Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-09
The Strengthening" Process on

. 49, ~
dence VI the New York Tribune, the folluw-
ing graphic sketch Of the most iRteres,ing
portion OF the scenes in the House on Fri
day: y
After a little coynsss and hesi,ancy, 80
natural aud becoming " men who were
about to take ale4p in'thc dark, doubtful
whether they were to land on a bed ofroses
or a ledge of rocks, the Democratic stam.
pede comnsuced. In the twiDkling Of an
eye, q score of the holder spirits prepared
for the exodus. The more sensitive, gen
orally, gave rather tedious and usually quite
unsatisfactory reasons for abandoning Boz
Geek, M%illson, Lamar, and their other tried
brethren, for this North Carulins-Know-
Nothing Line-Conservatiye-Na tionsl
Wing. The more sensible mrde short work
of the disagreeabIs job, by simply request
ing that their votes be changed.
The struggle now became interesting.
The Senate adjourned, and its members
went over almost en- nadsSe TO the Represen-
~taiiyes' Hall. Reporters, spectators Of note,
and politicians from all sections Of the
Union, found ingress upon the floor, and the
excitement became intense. The crowd
above FLIED every nook OF the vast galleries
and overlooked into the adjoining passages.
Some Of the more timid and nervous Repub.
licuns began 10 feel anxious. The six anna.
BILE tgentIenien who had "complimen,ed''
Mr.. Smith began to show some signs o
uneesiness.
The advancing wave had already reached
the Northern Democracy, and had swept in
its outer edges. Mr.. Daniel E. Sickles had
just gracefully "caved" and gone under,
when Dir John Cochrane took the floor and
in a speech OF ten minutes urged his col
leagues to stand firm, and brayely facing the
surge 8 id: "Thus far, but no farther!" III,
exhortation aud the edict were alike un.
needed. The tide sill poured on, bearing
down Tom Florence, McClernand, and oiheI
sturdy champions OF ous adopted citizens
At length i, wss announced that Smi,l
lacked but eight changes more to elect him
Bill English ends up a dying vail and disap
pears. Seven more changes, and the work
is done! Barr, Of New York-whnt will hi
Irish boys soy to thai? Barr stood lingering
shivering on the brink, md feared to launch
away; but said lie was ready to leap into To,
guilt, like that other Roman, when hi
plunge would elgct Smith aid save III,
country. Vallandigbsm said ditto to Dir
Barr. lie was ready to commit suicide at
moments notice. Morris, OF { linois, bolt
and bluff, tried to stem the current which
was sweeping the Northwestern Democ.
racy to perdition. lie said he wouldn't vot,
for MIR. Smith until he declared his opinions
on Squatter Sovereignty and a Slave Code
The battle was beginning TO look d,ubtiu
, when Mr. Hickman, who had withheld hi
vote on the regular call Of the roll, now re
corded his nSnie Tor John Sherman. Mr.
Smith, who had been sitting on II renr seat
y seemingly halt frightened out OF his wits, un
actually loosening his cravrt to facilitate hi
breathing, new retired to the cloak room
and was speedily followed by a dezen Demo
cratic members. We cannot say what trans
y pred there. We only know that severa
gentlemen were Immediately therealte
o vociforous in declaring that Mr.. Smith ha
). given them satisfactory assurances in regar
TO MS opinions on such ind such question:
and was 'all right" whereupon some o. tn
weaker and more reluctant brethren caugh
at these straws md went down with the lid
Montgomery and Pendle,Dn aud Howar,
among the rest-the gallerie, md floor ap
r plaudlns, us they had been doing for a cou
. pie Of hours, whenever some strong swim
, NOR, ufter bufleting the waves awhile, rny
I up tho ghost and was borne out Of sight
I And now Mr.. John Cochranc again took III
fioor, and, disclosing tho iuct that his objec
n tons bed been charmed AWAY by an assur
ance from somebody who had hnI an inter
view with the gentleman in the cloak-roor
he went over to Mr.. Smith, nInid enthusias
tic cheers from floor and ceiling. Two O
k three others followed, when the page
brought sthe report from the Clerks desI
8 that Smith was elcclej by one majority
!, And now, SEQ the tall and graceful forr
8 OF him whom the Republicans had SO stead
d ily supported for seven weeks. and who ha
. not east q vote for speaker during that lonI
ana anxious period, slowly rising, and, W i'll
COOL demennor and calm voice, say, "Mr
. Clerk, call my name!" Instantly comes tn,
= s'entorian challenge, "John Sherman!", t.
which, in fl IN tones. he gives back the re.
. spouse, AIR, Corwin!" You might hav'
: heard a pin drop on the lam. Dir. Smitl
was tied! Then tho stampede commence,
, on the other side. Judkin, Scranton, Nixon
: WOOD and finally Joy Morris withdrew from
, Smith three returning to Sherman, and on,
going to Corwin, and one to Pennington
The condition, though discouraged, still
struggled for victory. Ysllpndigham plunge,
into the gap without hesitation. Morris o
Illinois made Q lame apology for stultifyin
himself. Poor Cox, after altering a dying
farewell. also wsut under. tn Republican,
were yet in peril. IT required lI5 Votes /,
elect, and Smith had Ia; while there remain
ed Allen of Ohio, Holman and John q
Davis Of Indiana, upd Adrain Of New Jersey
out of whom to get tho necessary three. ,BI
the game was blocked, and Smith was defea,
ed; for the Republicans knew that Aarail
would not vote. for Smith, while, even ha,
the other three above named given hin
their voices, Milward of Pennsylvania
would have d~eserted HIM, and he would ther
have lacked N oCan election!
IL was sailing very near tho wind. though