The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-01-20
What Prevents The Election Of Speaker

The question is often asked why does not
tho House of Representatives at Washington
adopt the plurality rule, and electa Speaker,
and in 50 doing put an end to the proftless
and disgmccful struggle which has been
going ON since the 6rst Monday in December?
1t is now acknowledged that the House can
not be organized except under the plurality
rule; and it is well understood that the
Republicans are ready and anxious for its
adoption, and thata portion of the American
and Anti Lecompton members will vote for
it whenever vote on the proposition can be
obtained upon il. The Democrats, alone
oppose it and they are in factiOus minority,
Why then is not the rule adopted?
The correspondent Of the Boston Atlas
gives the following ineligible answer ITO the
question.
He saws, under date Of January IA:
The House Is without any rules except the
ordinary parliamentary law. The Clerk TAX
ing sides, on all possible occasions with the
Democrats, declines 10 decide any question,
even a single point of order. and, although he
repeatedly says that he will refer such ques-
tions TO the House for decision, he has nerer
once done so this session, but always pauses
longcnuugh 10 allow some dsunion Democrat
To raise new point of order, and then to pro-
coed and talk about that or anything else he
pleases until the patience Of the House is ex-
haustcl, and an adjournment is forced.
IL is thus put in the power of single obsti-
nate Democrat 10 stave off indefinitely any mo-
ton ON the decision even of u point Of order.
There are now pending, and on the Clerks Ia
bic, distinct and separate motions, not of one
which is yet decided: first is MIR. Stevens pa
point Of order. made during the first hour OF
the session, "that nothing is in order but to
proceed To elect Speaker or to adjourn"--oi
the absolute correctness of this no parliamen-
tartan has any doubt; second, is Mr.. Hick.
mans (P. AZ motion to correct the journal
and this is a privileged motion, and rs such
takes precedence; third, is MIR. Hickman's mo-
ton for the plurality rule-and this, looking
directly TO the choice of Speaker, is claimed,
also, as privileged motion; fourth, is the res
Olution of Missouri Clark on the Helper book;
9Th, are the resolutions Of Mr.. Gilmer IN. C.)
offered as an amendment 10 Chrk's resolution
and now. sixth, is the resolution proposed by
Mr.. Pennington On. J.) for the adoption ofthe
plurality rule. Upon the introduction of each
of these, numerous points of order have been
raised, none of which have ever been decided.
and upon these this interminable discussion has
proceeded. Ii is utterly impossible for the Re-
publican and American majority To force any
question To an issue, SO long rs the Clerk con-
ducts rs he does, and there is ever so small a
Democratic minority determined to talk against
time.
To illustrate-on Friday Gov. Pennington
obtained the floor, 1.-THE Clerk not being aware
OF his purposc) and Mt the conclusion OF his
remarks, and without yielding the floor, he of
fered n resolution for the adoption of the plu-
raty rule, aud still, without yielding the floor,
moved the previous question. This was all
parliamentary and strictly correct, and II was
the duty of the Clerk, without permitting de-
bate or interruption, to have put to the House
the demand FOR the previous question which
had been demanded. Had he done so, the de-
maud would have been sustained, the plurality
rule undoubtedly adopted, and the contest
brought TO close. But instantly dozen dis
unionists were on their feet, yelling Mr..
Clerk" and that official gave the tioor TO Leake
ot Virginia, who made n point of order, and
proceeded, amid great confusion, To talk about
the plurality rule, the Helper book, and the
"nigger" generally. In vain did Pennington
protest that he had not yielded the floor, and
insisted ON his resolution being sent to the
Clerks desk and put TO the house; in vain did
Washbourne, of Maine, with great clearness
insist that Leake could not take the foOr from
Pennington, and thus cut OF the demand for
the previous question; in vain did Gooch nj
tempt to yet the several motions pending print
ell for the use of the members, in order that
they might know their latitude and Longitude
on this stormy sea of alteration and debate;
in vain were all attempts to get anything right
IL done. Leake kept the floor. and with help
from Barksdale, Miss. Burnett, (Ky.) Clark,
MOL Rust, (Ark.) Davis, Miss and half-a-
dozen other flctonists, succeeded in Wrestling
the floor from Pennington and staying of any
vote, until at last Rust shouted out motion
for adjournment, and Clerk put IL and declared
Il carried. amid n whirlwind of "Noes" from
the Republican benches. Do you understand
now, dear reader, how il Is that these Demo-
cratic, disorganizing, disunonists manage to
prevent the organization Of the Housel Up
on the Democrats, and upon them alone, rests
the sole and eatire responsibility for the present
shameful state of affairs in the American Con-
grcss. II they would permit m organization
in the only way in which, according to their
own public acknowledgement, IL can be effected,
this d;sgracefil and proftless controversy
would be terminated in an hour Their fact
tiousness in this is in precise accordance with
the reckless disuniOn speeches and reasonable
declarations made by the leading Democrats in
Congress.