Newbern weekly progress., 1860-02-07

WASHINGTON CITY, Jan 80. 1860.

organization. Light begins to peer ont of the
clouded political sky and this very day perhaps
Speaker will be elected. On Friday last Hon.
W n. H Smith. of \. c., was fairly elected and
then to use the language of keitt, of S. he was
dis-elected. Nothing seemingly paradoSical in
this when understood. Mr.. Smith was brought
forward by the Know Nothing party, and they,
aided by the Peoples party Representatives
from Pennsylvania gave him vote sufficient in
numbers to elect provided the support of all full
communion democrats could be secured After
the roll had been called this fact was asceraned
| and Mr.. Mallory, of KY, speaking in behalf of
| his own party and that of the Peoples party"
SO announced and appealed to the democrats to
vote for Smith. Did the House democracy, SO re
peatediy and falsely charged with factiousness
resist this appeal? No, but ons after another
rising from their places they changed their votes
to Smith, although doubling the good faith of
these peoples party men. The result of this
change insured Mr.. Smiths election by two or
three majority, AS soon as this was discovered,
and before the vote was announced which would
have cut off any further shifting of votes Junkin,
E. Joy Morris and others, of this Pennsylvania
party, boited and changed their votes from Smith
to Sherman. thus defeating an election. At this
by dilatory motions prevent another ballot until
Monday, as they desired time to consult together.
Knowing that no ballot could De had if these Hell
perites chose to stave it off they adjourned over.
The Hon. Mr. Ruffin from your district was the last
one of the Southern phalanx to give in and in
casting his vote for Smith gave the first vote of
his life to outside the democratic organza-
lion. 1t was bitter, stranguatng dose to many,
but the same faithful devotion to country and
self sacrificing spirit which has characterized
this great party shone brilliantly forth when they
yielded their personal and political preferences
and voted for political opponent. Nc,c
what becomes of the repeated charge of :" demo-
cratic factiousness " which has been the treasured
capital of a few sickly Know-Nothing papers, af-
fordlng theme for the display of puny invective
and harmless denuncation When Mr.. Gmers
name was before the House in connection with
the Speakership and the democrats refused to vote
for him howl of rage and impotent fury echoed
from the sea- shore to the mountain Businesses of
North Carolina, They at last had made, in their
opinion point upon the democracy; it was, to
them, like mamma in wilderness, a sweet morsel
which they rolled under their tongue with a de-
cided relish. 1t gave strength and aroma TO their
coffee at the breakfast table It was dished up with
piquant sauce at dinner, stirred in their tea-cups.
carried lovingly to their downy beds to dream of.
and the result duly and extravagantly chronicled
with melancholy gravity provocative of excess
siye laughter. l have no idea that these scantiy-
feathered "birds of ill-omen' - will cease their
croakng or be silenced one whit by the generous
dealing of the democrats. They will of course
insist that Gilmer could have been elected had
the democratic members voted for him. These
hungry shriekers
I" UnSatiate the barren womb grave,
God cannot grant SO much as they can crave"
But how was Gilmer's election 10 be secured
The united vote of the two parties could not elect
and where the aid to come from to insure
success? Why from these ''people's party '; men
,chO botted schen they found Smith eiecled The dem
ocrats had reason to believe that these mems
pledges were not e iven in good faith and they re-
fused to be entrapped into support of Gimer
That these Pennsylvanians meant treachery and
that they had no regard for plghted faith is but
too we'll authenticated, for they gave the most
solemn pledges that they would vote for and ad-
here to Smith: and then when fairly elected they
basely abandoned him. These Pennsylvania
members then %ere to decide the matter. Does
any one imagine that though desertng Smith
they would have resolutely stood firm for Giimer?
Faithless to Smith, would they have been true to
Gimer7 If SO. then, Mr.. GiImer being ac-
ceptable to the Republicans than Mr. Smith. must
to some extent be identified with the policy of
that party and the democratic members evinced
their sagacfty and good sense in not voting 70
him even if he could have been elected.
To-day-in a few hours-Congress will assem-
BILE and the contest will be renewed. 1t is be- !
lieved that Serman will Withdraw his name if so
here is one triumph over the Helpertes who have
heretofore declared their resolve to stand by him
IS until h-freezes from shore to shore" On
Saturday last they held caucus but nothing has !
leaked out 1t is believed, from the tone of con-
versation INDUCED in by Republicans the night
preceding the caucus, that Sherman will with |
draw and that the party will be left to vote for
whom they please. These fanatics are i'll almost !
pitable circumstances AS a party. Neither Cor
win or Pennington stand any chance for the
speakership because the intense abolitionsts !
will never favor men who recognize the tive !
slave law and no are not endorsers of tie Help.
er book and these two men probably the |
only ones in their organization who could com |
mand solitary vote in addition to those of the |
Republicans Corwns strength. without the
pale of repubcanism, Is no. now sufficient to
elect My impression Is that to-day more
trial will be made to elect Mr.. Smith and that
failing, then a democrat will be taken up and
with the vote Of the Know Nothing and ant-Le- |
comptonite parties an election win be had. So
mote il be.
The Senate are principally engaged in speechi-
flying and intriguing for the honor of presiden-
tial nominations. Douglas has already put in his
81 nronosals and others are Soo,sinr snit Sew