The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-03

In the Senate. on motion Of Mr. Hale. q res.
olu,ton was adopted tnstruc ting the Commit
,ee on Mileage Affairs to inquire into the ex.
,,r.,ieucv of paying the officers OF the army
and the marine corps each gross aum per an
mum, in iteu OF their present. allowances and
com I'm ta,ions.
On motion Of Mr.. Bright, resolutions were
adopted instructiOg the Committee on Public
bindings to inQ uire whether any doubt as 10
the stability aud safety of the work of the
Dome OF the Capitol has caused its slow pro-
gress; whether amy changes have been made In
the plans for the same. the amount already
.x ne nded aud whether 1t Is expedient to arrest
the continuation of the work, &c.
Mr. Green introduced batt granting to Jas.
NJ Hughes and John j. Mudd the right OF
way through the public lands, TO construct IL
line Of telegraph from Missouri, Arkansas, or
Texas, 10 Los Angeles, California. This bill
proposes 10 give five sections OF land for each
ffty miles OF telegraph constructed. t.ts
The Senate was in session only thrces qnar-
ters of an hour.
In the House of Representatives, the pro-
ceedings were opened with prayer by kaobi
Raphaei. His prayer abounded in fervently
| rxuresse,i patriotic and pions sentiments he
mplored the Divine blessing to direct the
House in the election OF a Speaker who may
preside without favor and tear, and that the
members might speak and act for the glory
| and happiness of their common country. He
| was listened 10 with marked attention.
The Clerk having stated that the question
| pending was the motion OF Mr.. Sherman, that
=
On motion of Mr.. Phelps, there was call Of
BEFORE ifie rr6ce1diHss undef nv raT were
| com mplet ted. Mr.. Boccck moved that Mr.. Clark
of New York be excused for pon-attendance
| He stated that u number of gentlemen were
| absent and that his motive in making the mo-
,ion was TO give them time to arrive.
The question was decided in the negative by
| yeas and nays.
Mr.. Bocock moved that all further proceed
| iups under the call be dispensed with and de-
mantied the yeas and nays.
| Mr.. Sherman said that these diatory mo-
| tions were not in accordance WIN the agree
| ment Of last night.
| MT Smith, of Virginia, wished 20 ask a
| ones ton or two Of Mr.. Morris, OF PennsyIva-
| MIA.
| Mr. Burnett, undertaking 10 speak for his side
| of the House yesterday, had said the Demo-
| Gratis would, without debate, consent 10 pro-
ceed this morning TO vote for Speaker. With
| this under rstanding the Republicans had con-
| sented 10 adjourn.
| Mr. Burnett remarked that when he made
the suggestion he understood there was a gen
eral acquiescence in it, with the understand
ing that before The vote there should be 4 all
| Of the House.
Mr. Smith replied that it was because the
gentlemen on the Republican side were no,
| exactly on the square that he wanted to ask z
question.
Mr.. Stanton said ne also understood that
there should he no discussion when they mel
here to-day. Was it strictly on the square thar
the gentleman from Virginia should open up
the debate by propouuding questions
Mr. Houston said he yesterday expressly
objected 10 any snch arrangement.
A voice from the Republican, side--"N obcdy
here heard yeu."l
Mr.. Houston.-That was not nv fault.
Mr.. Morris. OF Illinois. wished TO know
whether these remarks would be in order il
the previous question had been demanded.
Mr. John Cochrane said if that was not the
u6 audi Iy,O fpaS fhSxr
derstanding on the Repu blican side for con.
sensing 70 an adjournment and ought to be
respected.
Inc House having decided to proceed 10
vote, several gen ntiemen made expl..n ma tions as
TO the reasons why they should vote for Mr..
McCleruand.
MIR. keitf, of South Carolina, said that il
this was to be the last vote for Speaker. ht
wanted to make n few remarks He under
stood Mr.. Sherman to say, the other day. tha,
the Democratic party had demoraized itself
by their affiliations with other gen llemen, and
Mr.. Morris, of Pennsyl ania, had said that he
withdrew his vote from Mr.. Smith, tecaus.
the latter wouid not tell him how he would
constitute the Committee of Ways and Means.
with Il view TO protection. Now. this being
the position of Mr.. Morris, did it not follow
that As the gentleman now voted for Mr. Pen
nipgton, the latter had given him pledge ~
10 how he would form the Committee of Ways
and Means. Besides. did not Mr. Penning
ton, while Governor OF New Jersey. recon
mend that the fugitive slave law be en- forced
Yet the Republicans were voting for thai
nan.
Neresponse was made from the Republican
SIDE and the vote was proceeded with.
Mr. Barksdale in the course Of the remarks
which he made. said ii was even now in the
power of the South Americans, by uniting
with the Democrats, to defeat the election OF
Mr.. Pennington. He asked the South Ame-
ricans whether they would not vote for Mr,
McClernand.
Messrs Hill, Gilmer, Mallory, and others OF
the South Americans, said that the defeat conld
not thus be effected
Mr.. Barksdaie resumed saving on Il member
OF the American party, Mr.. Davis. from Mary
land, would rest the responsibility of the elec-
ton of Mr.. Pennington.
Dir Moore, OF AiabaVa. after various obiec-
tions had been made and withdrawn, gave his
reasons for changing hisvote.
The roll, after further proceedings, having
been completed, Mr.. Briggs. of New \ urk rose
to change his vote for Mr.. Pennington, which
would effect an election. He said that the
Democrats, with generous confidence, had
voted for the candidate presented by the
conduct by voting for Mr.. McUlernand. He
now voted for Mr. Pennington.
The change of his vote was greeted with ap-
plause.
nington was elected Speaker by majority OF
one.
The Clerk declared Mr.. Pennington to be
elected, and appointed Messrs. Sherman and
The Speaker said:
Gentlemen Of ths House Of Representatives, l
return TO you my grateful Acknowledgements l.
for the distinguished honor you have been
pleased to confer upon me in eectng me to be
Speaker Of this House. Coming here for thu
first time at The present session TO be associated
with yon as 4 member, no event could have
been more unlocked for than that should be
called upon 10 preside over your deliber2'i i ,ns;
and my friends will do me the justice TO say
that l have not sought the position. rs GER
tainly never desired 1T. l am, nevertheless, AZ
conscious of the dignity and importance OF
this high office rs any gent ntienan can bF, bu /
should have been far better pleased had its
duties been entrusted TO abler and more eX-
perienced hands.
After witnessing the almost Interminable
obstacle in the way Of the OF iganization of This
House, l came TO the conclusion that any gen.
tleman, of any party, who could command a
majority OF votes for Speaker, was bound. in
Difference 10 the public exigencies, to accept the
responsibility act Of patriotic duty,
whether agreeable TO his present feelings or
not. As that choice has unexpectedly fallen
upon me, have not hesitated 10 accept it. In
the execution OF this high trust, my object Will
be to do my dnty with impartiality and justice
to all. I shall have great necessity. gentle
men, for your indulgence in the new position
in which l am placed, and I feel entire conf.
dence shall receive 1t At your hands.
A represen tativs from the State of New Jer-
spy. on whose soil many brflliant achieve.
ments were accomplished in the revol nt'onary
war. and whose people have ever been dislin-
guished for their devotion u the Constitution
and the Union, pray the Great Arbiter Of
our destinies that may do no act TO impair
the integrity ofeither. but that by wise and
prudent counsels, peace and order may yet
reign in our midst, and our free institutions
be perpetuated 10 our descendants. feel
have national heart, embracing all parts Of
our blessed Union.
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