New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-18

to use no harsher term The Republican party and the
people Of the Free States had been rudey and shame,
lessly sssailed their motives, their principles, and
their acts grossly misrepreseated their patriotism i'm
| pearbed, and some Of their number denounced as
worhy Of the gaows, for frankly expressing, in the
exercise of their undoubed constitutional rights, their
sentiments upon The subject Of Slavery. but ne
did not propose 20 reply TO any Of the arguments which
bad cen addressed them from the Democratic side
because to co would be to condemn his own sentI-
| mepts and action in the premises up to this time.
Resolutions had been introhuced ana we're now pend
ing declaring that certain individuals, entertaining
certain opinions and ndorsng certain sentiut nts, are
unfit for the Speakership In bis judgment there were
great many who politically unit TO be Speaker OF
this House. In his judgment, no man who sustained tue
Pro-Sayerv. contract jobbing policy Of the Admins
tration was t politically TO be Speaker or who be-
Loved that il il right TO reopen the African slave
trade or who opposed the admission OF Kansas under
gard entirely out Of order for him to introduce
resolution 10 that effect. He denied the right OF ma
oity minority TO prescribe rule by which his vote
| for Speaker shall be controlled and regulated. They
were to determine by their votes who hit and who Ii
unfit 10 be Speaker Of this House, ard the man that
could receive majority of all the votes in any way that
the House fit to adopt s in the opinion of that ma
iory fit 20 be Speaker OF this House. lie intended,
however to confne himself to the point of organization
That was in order and proper 10 be discussed He spok
for nobody and Of his political friends were respon-
sibe for any thing that he might utter. He unlike
his colleague bir CorTinl IN at least one re,peet'
reached 70 mans motives, and would coneece that
every man has discharged his duty conscientoGsly,
both in discussing and voting. lie believed they had
faithfully endeavored 10 reach an election by majority,
bnt after six weeks of effort they had not succeeded,
and he believed that the majority OF members OF all
parties desired organization; that tire interests OF
the Government, and especially the coalition oil IT'S
creditors demanded an immediate 0rganlZau0ni tue
country was sick Of their rhetorical and poemcal ex-
ercses IL tis Hail. In the present state Of parties he
believed it impossible to ever get majority vote
for Speaker, directly. They bad tired 1t IN yaln
but il did seem 10 him that there was one way by
which the House can be organized. Had 1t come to
this that majority Of the House cannot control
its acton-that, if a majority really desire organ-
zation, there was 10 way by which that organization
can be Effected Ii that were so, they were al
the mercy of a minority, however small that minority
might be- 1t bad been said that the plurality rule was
unconstitutional. The language of the Constitution
was very brief on that point " The House OF Repre-
/" septatiyes shall choose their Speaker and other
officers" The manner of choice was, as a matter OF
course left entirely to the discretion OF the House.
II might be done by yotr viva voce, by secret bal
lot or by the appointment of Committee. Even adj
hitting for arguments sake, that majority was re-
quired that majority declared that the person re-
ceiyipg the highest number Of votes on given ballot
shall be Speaker, that the action OF the majority
eIectug a Speaker in that way. They had prece-
dents for this course from both the political parties OF
the country, and everybody was familiar with them.
Mr.. WASHBURNE Rep, Me- desired leave to
call attention to the opinion OF some OF the aoest
Democratic Members of toe XXXIVth Congress on
this very point He onoted from the remarks of Mr..
Cir eman of North Car DINA to the effect that resou-
ton subsequent to the election of Speaker by the
plurality was altogether UNI ecessary.
Mr.. BARKSDALE Dem, Miss.l referred to the
election of Speaker Cobb and asked if that gentleman
was regarded Speaker before the passage OF reso-
luton BY majority vote declaring him elected, and
whether the same thing was not done when Mr..
Banks was elected
Mr.WASHBURNE replied by referring to the decla-
ration of several leading Democrats that no such reso-
mil
doubt from remaining in the minds OF gentlemen that
the subsequent resolution was passed.
MI BARKSDALE said the precedent must be taken
Mr.. WASHBURNE would see what it amounted to
altogether. Mr.. Clingman, Mr.. Jones OF Tennessee,
and Others held that the adoption OF the plurality rule
by majority was sufficient and the resolution offered
by Mr. Clngman declared that by reason of the adop-
ton of the plurality resolution, and the votes taken
under it, Mr.. Banks had been duly chosen Speaker
Mr.. MILLSON Dem, Val said the gentleman
elect then the election by the minority s valid cleo
ton BY the majority. Now certainly the minority is
not the House. 1t must be something else than the
House or somebody else than the House. NOW II the
House can authorize SOMEBODY else than the House TO
elect a Speaker, may the House by majority author
jze the President OF the United States to appoint
Speaker, and would such appointment be a valid cleo
ton BY majority Of the House under the Consttu-
Mr.. WASHBURNE said he had abundant and con-
elusive authorities to which he might refer the gentle
man. The Speaker was the gentleman selected TO
sleak for the House its mOuth-plece, ana lie was
aware OF no constitutional provision requiring even
that he should be member. Ii the House might by
a majority choose Speaker, they might do 1t in any
mode they saw fit and he not sure but they might
authorize the President 10 appoint him.
Mr.. CURTIS Iowa, Rep thought less than ma
jority could not elect but majority might appoint
persons select the Speaker and such selection under
The authority of the House would constitute election
by the majority. For instance, they might designate
the talles and the shortest man, and that would be
Constitutional aughter but he would not go out OF
the House. TO refer the matter to the President would
be rather further than he was ready TO go.
Mr.. MILES IS. c., DEM inquired if the gentleman
from Mai1 believed the majority have right to au-
thorze the President to pass such needfnl laws ana
appropriations may be necessary for the country,
and then adjourn snd go home!
Mr. WASHBURNE rather thought not; but II was
no part Of the legislation of the House to appoint an
individual 10 speak for them as their organ Their
rst dnty was choose Speaker and Clerk and then
take the oath of office, and that was by law sandng
order of the House. To proceed to the election OF
Sneaker was order at all time, and nothing else was
in order. Any member had right to IN
sist upon the execution OF this standing
order of the House, and i was the duty OF
the Clerk acting as presiding officer, 10 carry
out that order of the House, without debate or delay
All they could do without violation of law and their
constitutional obligations was TO vote steadily for
Speaker. They had been proceeding seven weeks III
factious and disorganizng manner, when II the par
iamentary Law were observed, they might organize
Immediately. The standing order TO proceed to an
election was of course privileged question, over
riding all others, except questions OF order growing
ont of that and motions to adjourn. Ii was a ques-
ton which ought TO be put aud acted upon without de-
bate or delay. The Republicans stood before the
country AS having been ready from ihe hrst TO adopt
any possible mode of organizing. They were sat-
isfed with their position as party, for they knew
they were being strengthened they never were before
by this long discussion their opponents. But
suens getting tired of these Disunlon speeches,
- sla,-l fat.af tttta aI