Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-02-08
From the Baliim. re Clipper, Feb. 8.
The Democracy and the SueaLersF


The conduct OF tie Democratic members of
the House Of Representatives on Tuesday, de-
nonstrated bcy Ond any shadow OF a doubt
that they were not DESTROYS that an anti-Re-
publican Speaker should be elected Hon.
VIM. \. III. Smith, was within four votes of a
majority, aud Gov. Pennington was within
three votes. There were four on. standing
voteS-Allcn, OF ODio. Holman aud Davis. of
IndanH, and Riggs. of New Jersey. There
was no possibility of tie election of Penning-
ION. without charges from Smith to him. and
there was quite as much PROBABILITY of cham
ges from Pennington to Smith. There were
three possible aud even probable chances for
the election OF Smith, a I'd not the merest
glimpse Of a-chance for the election OF any
democrat whatever. If those who voted Tor
Smith on Monday had adhered TO bin, II was
not improbable that three of the outstanding
dcm"cr ais-Allrn, Holman and Davis. would
have been compel, 10 come in 10 his sup
port. and the daily expected arrival OF Stat
worth, of Alabama. would Ia We put an end
10 the CONT ST by giving 10 Smith one major
ity- In th" meantime there a. a strong pre-
sumption that tue pressure OF popular Indig-
naIion in Pennsylvania aud New Jersey
would have driven back The recreant p evpIc's
party men. aud others with them, to The sup
port of Smith in such plumbers a. TO have
elected him by handsome majority aud
again. it was well known that there Was a
great deal OF TesiIveness upon the part of the
Seward faction of the X, publeans in their
support of Penningto on, and they were actu-
ally contemplating a return to cir special
fdvorite, Sherman, with the declaration that
they had rather be defeat ed with HIM than Ue
successful with conservative Nortpern man.
This man9uyIe woald have left the Mon TIL
Crn conservatives no alternative other than
tu give their votes To Smith.
There were thus manifold chances for the.
ell elton of Smith, and not one whatever for
that OF a democratic candidate, when the
democrats determined 20 abandon Smith and
vote Tor some of their own men, aud made il
necessary for hm To withdraw his name from
the contest. This action of the democratic
leaders showed very great disinciinatioa on
their part to elect anti Republican,, unless
b. should be 4 democrat, aud their determi-
nation TO allow the candidate of The Repub-
leans Ia b. elected in preference TO u South
ern Opposition man.
I There is no doubt that very large num-
. Der OF the democrats who voted tor Smith did
so in perfectly good iailh. aud with an honest
intention at The moment TO etfect an election;
but II was done at that time under the ur
gent apprehension OF the success OF Sherman.
and after all. when it was III Tie power OF the
Democratic party 10 have secured the cleo
ton OF this North Carolina Wing, enough 10
them stood out 10 prevent that result. With
the change of front OF the Republicans we
find CORES pOnding change of front OH the
part of the Democrats. even with the avowed
conviction that any change FROM Smith woad
afford the Oppori uuity for Mr. III. Winter Da-
Wis TO vote for New Jersey Wing, Mr.. Pen
nington, aud the expressed declaration on
the part of Mr.. Briggs, that he would be-
Obliged to VOTE tor Pennington whenever
Smith s election was impossible. The aban-
donment of Smith by the democrats under
such circumstances was very significant. 1t
was indeed, altogether as reprehensible as the
dclalcation of the Penusy lvania men on FRI
daY