Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-02-04

equaed by the struggle of 1856, WILLIAM
PENNINGTON of New Jersey, was elected Speak
or of the House or Representatives on the 4ith
ballot, by III out of 233 votes-precisely the
number required for an election This result
had been distinctly foreshadowed for several !
DAYS and its ann ouncemcnt occasioned less of
surprise than of relief.
The new speaker, Mr.. Pennington, is not the
Mr.. Pennington of the 3lth Congress, and
rival of Gov Banks for the speakership then,
He is an old wing, was Governor of New Jer-
sey many years ago, is about GO years old, and
stands politically in the same shoes as Mr. Day
ton, who was Col. Fremont's associate on the
republican presidential ticket four years ago.
His election and his administration may conf
IDENTIFY be relied upon to mitigate the fears of
the radicalism of the republican party among
conservative men of the middle and southern |
states, and draw many of them to affiliate with
it in the approaching presidential election. In
this way, it may prove even more beneficial to
the party than the election of Mr. Sherman,
who is identified with the more Jealous ele
ments of the organization, could have done.
Both parties, for wonder, find cause for
congratulation in the election of Mr. Pennng
ton. The Republicans are satisfied that one of
their number has been elevated to this distin
guished and responsible post. They have come
out of the contest in the main successful. The
democrats profess to be greatly elated that
Sherman has been defeated, and that q rebuke
Al .l,r
ed Helpers book. We are glad that our dem
ocratic brethren are thus easily satisfied. In
this day of defeat "the smallest favors seem to
be thankfully received and promptly attended
to- Let them then rejoice as best they may
The Ringing point of this result and the
means by which it was finally attained are so
singular that we have condensed narrative of
the proceedings in the House during the last
four days.
The duly monotony of the previous part of the
session was fairly broken on Friday by very
well engineered plan on the part OF the demo-
Gratis and South Americans, to elect Speaker
who was "sound on the goose" In the early part
of the day some of the more moderate Of the
South Americans persuaded few of the Ameri
can Republicans of Pennsylvania who had gen.
orally voted for Sherman but had once Or twice
given complimentary vote to Gilmer of North
Carolina, to vote for William n. ii. Smith of
North Carolina, an old line Wing of American
proclivities. Z. Joy Morris and half dozen
of his colleagues consented to and did vote
for Smith all the South Americans with Briggs
and Horace F. Clark of New York voted for
Smith, as did about fifty democrats. The ex-
element now commenced. The democrats found
that if they could bring in all Of their party
Smith would be elected. Immediately num-
Der of southern democrats who had scattered
changed their votes to Smith, and several tacle
northern doughfaces did the same. The stamp
EIDE was momentariy arrested by John Cochrane
who said he could not vote for Know Nothing
but Mr. Clernand of Illinois neutrazed the
speech by changing his vote to Smith. Keitt Of
South Carolina spoke against time that the ten
der-footed democrats who still held out could be
manipulated and induced to go for Smith. Soon
Cochrane, who had declared that he could vote
for none but democrat, announced himself
ers followed suit The Republicans learned that
as the vote now stood Smith ,cdS elected by one
0lajo,iy At this juncture John Sherman arose
and demanded that his name be called which
was done and he responded "NIr Corwin.' This
vote tied Smith. The greatest excitement
prevailed, but the fate of Smith was soon deci-
ded, for stampede commenced in the Repub-
lcan ranks. Junkin, Scranton, Nixon, Wood
and Morris Immediately changed their votes
from Smith, theer to Sherman, one to Corwin
and one to Pennington. The coalation though
discouraged, still struggled for victory. Val
landigham plunged into the gap without hesita-
ton. Morris Of Illinois made lame apology
for stultifying himself Poor Cox, after utter
ing dying farewell, also went under. The Re
publicans were yet in peril. 1t required III
votes to elect, and Smith had 1925 while there
remained Allen Of Ohio, Holman and John 6
Davis of Indiana, and Adrain of Ncw-Jersey
out of whom to get the necessary three. Blu
the game was blocked. and Smith was defeated
for the Republicans knew that Adrian woult
not vote for Smith, while even had the othe
lnree ABOVE nallcu given NM lnPlf voices
Millward of Pennsylvania would have deserte,
him. and he would then have lacked ONE Of Al
election!
The democrats wanted another ballot but tn
Republicans told them that another vote cou
not be taken before adjournment. Mr.. Sher
man called caucus of the Republicans to NEE
Saturday at - o'clock, and the House adjourn
ed. 1t was bold game on the part of tn
coalition and came near being successful. A
it was the Republicans had the intense satsfac
ton of seeing the democrats voting for a Sout
American who was elected in opposition to tn
regular democratic candidate
There is one feature of this vote that is
proper subject of remark. Ecey Souhe
man roted for Southern candidatei Not on
of them voted for a Northern man. So niue
for the charge of "sectonalism' so Aippantl
made against the Republicans.
The House was not in session Saturday. I'll
Republicans met in caucus, when Mr. Sherma
Withdrew his name as q candidate for the Sine Al