Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-27
Thirty Sixth Congress. LIST Session
ucorrssponIence OF tie Star & Chron!cleI
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1850.


1t seems impossible TO elect Speaker
without recourse to the plurality rule
hence the choice is plainly between tht
adoption of the rule and the non-organizl
ton Of the House. The friends Of Sher
man are ready for the alternative, ou,
propose from day to day to take the riskr
ef that rule. The Auti-Locompton Mem
be-s, as well as the Southern Opposition
lists, will aclpiosce in this mode Of orgsui
ziDg the House, rather than frotrsct th'
present condition Of things. Then, why
you will ask, is not the rule adopted, auC
this prof,less contest ended.
Giro me Jour attention, and | will Try
and make it ineligible TO all. The Hous'
is without any rules except tie ordinary
parliamentary law. The Clerk Of tue las
Congress, presiding after a fashion, dcciinoi
to decide any questions Of order that may
be submitted, and always piles point upon
point, allowing endless discussion, and in.
terminable debate. Consequently, no dc.
cision has yet been arrived at upon any
one point submitted, and half dozen
questions are pending, at one and the same
time, unsettled aud undisposed Of. First,
We have Mr.. Stevens point Of order. made
during the first hour Of the session, "tLat
nothing Is in order Tut 10 proceed to the
election CT Speaker, or to 4tJourn " Sc
cond, is Mr. Hickman's motion to correct
the journal, SO as to show his off. to in
troduce the plurality rule. Third, is Hr.
Hickman's motion fer the plurality rule.
Fourth, is the resolution of Mr.. Clark, on
the Helper book Fifth, is the substitute
Of Mr.. Gilmer for the last mentioned resc-
luton. Sixth, is the resolution of Mr.
Hu,cbings to proceed to ballot under
and SUBJECT to the plurality rule.
You will at once perceive, that, under
the ruling Of the Clerk, it is utterly i'm
possible to proceed with the business of
voting, so long as any considerable mum
ber Of Members combine and confederate
to prevent ballot. 1t has been avowod
upon the floor, by half dozen Members,
that q solemn agreement has been entered
into, iu writing, by at least forty members
belonging to the Democratic party, to re-
sist the adoption of the plurality rule, or
any organization of the House uuder Mr.
Sherman, to the last day Of the term for
which the Members of the present Con
gress are chosen. This revolutionary pro-
ceediug may well excite alarm throughout
the country, hut is we'll understood to be
but one of the contemplated steps, which
foresbadow the overthrow Of the Govern
ment and the dissolution Of the Union.
Do you understand, ,.now, how it is that
the Democrats are responsible for the con-
dtion of things here? If they would
agree 10 what is universally admitted to be
the only course left, aud for which course
there is abundant procedeut il the history
Of past Congresses, The House would De
oreauized within an hour of their agree
nent. How it would result, it is impos-
sible to say. The vote would be an cx-
ceedingly close one, and the chances are
about even for the two great parties Of
the country. The Anti LecomptOn men,
aud the Southern OPposiiionis;s, vonlG
decide the result Whatever it might he,
it would be better than the present dis0r
ganizltion, and Mr.. Sherman's friends are
willing at any time to submit TO it. Mr.
Cobb was thus elected, some years ago,
and Mr.. Bnuks ouly fur ycsrs since. It
is idle, therefore, TO make a great ado
about the plura'i'y rule It woFke salts
fac'orily on the two occasions just referred
TO, and no good reason has thus far beop
shown why it should uo; agaiu be adopted.
LINK.