Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-13
The Speakership.
After week of Intellectual sfor. TO elect

T00 6pSbkoIbkuPs
After week of Intellectual sfor, TO elect Spea
kerr resolution 10 resort TO the plurality rule ha
been introduced BY Douglas Democrat from Penn
sylvania. very likely this rule will DO adopted
for, If the Black Republicans vote for it, as nc
doub. they will in body, it requires only three
or four Douglas Democrats to carry it. These can
be easily procured. Hickman and Hsskin and
Clark, of New York. may be very confidently
counted on--and possibly others of the nine Doug
Ia. Democrats OF the House, If not all Of them.
The adoption Of the plurality rule will be fol-
lowed necessarily by the election OF Black Re-
publican Speaker. This 10 plain proposition,
admitted on oil sides, and by all parties. Whoever
votes for the plurality rule therefore, votes indi'
rectly for q Republican Speaker Ills guilt is
even more fragrant than il BIO were to vote out
right for Sherman. For he accomplishes BY pitt
liable and cowardly indirection what he has not
the nanliness to do openly and aboye-board.
Four years ago, when the House OF Repre SEN
tatives was in the same tange thatit now is, re-
sort was finally had to the plurality rule, by which
Black Republican was elected to the Chair
The plurality rulo, then, was carried by the solid
Black Republican vote aided by six Democrats
In fact. n Southern Democrat, Smith Of Tonnes
see, introduced it--apd this same Hickman. who
now INTRODUCES it, was ono Of tho six who then vo-
ted for it. Every American in tho House voted
against tho plurality rule from first to last We
predict that they will pursue the same course now.
Not one of them will vote for it, because its nevi-
table effect will be the election Of the Black Re-
publican Sherman. But Il will be carried, never
Al. IL nT thn
Black Republicans and tho Douglas Democrats
Some complaint has been made that the South
ern Opposition do not vote for tho Democratic can
didatc, Mr. Bocock and thus prevent the election
of Sherman. Without enquiring into the qaes-
ton whether they ought ought not, 30 to do, it
is sufficient to say that they could not elect Bo
cock fthey were all to unite upon him. Bocock's
hi sbest vote is IS. The Southern Opposition
member ~. The combined vote would lie ] 10
,ir short Of an election in the present composition
Of the House, and nine short, if the House
full
lIaskin. n Douglas Democrat. made n speech
81 Friday, in which he declared that he would
not su.. =. 5,9 my circumstances, for any man !
who approved tie Lscompton policy of the present
lie profess la, he would soon
.r vote for Republican, lnasmuch as Hickman, /
another Douglas Democrat, las moved the plural !
ity rule the circumstance is significant Of the DRIFT
Of events. The Douglas Democrats hold the bal
nnce Of power as between the Republicans, and =
the ID smocrdis and Wigs combined. They can
throw taat balance Of power to adopt tho
plurality Iuie-ahd thus, as it is very evident
they intend to do bring about the election OF Shcr
man.
The declaration Of IIaskin forbids AL probability
tina: he, or any other Douglas Democrat will vote
fer Bocock. We must, therefore. hold the Doug
las Democrats responsible for the adoption Of tho
plurality rule. if it should be ndopted-and, by "A
logical inference, for tue election Of Black Re-
publican Speaker.
1t is charged-we know not with what truth
that this policy WIS resolved upon i'll the begin
ming. 1t is charged hat an arrangement was
made whereby the Douglas Democrats were to
contribute indirectly to the election of Black Re-
publican Sl eaker, in return for which the Black
Republicans were 10 elect Forney either Clerk or
Printer. We shall see whether this coalition will
be carried out. We shall see, also whether South
orn Democrats will still adhere to Douglas in tho
face Of sneh open and bare-faced coalition Of
OF his friends with the endorsers Of Helpers
Pamphlet, and the well Nishers of the "irreprcss-
b!ecun1c;' which has been proclamcdby Seward.