Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-09
The Closing Scene.
MR. SHERMAN.

Ole COmlnlttec IN Inc HOUSE lHaG Ol OualTlnan
Of the Committee of Ways and Means. We
are Of the opinion that Mr.. Sherman will be
found doing the country better service on the
floor, than if he had been elected Speaker. AS
an instance of his pluck and frmness, we give
an incident in the clos ne scene on Wednesday.
An exciting skirmish had been going on between
the different parties, the 1isunion Democracy
doing all in their power to stave off the ballot
which was to elect Pennington, until their pro-
ceedngs had become uncomfortable longer We
copy from the proceedings:
Mr. Barksdalo said if Mr.. Pennington was
elected, representative Of slaveholdng con-
stituency would be responsible for it, But for
the vote Of Mr.. Davis Of Md, Mr.. Pennington
could not be elected. That gentleman was a
member Of the American party.
Mr. Sherman again called Mr.. Barksdale to
order, and said if there was power in the House,
he should insist on enforcing it.
There was much confusion throughout these
proceedings.
Mr.. Moore OF Alabama began to speak.
Mr. Sherman-Does the gentleman propose
to change his voel
Mr.. Moore You have no right to ask that
question.
Mr. Sherman-J enter my solemn protest
againsr the gentleman making speech.
The Clerk 10 Mr.. Moore-Persoal expana-
tons cannot be INDUCED IN, except by general
consent
Mr.. Moore-I don't acknowledge the right of
the gentleman to interrupt me.
Mr.. Sherman insist upon my point. will
not withdraw my objection.
Mr.. Moore-The gentleman has no right to
be- snarling here.
The Clerk said Mr. Sherman had right to
object.
Mr. Cox-I ask my colleague to Withdraw
his objection. 1t will facilitate the ballot.
Mr. Moore ask no favor. | will not be
indebted to him.
The Clerk said Mr.. Moore could assign rea-
sons for changing his vote.
Mr.. Sherman with that understanding, with
drew his objection.
Mr. Moore denied that those who had acted
with him had in any degree contributed to the
election OF Republican. Ii Others would agree
he would sit here till the 4th of March, 1861,
before he would let Republican fill the Speak
er's chair. But he was sure that could not be
accomplished. He hadthe highest personal re.
on an important question. From the ballotings
as shown here, he denied that his vote, with
all the scattering ones, could, in any cOntin-
gency, elect Mr.. McClcrnand: He, therefore,
voted for Mr. Boyce
Mr.. Briggs, who E~s-one OF the teers, said,
justl}efore the result d2the vote was announced
sit will be recoected. that day or two since,
| made statement as to what might do in a
certain contingency. That contingency has now
arrived, and it becomes ne to state my reasons
for the vote am about to give. The time has
come when my vote will elect a Speaker,
have said on several occasions, that could cast
my vote for any conservative gentleman, like
MIR. Pennington or Mr.. Corwin, whenever |
had discharged all the obligations to my own
party which | had made. lvoted for Mr.. Smith,
the nominee of my party, and whom | should
have been glad to have seen placed in the
Speakers chair, until he was no longer candi-
date. When Mr.. Smith was presented as a
candidate for Speaker Of this House, the Dem
ocfats came forward with magnanmity and
generosity hardly if ever equalled, and voted
for him. In justice to myself and that party,
felt myself bound to return that act of gener
osity, by voting Cor their candidate, Mr.. Nc
Clernand. have done so twice but it is now
evident and proved beyond doubt, that if all
the votes Of his own and my party were thrown
for him, he could not be elected. | have now
discharged every obligation on me, with faith
fulness and consistency, and am now free to act
for myself and country, and to fulfill the other
statements which have made, that could
vote for any sound conservative man of any par
ty, when my vote would elect, in order that the
government might be relieved.
The time has now come when | can. do SO
Gov. Pennington has now ll6 votes and III
will elect him. have said as | said before,
that could vote for him. For general appa-
rent reasons could not vote'for the her can
didate, Mr., Sherman, and had done SO, he
could not have been elected In the vote am
about TO give, desire it to be distinctly under
stood that do not give up my own party pref
erences no more than did the gentlemen OF the
Democratic party when they voted for mem
Der of my party (Mr Smith of North Carolina)
and do not endorse all the principles of the gen.
teman for whom am about to vote.
am as | said from the first, an American
and member of the National American I'm
ion party. But give my vote to a gentleman
whom am assured will net fairly and Impair
TALLY to all sections of the country that those
who are suffering for their just dues may be re-
lieved-that the wheels of government may not
stop. aud to restore peace and quiet to the
country. For three days have held the organ
ization of this House in my hands. can no
longer if would, take that responsibility. But
| was determined to do SO, until had discharged
every honorable obligation, and been made
aware of the responsibility which assume in
so doing Mr.. Clerk, now withdraw my
vote from Mr. McClernand of Illinois, and cast