Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-10
rvv CONTEST AT WASHINGTON.

II does not not appear that the house OF
REPRESENTATIVES, at Washington, will choose
Sneaker Immediately. The struggle must end
at some time previous to December, 1861
Therefore it is somewhat nearer the end than
il was month ago. Otherwise there is no
progress, and no sign of anything more than
dreary continuance of useless talk and frultless
voting, The plurality rule, or the quiet with
drawal Of a portion of the opposition, would at
once secure organization. But neither course
is adopted, because the democrats, on seeing
the election of Mr.. Sherman about to be ef
fected. would Immediately interpose endless
speeches, and every kind of parliamentary
disturbance. TO arrest proceedings There can
be no election until they, or suncleh' mum
Der of them, agree to the measures necessary
to secure it.
In 1855 Mr.. Banks was elected Speaker on
the third day of February, after sharp strug-
gle of two months At that time the Union
was to be dissolved, without benefit of clergy;
but it has been quite safe ever since; and this
safety will increase ten fold after Mr. Sher-
mans election, for his success VIII be a stagger-
ing blow to the pro slavery disunon Demo-
Gratis. and they know it. In 1S49 there was
three weeks contest for the Speakership be-
ween the Wings and Democrats, Messrs.
Howell Cobb of Georgia and r. c. Winthrop
of Massachusetts being the candidates Ana
there was similar contest in 1889, which
lasted nearly month, and finally resulted IN
OF a
ator from Virginia. Mr.. Hunter was at that
time not very distinctly placed in any OF the
parties. But he acted more with the wings
than with the Democrats, and was MADE
Speaker by their votes.
One of the southern opposition members
writes home to his constituents to expose the
''insincerity'' of many of the southern Demo-
Gratis. He says, they talk fiercely on the noor
of the House, denouncing Sherman and the
"Black Republicans" with the greatest empha-
SIS And then, after the adjournment, they
will approach Sherman and his friends in the
most cordial way, and walk off with them with
a seeming of the greatest good fellowship. lie
does not like it, for it seems to him false and
full of hypocrisy. And he is right Ihere
are, even among the southern Democrats, but
few sincere slavery fanatics. They say
great deal which has no warrant in their con-
yctions, and which really means nothing
but partizan management great pro-
portion of them are like the present ed
itor of that fierce, filibustering sheet,
the New Orleans Delta, who, while work
ing with the slavery extremists, offered
his services to Col Benton, to conduct free
soil journal at st. Louis, and who would doubt
less come north and edit an abolition journal
of the hottest kind, if satisfactorily paid for it.
When Republican President is elected, the
change at Washington will cause great many
sudden and very marvellous conversions
among men Of this class.
We sometimes think we have quite as many
professional politicians in the north as we
need but for one in the free states there are
ten in the slave states. And, find them where
you will, they are all alike, all furnished with.
the inevitable characteristics and habits of their
trade. Of course they are insincere in every
syllable of that accustomed fierceness in be.
half of slavery but it serves well their partl-
Fan and personal aims, and therefore cannot
be omitted. These men are accomplished
masters of their trade, and usually pursue it
in style that is really admirable. they
were less audacious, or less extreme and i'm
perious in their positions if they were merely
ordinary politicians, and went to their work
like some Republicans, fearing, shivering,
trembling, and whining, MIR. Sherman would
have been elected Speaker six weeks ago. 1t
will not do us harm to study their method and
learn how to use it.