The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-02-09
From he N. Y. Tribune, FEB. I'd.
The Speaker.

elected yesterday on the first ballot by a
clear majority. This is just as perfect
and complete triumph for the Repubh-
/. cans as the election Of any one of their
number could have been AIr Sherman
was originally nominated and sustained
by them on the ground that he was the
best and candidate, on the whole, that
could be presented; and he has been
faithfully adhered to on that ground
alone. But Mr.. Sherman himself, and
the entire Republican party with him,
have always held themselves in readiness
ia unite on any other Republican, when
ever one could be named, who stood a
better chance of election than the origi-
nal nominee. During the progress Of the
long protra ctcd baIlotlngS several confer
ences have been held to consider whether
the emergency had come but it never
seemed to have arrived until within the
last few days The last Of the Republi-
can conferences. held on Saturday last,
determined that the time had at length
arrived when more votes could probably
be polled for Mr.. Pennington than for
Mr.. Sherman. When this conclusion
was reached, the entire body Of the Re
publicans, without break and without
hesitation. wheeled in solid column to his
support, displaying the same unanimous
and uucl angeable purpose that has actu-
ated them from the beginning.
/ We congratulate the country ard the
Republican party upon this most salts,
factory result. 1t ends the disorder that
the DiBanion Democracy have been ere.
ating and perpetuating, and which they
have often declared they would make
"eternal." The factionists and the dis
unionists are rebuked and defeated -
The House is organized, and public af-
fairs may now receive the attention so
long withheld by this audacous spirit of
evil, that has SO perscveringly baffied all
efforts to elect presiding officer Hay-
ing done thCir worst, the factiouists
could do no more, That their machina-
tions have at last been thoroughly defeat
ed, and their traitorous puposcs, avowed
in written contracts to prevent an organ,
ization, finally quellcd, is a subject for
sincere public rejoicing.
Mr.. Pennington was elected to Con
gress by the Peoples party OF New-J Jersey.
his antecedcnts are Wing. He is warm
friend of protectiJ N to American industry,
aud holds with tenacity to the oId-fashion-
ed doctrines OF Jefferson, Marshall, Tomp-
kins, aud Webster, upon the power and
duty Of Congress to inhibit Slavery in the
Territories. Though he has held high
public positions. having been Chancellor
and Governor of New-J Jersey for six years,
yet, doubtless I've has had less experience
IN legislative bodies than any man ever
chosen to the Speakers chair. Many
years ago he was member, for a single
year, Of the Lower House Of the New
Jersey Legislature and, as Governor, he
gas cG-ofsio President of the Senate.
Excepting, Of course, Nh Muhlenberg.
the Speaker of the First Congress, and
also Mr.. Clay, he Is the first gentleman
OF the twenty~six that have occupied the
chair, who has been called to it on his
first appearance in that body Though
Mr. Clay was chosen Speaker Of the XIIth
Congress without having previously held
a seat in the House, yet he had often
been a member of the General Assembly
Of Kentucky, had been its presiding Off
ser, and had served three sessions IN the
United States Senate.
Mr. Pennington brings to the responsi-
Bic position he now occupies a command
Jog presence, eqpanimjty of temper. a
genial spirit, undoubtcd integrity, fdeli-
ty to friends, liberaity to opponents,
clae- aud capacous mind, aud extensive
legal attainments. BY his urbanity, I'M
partiality, and weight Vi character, he will
challenge the respect Of the body over
which he is called to preside Neverthe-
less, lie will need the support, not only Of
his political friends, bu! Of all the eonserv-
atiye aud ordcrloylng members of the
House, to enable him to keep to its APP
propriate work one of the most stormy
and wayward deliberativc assemblies in
the world
OF Mr.. Sherman, who voluntarily Weld
ed to Mr.. Pennington, We have often
spoken during the eight weeks of this
protracted struggle, Suffice itnow to say,
that throughout this long and irritating
contest he has borne himself nobly and
well. The object Of incessant abuse and
vituperation-charged with being the ac-
complice and abetter of thieves, incendia-
ries, murde-ers and traitors---his election
declared, in advance, to be such a dis
grace and outrage upon one section of the
Union, that its representatives would ney-
er allow him to occupy the Chair-he, all
the while compelled, from the delicacy of
its position, to sit with closed lips, though
well knowing that he had the power 10
renel these oharoog. and huM this abuse