Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-03
The Speakership.

The Boston Courier. the leading conservative,
;ournai Of New England. and which has support
ed the nominees Of tho Democratic party for sevc-
raj years past in IN editorial article, entitled "A
Pecp at Coz srees" thus refers to tho factous and
disreputable course pursued by the Democratic
members in The contest for Speaker. Says the
Courier:
..The natural Issue. in the choice ot Speaker. in
the rrescnt state of national politics. would seem
IN he Rcpublcanism and Anti.Republcanism
The difficulty in taking this issce lies in the dvi-
sion. that exist in tho Auti-Republican ranks
divisions which seem to be obstinately adhered to
in proportion to their insiguihcance. The Terri
torial and the naturalization questions. are Meth
or Of them for the present practical questions.
They are certainly inferior to the questions which
Ar. Or are believed to be involved in the ascend
eucy of Republcanism. with all its load OF sins.
and suspicious, aud approximations upon its shout
ders. Every day seems to lessen the chance ct
slcctins a Republican Speaker inasmuch as 1t
confirms the determination Of the different factions
among the Anti Republicanto Withhold their votes
in any event from any candidate whom the Re-
publcans may select. Nor are the chances Of tho
Democrats any better for securing the Anti Re.
publican vote No man tina, they haveyet brought
forward has been able to approximate a" election
ave think that the Democrats have noted un
wisely in attempting TO coerce the Americans and
other Anti Republicans into . coalition with them
or at least an agreement upon the choice OF
Speaker-by ordinations and threats. Courtesy.
conciliation and some degree Of concession, would
have been more polite, to say the least. Tho
course which has been pursued has been suicidal
in its tendency. as any observer OF human nature
might have e,rescen 1, has repellei those whom
it was desirable to attract, and scattered elements
which it was necessary to concentrate and coin
bine. 1t 10 confidently believed by those who
have the means Of knowing tho sentiments of
leading and influential Americans. that without
any Of the odium of coalition. without any
sacrifice of principle, effectual AntiRepublican
union might have been formed for the election Of a
national Speaker, AID that the House long before
this might have been organized in cred'tablo
and satisfactory manner Mr.. Nelson, Of Tennes-
Sec an Influential American. declared in the
House the other day-or least he implied much
that nothing but the abuse which had been
heaped upon his party and his friends had pre-
vented their cooperation with the Democracy.
"Mr Nelson himself. who Of ell others least DO
serve. it, has been the subject OF special and un-
compromising abuse. lie was assailei IN the out.
SET without reason. rs well a. without dcccncy,
by the new member from Virginia, Mr.. Pryor,
who took very carly occasion to display his
surance and vanity and self concct, and tn hctrny
hi. essential li,tleness a statesman, by n>sum-
ing, in behalf of the Democratic party. n threat
ening and dogmatical tono in general towards
those Anti.Republicans who are NV Democrat,
and by expanding his impudence particularly mp
on Mr.. Nelson, whose modesis and plain good
sense he mistook for pusillanimity aud incruri'y.
The rebuke administered by Mr.. Nelson
we're and thoroughly Frustrating to his assoilant.
1t was the more ard eifattud from the
contrast, in style and dignity with the attack.
But to a certain extent Mr.. Pryor haA con,promis-
ed the people rs we'll as the character If HI party
and the stain is not yet caaced. The Dem, cats
were deeply mortified at the oscurrrnce aud
would have sacrificed Mr.. Pryor, If by 50 doing
they could have removed the rcproach from their
party Mr.. Pryor, himself however, seems MT
TO have submitted to the defeat with cool a
desirable 4 renewal Of the attack upon Mr..
Nelson, in a covert and moro offensive form, ap-
peared in the States, aday or two ago. 't which
paper NJ. Pryor WAS formerly editor. and he is
naturally enough supposed to be indirectly or di-
rectly the author. Mr.. Nelson brought the sub
ject before the House Friday last, and pr"
nounced the allegations Of the article wholly IN
founded. Several leading Democratic members
took occasion to disown any sympathy with th'
sentiments of the offensive article, and to deny
that the States" was in any sense the organ or
representative Of their party But such things, al
though individuals are responsible for tfem. tend
inevitably to widen the gulf between parties
and at this moment it would seem to he next to i'm
possible to bring about an effective understanding
between the Democrats and South Americans
and anti Lecomptonites for the choice of Speaker