New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-31

l-..,o.ch 10 the House were thronged before tue
-, Of meeting this morning, il expectation of an
= ION Of Speaker. The floor had to be clear. d
r.. The TRANSACTION Of business. Upon a call of the
rou opl, three absentees were reco'ded-Messrs.
p,awo. Clark b. CochraDe, and Staliworth. e.
ca. were made to pair Mr.. Cocbrane. without
at though assurances had been given on Satur-
A., that it would be done, and our friends had
prs ticed Similar hberahty.
E,saly ballot was ordered, and Mr.. Sherman
..;sharew from the contest in a neat and effective
.,eoch. No nomination was made, bat Mr.. Adams
IA off for Mir PenDingtoo which indicated the
sarrent. When Mr.. Adrain followed suit, from
,,s Democratic eide cries Of "GoOd bye Adrian"
wee heard. A few explanations were made, and
tts result was declared-for Mr.. Pennington, lis;
Tor Mr.. Smith, ll3; the rest were scattering. Doe
huedred and eighteen were required TO elect. Mr..
Rigs voted for Mr.. Davis Of Indiana. The same
ret ait was reached on a second ballot, except Mr.
Pennington did not vote and only III were required
Messrs. Briggs and Riggs could have elected him
Speaker. When this result was asceTtained, MIR.
Winslow moved an adjournment, fearing an cleo
ton, but our friends resisted, and it was defeated
BY fifteen majority A third ballot was then pro-
eeeded WITH amid the deepest suspense aud silence.
NJ. Allen Of Ohio did not vote till the roll was
ended, thus intensifying the interest. Mr.. Riggs,
in a few words, explained his reasons for support
ING MIR. Pennington. He had no sooner done so,
than he was surrounded by Messrs. Barksdale,
Singleton McRse Rust, and other Southern lead
ers. who impOrtuned him to withdraw his vote, at
esst temporarily. At this juncture, Mr.. Briggs,
Who was seated among the tellers, rose to defRe
bis position. He referred TO his declaration, some
time ago. Of his readiness to support Mr.. Peoniog-
ton or Mr.. COrwiD, but sald he was present at an
American caucus on Friday morning, which
spminsted Mr.. Smith, aud he was bound
in honor to sustain him, while candidate.
Whenever be was released from that obligation, be
could vote for Mr. Pennington. There was gen.
srnl impression, at first, that he would decide the
contest but II at was soon removed While he was
speaking, Mr. Davis of Mississippi approached
bis desk and whispered in his ear, evidently to
inform him that Mr.. Riggs would recall h vote,
and hence bis sppreh vote for Mr. Pennington
would not decide the result. The Republican
benches rebuked this interruption. After be closed,
Mr. Riggs did recede saying be gave his vote with
the expectation of electiDg Mr.. Pennington and as
ii did lot, he would cast it Temporarily for Bic. Nc
Clernand to make bis record satisfactory. 10 the
state Of the poll when Mr.. Briggs rose he could
have made speaker.
The Republicans desiIed a fourth ballot, but
TIE Democrats refused peremptOrily Every per-
suasion was br ought to besr Messrs j. G. Davis,
Allen, and Holman, without effect.
Robert J. Walker had loDg conference with
Mr.. Davis, hoping to remove difficulties, but he
was unsuccessful.
Mr.. Brigps's declaration that Mr.. So it'll had been
regularly nominated by an American caucus
ed Northern and Western Democrats greatly.
AR s.uth himself denies having authorized the state
ments made on the floor, and came prepared TO
announce biz opinions to-day, but was dlssuaded.
He asOws himself an American, and that he was
elected by that vote.
Before the adjournment the friends OF Messrs.
AfcCjerr and and Lsrrabee called Democratic
caucus. with q view to dropping Mr.. Smith and
substituting one or the other. When the Democrats
adopted Mr. Smith they agreed TO give him two
ballots to-day, and then try Mr.. Milson or some
ether After the Developments of To-Day, 1t was
not eoIsioered prudent to change without further
consolation. No other candidate can command
the same vote, and Mr.. Smith cannot be elected.
Whenever Democrat is put up Mr.. Pennington
will be elected Immediately, unless some unexpected
Intervention occurs.
TIE uARPER's FERRY AFFAIR.
No witnesses appeared before the Harper's Ferry
Committee to-day. Realf is recalled for Wednes'
day. Tbaddeus Hyatt, President of the National
Kansas Committee, having been summoned to ap-
near On the lst of February addressed the follow
ing litter to Mr.. Mason. As Mr. Hyatt will also
appear in person before the Committee on Wedues-
dsy If ia supposed that definite action will then be
takep so as to determine the legality and power OF
the Senate in the premises. II is understood Dr.
HYATT acts upder the advice Of his counsel, the Hon.
s. L. Sewall of Boston:
NEw YORK, Saturday, Jau. %, 1860.
TO ne Hon NJ MASON CAafr~GH Of the Select COMMITTEE %
me Senate Of ne United Sk1tSL -
SIp. Z am n receipt of the simmons Of your Com
nittee and shall comply with yonr regulations 70 t1e
the extent of presenting self before your honorable
body al tie appointed honr. Bot and mean no as
srefpect TO Your Committee, To the Chairman, nor
10 he honorable Senate by Whose act tbe Commit
re has an exisrence shall not answer It's inerog-
atOiee As citizen Of the Republic, faithful 70 its
traditions its genius and it's laws protest agsnst the
inouisoral character Of tribunal that, IN the eXer-
ese on its mercy normal functions, SINKS ana oes RACES
ia Witnesses into " in- formers Powers, snch as
those with whish your Committee have been ciothed
BY The hasty action Of the honorable Senate are not
Incident to Government organized AZ ID ours,
with learned and competent JUDICIARY, nor 90
End in the Constitute any warrant for toelr exercise
by your honorable Committed neither do see that,
have made