New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-03
FROM WASHING TON.
THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER.
Fssm Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 1860.

the Democratic stampede of Friday last, culmi-
mated to-day in the Election of William PenniOg-
ton TO the Speakers Chair. Thus the struggle of
the last eight weeks has terminated in the success
of the Republicans and their allies. Their triumph
is more decisive than they hsd hoped for at any
period of the contest previous to the past week.
TIL then, they have looked for victory only
through the operation Of the plurality rule, which,
practically, is an election by minority OF the
House, under the permission of the majority. But,
after the disclosure of the fact some ten days since,
that forty or fifty members had conspired to pre-
vent such result, pedgiDg themselves to one
another in writing 10 resist until the close of this
Congress, and by every species of parliamentary
tactics and strategy, first vote upon the question
of adopting that rule; secondly, the adoption OF
the rule; thirdly, an election under that rule and
fourthly, the occupation of the Chair by aOy gentle
man elected in pursuance Of that rule-when it was
known that such a conspiracy had been organized
and was controlled by the most desperate of the
Fne.Eatirg Democracy, then it became apparent
that if The present House were organized at all, 1t
must be by the election Of Speaker, who should
have. on the decisive ballot an absolute majority of
all the votes cast.
We Will not stop here to characterize this con-
spiracy 10 the terms it deserves. 1t was an at
tempt TO resist the will of the majority and sus-
pend the functions of the Legislative department
Of the Government by revolutionary proceeding,
every actor in which was guilty Of moral treason.
This conspiracy threw upon the Republicans aud
their allies an unexpected responsibility. For
many weeks they had lacked but three votes OF
| electipg Mr.. Sherman. More than three gentle
men were daily participants in the proceedings Of
the House, each of whom was under every honor
able obligation to east his vote for him, and relieve
Congress from its dilemma, and appease the anxe-
ties Of the country. Refusing to do this Mr.. Sber-
man and biz friends, being encouraged to believe
that. 6y change of Their candidate, three gentle
men would instantly come to bis aid and elect him,
ks. Sherman patrioticaly gave way, and Mr.. Pen
uhgtss, who had been expressly indicated by these
sArvs aissentients a. the man for whom they would
vote, was substituted in his place.
On Monday, the House and ts galleries, crowded
to the brim, and Overfowing aud flooding all the
adjacent balls and passages with intelligence and
beauty, with elevated patriotism and heated parti-
sanship, from every State in the Union, witnessed
an exhibition of devotion to principles regardless
Of men, and Of party discipline in its highest and
best sense, which has no parallel in the annals Of
Congress. The supporters of Mr. Sherman
marched over in solid column to Mr.. PenniDe
TOD, changing the ground they had so long and so
calamity maintained for new pOsidon--this flank
movement being executed in the face of the enemy,
and while expoied 10 his fire. without the loss OF
man. 1t challenged the admiration of the foe,
compelling Democratic leaders to institute COM
par sons between their own broken ranks and the
impregDabe frcnt of the allies. The logical de-
duction from this wel-executed naneuyer was ex-
pressed by hundreds of Southern lips: IT. said
they, these Black Republicans can now elect
{" Pennington, their triumph in the Presidential
4" contest is foregone conclusion"
The hour of triumph is not the time, perhaps, for
placing on record the indignation felt by some true
men in our ranks, and the modification OF all, in
finding that the withdrawal of their tried candidate
bad resulted in bringing to the aid OF his worthy
substitute only one additional vOte-Mr. Adrain.
The aggregate for him was swelled BY the vote of
Mr.. Reynolds of Albany, who instantly repaired 10
this city on learning of the Smith raid OF Friday.
But he was always subject 10 call when needed, and
therefore the Only vote obtained by the change was
that Of Mr. AdraiD.
On Monday the Capitol wac tbs scene Of intense
excitement The crowd which thronged the halls
and passages had no parallel even in the scene OF
the Lecompton conflict. Three ballots were had,
and three times our hopes lose aud fell as We lis
tened to the responses Of Messrs Adrain Briggs and
Riggs The former manfully met the issue by re-
cording biz vote for Gov. Pennington. The ears of
Thousands were strained TO catch the answers of the
two La ter. They failed to meet the general ex-
pectstion, and when the House adjourned the can
didate of the allies lacked two of an electon--an
advance of nut one over the unbrOken and reera ed
resul. Of nearly eight weeks. The Democracy sup
ported their Old-Line- Wing Know Nothing candi-
date in serrsd ranks, excepting the incorrigble
Mesns J. G.. Davis, Holman and Allen. Mr.
Rggs gave his vote once for Mr.. Pennington, think
iDg, ss he said subsequently, that il would elect
hun. Ascertainipg that it would carry him only
within one of the goal he withdrew Il, and threw it
for McCltrnan Of Illinois. Mr.. Briggs supported
Smith.
The Democracy were not Glow in taking the hint
gwen them by Mr. Riggs. If they could retain his
vote, they could, in spite of Briggs, prevent the
election of Pennington. In caucus that night after
much tribaation, they resolved 10 desert Smith
and support McClemand, 80 as to save the vote of
Riggs.
Tuesday morning broke upon US, everybody an
.;.; .o that the eliminating point In the struggle