Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-25
COngress-NO Speaker Yet.

Some days have elapsed since vote was taken in
the House for Speaker. The discussion continues,
mainly on the slavery question e.
On the 18th it became apparent from the debate,
that number of Democratic members had firmly
determined to resist by all parliamentary means to
the last extremity the adoption of the plurality rule
Mr.. Branch and Mr.. Winslow, of this State, both
declared that they had to know that this de-
termination had been formed and would be carried
out. We think these gentlemen are right We
trust they will resist to the utmost all attempts to
organize the House by an abolition minority. for
that is what the proposition to adopt the plurality
rule unquestionably means.
On the same day that miserable traitor, Hickman,
of Pennsylvania. undertook to lecture the Demo
cratic side of the House for the delay in the election
of Speaker and to charge that the Northern Demo
cratic members are under the control of their South
ern associates. He was replied to by Mr. McClen
nard, of Illinois, and Mr., Pryor, of Virginia, with
much force and eloquence. They placed Hickman
on the pillory of public indignation, and exposed
him in all his deformities to the gaze of the House
and the country Hickman covered and subsidized
In the House, on the 18th, Mr. Clark, of Missouri,
plurality, rule MheLenqnn
Mn Cclfax" VIII you allow the Clerk to put the
question, aye or no?
Mr.. Clark l will resist it by every expedient
known to the laws of the land. | mean what say.
Mr.. Stevenson, of Kentucky, Dem.,) inquired
whether Mr.. Seward did not recommend the Helper
book, and whether Mr.. Seward was the gcntleman's
candidate for the Presidency
Mr.. COlfaX was understood to say he did not know
vhnthor hn NJ -h,lv al
Mr.. Stevenson asked whether if the Republicans
should nominate indorser of the Helper book, he
would not receive the support of that party?
Mr.. Collax Unquestonaby he will.
MIR. Stevenson. Then you become an indorSer Of
the Helper book"
We repeat that it is in the power of the South
American members, if they will vote with the DEM
ocratS, to put any conservative man ahead of Sher
man. BY putting such ahead Of Sherman
they will compel enough anti -Lecompton Democrats
to come to his support to defeat Sherman. These
anti-Lecompton Democratic members were elected
by Democratic constituencies who are with the ad-
ministratiOn of Mr.. Buchanan all questions
cept his Lecompton policy; and these members
knooo that their constituents would prefer a sound
national man for Speaker TO the black Republican,
Sherman. They will not dare when the question
is lully ana nnaly presented, 10 vote Tor sherman
The feeling in their Districts much stronger against
Seward and his "irrepressbc conflict" than it is
against Mr.. Buchanan. But the South Americans
hold of-Mr. Gilmer holds oif--and the result is
these members not brought to the test
Democrats are called upon to vote for Mr.. Gilfaer
for Speaker, and yet Mr.. Gilmer has not thus fur
voted the first time for Democrat In the classi-
cal language of our contemporary of the Register,
what mingled impudencc and nonsense"
See the letter of our Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.
HorsE.-VariouS personal explanations were made
in the House to-day Mr.. Pryor spoke of the New
York HerdLfs structures on his public conduct He
characterized BenHett n wretch who bears on his
L. e a.I