsylvania. who voted Tor Mr.. Gil
mer. let me assure The gentleman ffem krn-
lucky and the House at did 50 10 perfect