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

ion that those who are now supporting Mr. Sher-
man ought to adhere to him to the end, unless some
change in the order of battle, not now anticipated,
speedily takes place. We will briefly recapitulate
our reasons for standing by Mr.. Sherman;
l. He is eminently qualified to occupy the Chair
of stormy assembly like the House of Representa-
tives Familiar both by experience and study with
its rules; possessir clear prompt vigorous INTEL
lect: dpni6ed and courteous in his bearing; with
6rmness which is happily tempered by urbanity;
and mingling with undOubted fidelity to friends
marked liberaty to opponents, he is, as presiding
officer, probably without a peer in the House. In
this respect the same considerations which i'm
peled our friends to adhere to Mr.. Banks through
out the protracted contest Of 1856, justify them in
now standing by Mr.. Sherman.
II. All special objections to him, excepting that
he is Republican, are mere pretenses. Since the
explanation of bis connection with the Helper book,
this fact is apparent to impartial minds. If he had
never signed the circular for which he is taken
to task some other equally potent objection would
have been brought against him. Industrious and
INSCRIPTIONS partisans are never at loss in finding
or inyentDg materials for charges against Oppo-
nents. To set Mr. Sherman aside for the ground
tious minority in the House to embarrass any cand-
date who might be substituted for him, with charges
equally irrelevant and baseess.
III. We have not doubt that more votes are
now concentrated upon Mr.. S., than can be secured
for any other candidate whom the mass of his sup
porters would be either willing or justified in sup
porting If we are right in this position then, to
abandon him would not only be wrong in principle,
but destructive in policy. Those who steadily give
him their votes represent not merely every shade Of
sentiment in the Republican party, but embrace
members of other organizations, and include in the
aggregate all the political elements through the CO.
operation of which we must triumph in the coming
Presidential contest. Look over the list of his sup
porters. OF the Republicans we see Dir. Love-
joy, an ultra and ardent opponent of Slavery, who
ignores the Fugitiye-Slaye law; and Gov. COrwin,
conservative of the old school, an advocate of this
law, and an ex-member of Mr.. FiImore's Cabinet; |
while between these extremes are ranged men reflect
ing all conceivable grades of opinion the Slavery
question. Then, Free-Trade Democrats, of the |
the character of Mr.. Campbell, cordially sustain |
him. Messrs. L. Joy Morris and Milward, rep |
resenting the Americanism of Pennsylvania; Messrs
Pennington and Carter, who are Wings of the |
school of Clay, rather than Republicans of the mod
ern regime; and Anti. LecOmpt0n Democrats, like |
Messrs. Hickman and Haskin, who have never cast |
a Wing or purely Republican ballot in their lives, |
stand firmly by his side And flor we will not null
tiply illustrations of our pOsition) we will only add
the significant fact, that Mr.. Sherman receives the
hearty support of every member of the Opposition |
party from the State of Pennsylvania. Now, is |
there another member of the House who can bring |
to his aid all these votes, and add to them the re-
quisite four necessary to secure his election! If
there be, will some one give us his name!
Nv. Other names than that of Mr.. S. are Occa- |
sionaly canvassed by the Republicans; and we are
confident that if one can be mentioned for whom it
would be ustifabe for the great body of his friends
to vote and uho can certainly be elected, no man
would give him a more cordial support than John
Sherman. In deciding whether this can or should
be done, conjecture and hazard must not be in
yoked to determine it, Nor should defamation or
a mathematical problem. We must not forget that
electing Speaker of the House of Representatives
is matter of sheer counting of Yeas and Nays Let
us bring the Washington dilemma to this test: bfr
Hickman's name has been mentioned in connection
with the Speakership. He is competent, faithful,
and true. He would be acceptable to the great
body of Republicans and his election would be most
distasteful to Mr. Buchanan two excellent recon-
mendations We believe if it were deemed expe-
dent to make the trial. that he could receive nearly
all the votes given to Mr.. Sherman, and two or
three in addition. But We are informed, and also
believe that two or three of those who sustain Mr..
S. would not vote for Mr.. H. Now, it is in vain to
reply that these two or three gentlemen ought to
support so able and faithful opponent of Slavery
propagandism and of Buchanan's Administration,
as John Hickman. 1t is sufficient for our present
purpose if they will not. However, all may be as.
sured that, if it shall be deemed expedent to with
draw Sherman and substitute Hickman, the good
faith and cordial heartness with which the latter
adheres to the former will be warmly reciprocated
by Mr.. s. The names, also, Of Mr.. Pennington
aud Mr. Corwin have been suggested, though We
believe the latter is pretty much withdrawn, and
with Gov. C.'s full appreciation. Gov. Pennington
is an able and worthy man; but, with no expert
once in the turbulent body over which he would be
called to preside, and little acquaintance with ts
older members; for this Us we'll as for other rea-
sons that might be suggested, we think he would
not be as strong a candidate as Mr.. Hickman.
V. But, aside from the fact that Sherman is the