, 1860-02-02


Making III
But from The best information could obtain |
to-1ay neither Allen Of Ohio, Holman Of Iud- |
ana, nor John 6. Davis will votc for Smith. If |
this be SO his vote will not exceed l13. But as
there will be four Scattering votes, Penning-
ton will still require ono votc to elect him his
own would DO it, but delicacy will probably |
cause him to withhold it.
Ny present belief is, after critical survey Of
the field, that the ":AlI;cs" will not he able to
carry Smiths vole ADORE 1l3, aud tbnt he
will be dropped on the second ballot, and
change to Gen. Mil'son Of Virginia will take
p!acc, when George Briggs and Winter Davis
will terminate the contest By voting for Ten
nington and electing him. Some eight or ten
of the Americans want Smith beaten and ren-
nington elected. They don't like the hands into
which he has fallen; they desire no fusion or
allanceiwith Disunionists, and wil DO what they
can to break up the present programme.
Since my last letter, it has been ascertaiucd
that Smith stands committed to the passage Of
a naturalization law extending the time to ten
ytar uld be elected he will appoint
out that pledge TO his know-Nothiug constitu-
cnts. When voting for him on Friday, North
western Democrats pretended that they be-
licycd him to be altogether free from the "lepro-
81 Of Know -Notlingisn,," as John Cochrane de-
nominated him; but they huve since then all
heard that he stands pledged to the ten gear
naturalization Law; and he dare not arise in his
place in the presence Of the House aad denyit.
4 cousin Of hss, now in this city, has publicly
stated, Il uni informed, } that Smith WIS rcgu-
larry initiated into Know Notlirgism, and took
ali the oaths and degrees Of the dark lantern
order. 1t is not now denied that he is m adyo-
QUITE Of :: sinye codc for the Territories; and it
is admitted that lie hates Douglas and s4uutter
sovereignty. And this is The man, after lie was
nominated By the .NothIngs in caucus,
on Friday morning, whom the Northwestern
Douglas Democrats supported for Speaker:
and pledged themselves to again vote Tor. So
| confident were the Disunionists, about four
o'clock On Friday, that Smith would DO elected,
/ that they telegraphcd to their friends at Rich
mond, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, and even
as far South as New Orleans, that the Biuck Re-
rublcans were beaten By Shareholder who MAS
"sound on the goosc"-meaning that lie stood
on their platform. The report that Smith was
elected reached Baltimore, r;;ladclphia, New
York and Boston, and spread through those
cities like wi1d.fire. F:ank blair was
in Philadelphia, aud WAS making one
Of joyial dinner party, Wien servant
rushed into the room, all announced
that there was report OF tl,c street that tie
Democrats had just elected $c,;.h'' speaker
Every man sprany from the; festive board.
Blair mnde u bee line for the uearest telegraph
Office to inquire woether it was Extra Billy" OF
Virginia who was made Speaker. lie WAS ill.,
formed that Mr. Smith, Know Nothing, Of y.
| c., had been elected half au hour ago, but was
afterwards un-clected. Blair said he bscntLed
somt easter upon hearing that information. lie
jumped aboard the first train and ncrcr Looked
behind hin, uuti, he landed in Washington
Cav. Seward had sat down to dinner with :,
number OF friends when the report ca,ne that
"Sm;tl" was elected. The Governor is very
cool aud quite deliberate in his motions, but he
had NO farther appetite FOR dinner. An ad-
journment WIS carried, unanimously, and tho
Governor, cl,arcriug the nearest hack, had the
pleasure Of entering tue Hail in time 10 witness
tue rage and defeat Of the F.re-Eats
1t was remarkable how swiftly the rumor of
Smiths election spread orer the city. Men and
women aocked into the spacious galleries
through every door, mud in an Incredible short
time every foot Of citing or standing space was
packed. Hundreds Of persons managed topa,s
the door-keepcrs aud get upon the floor among
the members.
Is one doughiaca after another came forward
and changed lis votc to Smith, the Fire Eaters
would applaud, und then vol!ey Of clarpinG
anu stamping would be discharged from symra-
thizcrs in The gnllcrics-chieay from Southern
clerks and Federal o1ice-holders. 4 little after
four o'clock loud whisper ran round the gale
rics, and came up from the south side If the
floor, that "Smith" was elected" Tie Disun'
iouists nil over the Hall were frantic with joy,
while the Republicans looked pale with despair.
The next thirty or forty minutes were very ex.
citing. As each Of the Pennsyivania members
who had been caught in the trar withdrew
their !" complimentary" votes from Smith, and
cast them for Sherman or Corwip, storm ol
applause would break forth from The Republi'
cans in the galleries, mingled with hurricane
| ochisses from the Disunionists. Another dough-
face would come forward and fiji the gap, tleu
renewed plaudits would break forth from tho
Southcrncrs. Then comes a long, painful, tl1'!'
ling suspense. Three Northern Democrats held
out, and three votes would elect Smith: hei't
1lindnan and Lamar spoke against time. Tie
Republican members would shout, " Nr. Clerk