The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-21
The Struggle for tho spoakershiP-The
Real Question Before tho Country.

| The Struggle for tho Spoakership-The
Real Question Before tho Country.
The recent Developments made by the
discussion in the House Of Representative,
| and more especially those which appeared Ia
the debate of last Thursday, present the strug-
gle for the Speakership in . more important
light than that in which 1t has previously been
viewed by the country at large. By that de-
bate il appears that number of the national
and conservative members have mutually
pledged each other, In writing, to resist the
adoption of the plurality rule to the bitter end.
That is, these forty and odd members, repre-
sentiDg one-fifth of the whole number of Repre-
sentatives, mutually promise and vow to each
other, and to the country, that if Congress
should remain unorganized until next Novem-
Der, or even up to the time when it is dissolved
by law-the fourth of March, eighteen hundred
and sixty one-they will never agree to the
adoption of the plurality rule, whereby John
Sherman, or any other candidate for Speaker of
the same stripe, may be forced upon the majo-
rity. That this determined opposition TO the
adoption Of the plurality rule will be intensi-
fed as the session proceeds is a matter of GER
tainty, for it is only now that the country is
beginning to be aroused as to the real merits
of the contest going on at the federal capital.
Let us examine the case. On one side staad
the black republicans, absolutely in minority
of thA House ThAp have mt forward as a
candidate for Speaker man who holds. and
endorses under his own signature, theories and
doctrines which, if carried out, can have only
one result-the dissolution of the Union and
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the confederacy On
the opposite hand there are the conservative
members Of all parties, having in themselves
cognise to the fullest extent their responsible
ties. They know that this election is matter
of more consequence than the mere question of
who shall cit in the Speakers chair, and what
clique shall control the spoils of the House.
The question is not SO much who shall be
Speaker of the House. but who shall be the
next President Of the United States, and, indeed,
whether or not there shall be another Presi-
dent-whether or not the States Of this Union
shall continue to be united. Knowing all these
things and being fully aware that the country
looks to them to restore peace and harmony
between the States, to revive trade and to sup.
press the present agitation, the conservative
members have bound themselves by an agree
ment, which is perfectly fair, legal, parliamsn-
tary, ana eminently patriotic. 1t is one in
which they will be sustained by patriotic men
of all parties.
The only argument that can be brought to
bear against this noble and determined stand
taken by the opponents of the plurality rule Is
that the precedents Of the House are against
them But the cases Of Mcssrs. Cobb and
Banks are not at all like that Of Sherman.
When the two gentlemen aforementioned
were elevated to the Speakers chair there
was no vital question, no all-important
issue before the country. The election
of Speaker was then merely ques-
ton of the spoils. Now the case is quite
different The black republican leaders, from
Seward down to Colfax, have endorsed the
bloody, brutal and revolutionary doctrines ad-
vocated in the odious and infamous Helper
book The sentiments expressed in that vo-
lume form their real platform. The declara-
ton of principles upon which they conducted
the last Presidential campaign, the platforms
put forward at Saratoga, Pittsburg and Phila-
delphia were, after the manner of honey, used
to catch political flies Their real sentiments
ply Of which is that the non-slaveholding
whites of the South should assist the negroes
in obtaining their freedom, by any means, fair
or foul. Mr.. Stewards Rochester manifesto
was philosophical echo Of the theories Of
Helpers book. It received a practical exem.
pliHcation in the recent raid Of John Brown
into Virginia Aud It appears now, by the tes-
timony Of the Chevalier Webb, that the leaders
of the republican party are more deeply To-
volved in the publication Of the Helper book
than was previously imagined. 1t IL now stated
that the work WAS absolutely prepared under
the superintendent of Galusha A. Grow, who
appended the names Of several members of
Congress to certiaeats sndorsiag Il Some Of
the republican members are now endeavoring.
in roundabout way, to shuttle out of
the responsibility they have incurred by this
endorsement; but the best and most conclusive
proof that can be offered against them is Of
forded by their own course. Not one Of them
has the pluck to rise in his place in Congress
| and disavow the reasonable sentiments en-
bodied in the book under consideration.
Under oil these circumstances we must ap-
prove fully, and commend highly, the course
pursued by the organized opponents of the
plurality rule. The question is not merely
whether Mr.. Sherman or some other member
shall be Speaker Of the House. So far as Mr..
Sherman's private character Is concerned, it
may be that be 10 as reputable candidate as
bis party can find in their ranks. The question
ID one purely impersouai 1t is the beginaiog
OF q great struggle. which involves the pre-.