The semi-weekly mountain Democrat. (Placerville, El Dorado Co. [Calif.]) 1860-1860, 1860-08-22
Election of speaker In England.

Notwithstanding the great ado, the con-
sumption Of time, expenditure Of breath,
the display Of eloquence, the wirc-pulling,
log rolling, the plots and cOnnter.p!O
threats, violence and dangers to the con-
fcdcracy, that arise from efforts to elect
Speaker to our Congress, the ceremony OF
Inducing that officer into his place is a
very tame affair. All that there is Of it is,
that n couple Of respectable members,
dressed in very plain style, take the Speak
or by the arm, politely escort him to the
Chair, gracefully bow in recognition Of the
discharge of their duties, the Speaker
makes O speech of about DOZEN fints Ar
ter AN apparent manner, and then an
nounccs that the House is duly organized
and ready to proceed to business. Busi-
ness IS thcrcupon opened, as is evinccd by
some member getting up to make mo-
ton, while the others take to private con-
verNation, to planting fresh quid Of to-
hacco, or stepping out for u little Jamaica.
All this. perhaps, is in sympathy with the
grrius ot Cur government aud the liberal,
free and easy, and Republican notions of
our people.
But quite differently is the thing done
in England, under the influence Of lts an
cient customs and the snowy ceremonies
Of the Government There the thing is
done in this wise
On the day fixed for TIE meeting Of the
new Parliament. the members Of the House
Of Commons are summoned by the gem
tleman.ushcr Of the Black Rod to attend
the Queen. or her Commissioners in the
House Of Lords. Proceeding to that Cham
Der, and standing at the Bar, Tor rallied in
end Of the House, they make their Obe-
Sarcg 10 the Throne; thut is they are
supposed to bow to it, Then III the
Queens name, the Lord Chancellor COM
-IhaHdS ttIeBI-t9 choose a Speaker For tl1oiT
House, who shall not only be their Chair
man and regulator of their proceedings
during their sittmgs, but also the mouth
piece ur channel between them, and the
other branches Of the Legislature, during
the existence Of that Parliament. Then,
the Commons, returning to the House,
thus chooses one Of their number.
On the death Of Speaker, or on the as
sembing Of every new Parliament, the
Macc-a massive trunchcon Of richly cary
cd silver gilt, which Oliver Cromwell con-
tctnptuodSly called "ba1tic" when he
dismissed the Long Parliament, which lies
upon n table while the Speaker is In the
Chair, is placed under the table. Member
rises, and in short speech moves that n
member, whom he namesi shall take the
Chair This motion being seconded and
no opposition offered, the mover and Sec
ondcr lead the person so named to the Bar
Of the House; they then conduct him,
bowling three times, up to the Speaker 5
Chair, where being placed, he stands up
and returns thanks TO the House, and after
receiving the directions Of the House re-
spccting the requests to be made on his
appearance before the Sovereign. adjourns
the House to the day on which it has been
arranged that he shall be presented for
royal approval.
On that day the Commons proceed to
the bar Of the House Of Lords, with the
Speaker at their head, make their obesi-
nncc as before, and the Lord Chancellor,
acting in the name Of the Sovereign, ad-
mits him as Speaker.
That functionary (who is then arrayed
in black robe and plain wig) then prays
the Sovereign that the Commons may
have freedom from arrest for debt and dis
turbances freedom of speech in their own
House free access TO the Sovereign; and
that all their proceedings may receive a
favorable construction. These demands
granted, the Speaker and Commons retire
to their own chamber.
The Speaker then puts on his magnifi-
cent State Robe, stiff with gold lace and
embroidery, and u full bottomcd white
wig, such as Judges and Queens Counsel
wear, on occasions OF great display. Thus
attired, he heads the Commons when they
are summoned to attend at the Bar Of the
House Of Lords and hear the Queen :
speech Returning TO the House Of Com
mons, the Speaker reads the Royal speech
(mercly ministerial programme filled
with empty gencralties,) after which the
business Of the session commences, by
somc member moving an address to the
Queen, thanking her for her "most gra-
cious speech"
BY virtue of his office, the Speaker is
the first Commoncr in England, rank
ing Immediately after Barrons of the Uni
ted Kingdom, created since 1901. The
Speaker is elected Ott1re the members
have taken the usual Oaths as such.