Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-13
Which Party is Responsible +!

WnlCu - 1NCSPOuSAOuC
For more than five weeks has tho
House of Representatives at Washing
ton been eadeavorng to elect Speaker
and from all that We know at this distance
no one can ever surmise whom the at
tainmcnt Of that object will be effected,
present appearances indicating no
progress towards final action. That
the people ofthe country are becoming
somewhat anxious for conclusion to
this strife is but reasonable to suppose,
but in connection with that, the inqui-
ry is made As to the party which is res
ponsblo for the delay. The harrisburg
Patriot and Union discusses this ques-
ton so forcibly and and so directly to
the point, that we adopt its language as
our own:
Congress, with an Opposition majority
of about thirty members, has wasted an
entire month in uuavsiling attempts to
elect Speaker. AT this time the
chances of an election appear to be as
remote as at the commencement of the
session. The urgent necessity of an
immediate organization to relieve the
public creditors Of embarassments assam
ell in behalf Of the Government, appears
to have no influence upon the Republic
cans, who arc determined to force Sher-
man upon the House at every hazard.
The Democrats cannot under any con
ccivable circumstances, assist directly
or indirectly in procuring the elevation
of man who stands before the country
with such q record. Every patriotic
impulse demands that every expedient
shall bc exhausted to prevent his cleo
ton, aud seizure of the influence and
patronage Of u position third in dignity
and importance to that of President of
the United States, to be used in fortify-
ing the power of the party that has been
detected i'll the social crime Of dssem-
mating the Helper denominations. The
Democratic mcnbers of Congress stand
before the country acquitted Of blame
for using every lawful and parliamentary
means to prevent the election OF Mr..
Sherman. The southern Opposition
are compelled by influence of their con-
stliuents to oppose the candidate of the
Republicans. They dare not at this
time assist in the election OF Repubi-
can Speaker, however, much they NAV
desire that such an event may happen :;
and of all men that the Republicans
could present, John Sherman is the one
they are most bound to oppose. Yet
the Republicans insist upon forcing
5 erman upon the House.
They know that he is peculiarly OBJ
noxlous, and that he never can obtain
tho votes of majority. But he is the
only man that suits their partizau pur-
poses, and they would rather wait and
struggle while longer, at the expense
OF the country, than give up the remote
prospect OF securing the patronage Of
the House, to be used in the election of
an irrepressible conflict President. The
Republicans could organize the House Mt
once by coming to tcrms with the south
ern Opposition, but 1t is a tact .oorthy
Of note that the Republican party is so
thoroughly and intensely sectional that
1t refuses to unite scith the southern op-
position purely because that opposition
comes from the southern states. And
not only do the Republicans refrain from
voting for southern Opposition mem.
Der who could be elected Speaker, but
they select from among their number a
man who representa- the most ultra and
Objectionable revolutionary Republican
doctrines, and declare that thew will
have no other man. They stand alone,
make no movement towards Cancellation
steadily refuse to vote for southern
enemy Of the Democratic party. cling to
the most repellant man of their own
number, and to crown oil. seek to cast
the responsibility for this protracted
struggle upon the Democratic members
a. if they could be expected to draw Mr.
John Sherman out of the mire.
On the other hand, the Damo.-...
have shown real desire to secure an
organization. They have not decl.red
that Mr.. Bocock, and only Mr.. BococI
should be Speaker by their consent. hu,
they have tried every man who seemed
to have chance of an election. The,
have even voted for conservative Oppo
sition men, and thus shown willingness
to forget party for tho sake of securing
% organization. But to al such advan
Cos the Republicans have replied tina
Mr.. Sherman il the only man that the,
can support happen what may. We'll