Daily national Democrat., 1860-02-25
TELEGRAPHTC,
TOVER THE UNION LINE.1
ARRIVAL OF THE
OVERLAND MAIL.
FREsNo, Feb. oath.


ST. LOUIS Feb. 2d.-The rumor current in
the city yesterday to the effect that the long
contest in the U. S. House of Representatives
had been terminated in the election of
Speaker, is confirmed by last nights dis.
patches. The course of the vote for dey
or two previously had pointed to the cleo
tion of EX-Gov. Pennington, of New Jersey,
as an event which could not long be delayed,
and the whole country had been led to anti
cipate that it would occur Yesterday. The
successful candidate obtained III votes Mr..
McClernard, of Illinois, his Democratic COM
petitor, 65, and the balance of the votes are
put down as scattering. The following scene
transpired.
Mr.. Briggs, who was one of the tellers,
and just before the result of the vote was an
nounced, said:
rise for the purpose of changing my
vote. 1t will be recollected that a day or
two since l made a statement as TO what |
might do in certain contingency. That
contingency has now arrived, and it becomes
me to state my reason for the vote am about
to give The time has come when my vote
will elect speaker. have said on several
occasions that I could cast my vote for any
conservative gentlememan like Mr. Penning-
ton, or Mr.. Corwin. Mr.. Pennington has l6
votes, and III will elect him. give my
vote to gentleman who l am assured will
act fairly and impartiRlly to all sections of
the country. Aware of the responsibility
which l assume in so doing Mr. Clerk, now
withdraw my vote from Mr.. McClernard and
will cast it 70. Mr.. Pennington of New Jer-
sey." Prolonged Applause1
Mr.. Douglas stood at the desk watching
Mr. Briggs during the whole of his remarks.
Impatient cries of proclaim the vote The
vote was then announced. Whole number
of votes, 539; necessary to a choice, III
Pennington, III; McClernard, So; Gilmer,
16.
The announcement of the result was fol-
lowed by applause. The Clerk declared
Mr.. Pennington Speaker of the House.
Mr.. Hindman rose to call the attention of
the country to some acts connected with the
election, but there were loud and prolonged
cries of order. Mr. Grow, elevating his voice,
ga Speaker has been elected and nothing is
in order till he has been conducted to the
chair" Cries of chats SO, let him take his
place. The Clerk sustained Mr. Grows sug
gestion and appointed Messrs BoeoclI and
Sherman to conduct Mr.. Pennington to the
chair, these gentlemen at once entered upon
the performance of their duties. Amid
quiet that strongly contrasted with the pro-
ceediugs which previously prevailed, he
spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
lives l return you my grateful acknowledg
ments for the distinguished honor you have
been pleased to confer upon me, in electing
me Speaker of this House. Coming here for
the first time at the present session to be as
sociated with you as a member, no event
could have been more unlocked for than that
l should be called upon to preside over your
deliberations, and my friends win do me the
justice to say, that 1 have not sought the po-
sition, as certainly never desired it, am,
nevertheless, as conscious of the dignity and
Importance of the Office as any gentleman can
be, but | should have been far better pleased
could its duties have been entrusted to bet
ter and more experienced hands. After wit
al II IL
in the way of an organization of the House,
came to the conclusion that any gentleman
of any party who could command majority
of the votes for Speaker, was bou nd in defer
ence to public exigencies to accept the re
sponsibiity as an act of patriotic duty wheth-
er it was agreeable to his personal feelings or
not AS that chair has Unexpectedly fallen
on me, have not hesitated 20 accept it.
an the execution of this high trust, my OBJ
ject will be to do my duty with impartiality
and Justice to all shall have great necessi-
ty, gentlemen, for your indulgence in the
new position in which l am placed, and feel
entire confidence that | shall receive it at
your hands A Representative of the State
of New Jersey, upon whose soil so many bril-
liant achievements were accomplished in the
revolutionary war, and whose people have
ever been distinguished for devotion to the
Union and the Constitution, l pray to the
Great Arbitrator of our destines that may
do no act to impair the integrity of either,
but that by wise and prudent connsels peace
and order may yet reign in our midst and
our free institutions may be perpetuated to
our descendants feel that have Ma
tional heart, embracing all parts of our bless
ed Union. Again thanking you for your
kindness, now enter upon the duties of that
arduous and responsible station"
Mr.. Phelps being the Oldest Representative
member, administered the oath to the Speak
er by request of the Clerk. The members
were sworn in by delegations. Mr.. Wash
burn, of Maine, offered resolution that the
rules of the Thirty fifth Congress be adopted
for the government of this, and that a COM
mttee of five, consisting of the Speaker and
four others, to report from time to time such
rmendments as they deem proper After a
warm debate the resolution was adopted.
SENATE.-Mr. Hale introduced a resolution
that the committee on Military Affairs be iu-
structed to enquire into the expediency of
paying the officers of the army gross sum
per annum instead of allowances Mr..
Grimes moved an amendment to include ma
rines; adopted. Mr. Pughs resolution rela-
ting to repeating portion Of the law Of New