Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-02-02


ceedingy to see its force in the least impaired 1t
is step in the right direction and is certainly pre-
ferable to no STEP at all
The recent Struggle fer SPeaker-.-The
Opposition Exposed.
We publish this morning an interesting synopsis
Of the proceedings Of the House, at Washington.
upon the vote for Speaker between Messrs. SMITH.
Southern Opposition and SHERMAN Black Republican
We ask the special attention of the public to this re-
port. The length Of time that has been consumed
upon this subject the confusion excitement and IN
easiness which have grown out of it. render it ex-
ceedngly important that the people at large should
properly understand and appreciate all the material
facts and circumstances attending these proceedings
The meeting Of the present Congress found the
sectional Republicans with a majority over any
other party in the House but not a majority Of the
whole The national Democracy, with their ninety
two members, were their principal antagonists, but
without the power of beating them down unless CO.
operated with by the two small factions Of twenty
three Southern Americans and the three or four Anti
Lecomptonites. who held the balance of power be-
tween the two coutending parties. This co-opera-
ton could not be secured. Indeed, it has been
manifest from the beginning of the session that there
was stronger sympathy on the part Of the South
en Opposition and Anti-LeccmptOntss towards the
Black Republicans than the Democrats. For months
previous an earnest effort had been made by the
leaders these different elements for fusion into one
party, that they might make common effort to dis
place the Democracy from the control and ad-
ministration Of the government; and we now believe
that but for the exposures growing out Of the nya-
sion Of Virginia, that fusion would have been con-
summated and the House organized by the election
Of Black Republican Speaker within the first few
days Of the session
But, notwithstanding their exposure and the con-
sequent disgrace to which the "irrepressble con-
fict party were subjected they were so stimulated
by the fact of their numerical strength and bent
upon their purpose Of insulting and sujugating the
South that they put forward their candidate for
Speaker one Of the intensest of their number and
an endorser Of the infamous and reasonable HELPER
pamphlet The logged determination with which,
for eight weeks, they adhered to SHERMAN, in view
Of his odious character at the South, evineed de-
gree Of actual hostility towards fifteen of the States
Of this Union, which clearly shows that their as
tendency, once accomplished, would necessarily re-
suit in a disrupture Of the government
Never, in the history Of the Democratic party
have its representatives performed more import
and successful resistance to the election of this
Helper candidate to the Speakership Of the House
Day after day. and night after night for eight long
weeks, they have theoretically and faithfully labor
ed, not partzans but patriots to break the ar
rogance and strength Of this sectional power in
Congress, by placing the organization Of that body
in the hands of its national members. During
that time an unceasing cry has been kept up by
the Black Republican organs at the North, which
has been echoed by the Opposition papers at the
South, that the Democratic party was responsible
for the non-organizaton Of the House, and all the
evils resulting from such failure. The " Disunion
Democracy" the revolutionary Democracy and
similar opprobous epithets have been freely en-
ployed by the ConstitutionIoving, law-abiding dis
ciples Of JoHN Brown and HINTON ROwEN HELPER
and have been caught up and re-asserted by OppO-
sition papers at the South. Every dodge and every
trick that could by possibility mislead the public, and
intimidate the democracy into a tame submission to
their policy has been resorted to by these political
juggIers and the part which portion Of the South
Americans have played in the game, is the more dis
reputable in view of the locality and constituency
they represent
Ii has been apparent from the commencement Of
this struggle, that a portion, if not a majority Of
them would have preferred the election Of a Black
Republican, even SHERMAN, to that Of a Democrat
In proof Of this when the resolution Of Mr.. CLARK,
of Missouri. was introduced, declaring as unfit to
preside over the deliberations Of the House, any
member who had endorsed and recommended the !
reasonable and incendiary HELPER pamphlet, Mr..
GuNER aided by NELSON and others, came to their |
relief in endeavoring to foresall its adoption by
the House Ere long it was announced that a few
Of the Back Republicans claiming to be desIrous Of
efectng an organization, had come and voted /
for Mr. GIIMEE and that ifthe Democrats, seemingly
so anxious for the defeat Of SHERMAN had voted /
with them this candidate of the South Americans
could have been elected Upon this hint the OPPOSE
ton papers OF the South grew boasttul ofthelr disin
tercstcd ardcr to elect a Speaker at any cost, and
eloquent in their deuunciatiOns of the Democrats for
having failed to accept their proposition. They
would not admit that this bid. coming from
the Black Republicans was rank imposture, gotten
up for the simple purpose of furnishing specious,
bat unfounded argument 10 be used against the
Democracy at the South.
That our party friends were right in refusing to
trust the Greeks. although bearing gifts was album
dainty proven on Friday last, as viii be seen blythe
synopsis OF proceedings which publish to-day.
When the roll was called. Mr. SMITH, of North Caro-
lima received thirty-six votes, five of which were
from members of the Black Republican party
namely: JoT NORRIS SCRANTON, JUNEIN. and Mill
WARD. OF Pennsylvania and Nixon, of New Jersey
When this was ascertained, Mr.. MALLORY, of Ken
lucky. rose and announced that if the Democratic
forces could be brought to rally on NJ. SMITH. an
oldIine Wing of private worth and high public
character. totally unconnected with Know Nothing
ism that gentleman could be elected. the orgamza-
ton of the House effected. and Helperism sgnally
defeated. Mr.. MALLORY made dignifei AMI ear
nest appeal to the patriotism Of the Democratic
party He believed that the twenty-three An.eri-
cans would sustain Mr.. SMITH to the last. He knew
that the Republicans had voted fer him; and he
knew that if the Democrats supported him he must
be elected His appeal was not made in vain. The
North Carolina delegation immediate changed their
votes and recorded them for Mr.. SMITH Mr.. BO
COCK the uuselish and truly patriotic nominee Of
the Democratic party, did the same in the most
graceful and creditable manner. Mr.. MCCLERSAND
led the Northwestern Democracy in the same direc-
ton. CoCBnANE and BARR of New York gave SINH
lar votes. The entire Southern Democracy went
for Mr. SMITH in solid phalanX; and HORACE F.
CLARE of New York, also recorded his vote for the
same candidate. As the vote stood, Mr.. SMITH was
elected Speaker 10y two majority.
This sudden and unexpected action Of the Demo-
cratic members, in coming to the support of Mr..
SMITH. took the Black Republican trcksters who
had voted Tor him, unawares. They got more than
tbey had bargaincd for. Their ayowed purpose was
only to place in the hands Of the Southern Opposition
another uufounded arguments against the Democracy
for having refused to organize the House; and when
cauobt in their own trap, they said to have I
crown dsnunciatory of their Southern American
friends for having cheated them by false represen-
+.tions~ We see it stated that Of these gentle
-oen. SCRANTON, of Pennsylvania, manned the South
Ar,srican member who induced him to leave SHEER
80, ara vote for SMITH, assuring him that it was
l-l,, their desire to give him complimentary vote,
.,,,zving him strong enough to be electedH Demo
crats would support him.
THAT there may be no question as to the existence
of this fraudulent and disrePutable bargain we eH-