The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-30

In the House Of Representatives. on Friday.
MI Adrian caused to be read . paragraph
said that Horace f. Clark and Messrs. Riggs,
Adrian, Briggs and Davis, Of Indiana, were
elected with the aid of Republican votes, with
| the understanding that they would assist the
Republicans in the organization Of the House.
| He said he would not engage in . personal
controversy with the editor Of the Tribune -
IL was bad policy to engage In personal con-
| troversy with the editor Of any, partic ularly
daily paper, which has an opportunity to
| fire shot every day. [Laughter.J
They had seen this most fully exempliAed In
the attacks made by the distinguished gentle
man from Virginia (hIr. Pryor. on the editor
| of the New York Herald. He thought at the
| time the gentleman made q mistake, and now
he discovered i: because the Herald has an
| opportunity for making an attack every day
| lie repeated that he would not engage in =
| controversy with Mr.. Greeley whom he re-
garded as man of marked ability and great
| moral courage, and fidelity to the principles
! which he upholds. He differed with Mr..
| Greeley on the question of slavery and his
| mode of settling the question:; but Mr.. Gree
ley was entitled to his opinion. He did not
| believe that Mr.. Greeley intended to do him
| any wrong, but presumed some evil disposed
person had furnished information upon which
he based the charge. There was not particle
| of truth in the statement. He run as an anti
lAecOmpton Democrat and made no pledge di
| rectly or indirectly that he would vote for
| any Republican, or aid the Republican party
| III the organization of the House. In 1858 it
|
| Mr:BuchaHan On the Kansas question, that
the Republicans would have the majority and
could organize without the aid of the anti
Lecompton Democrats; and therefore no
| pledges from them were expected
He asked for the proof from any living NOR
| tai man in his district that he ever made
pledge to aid in the urDniZatiOn of the House
| by the election of Republican Speaker or
any other wav. He repeated, he made no
pledge; but, looking to the exciting discussions
| which might lead to dscord out of the House,
| and perhaps to a dissolution of the Union, he
did not know but that when his sense of duty
and the interests of his country demanded it,
| he would unite with the Republicans on such
| man, in order that the House may be organ
| lied ana relieved from its present dilemma
| The House now proceeded to vote for
| Speaker There was much excitement and
great interest manifested on all sides.
| Inc South Americans voted for Mr. Smith,
of North Carolina, and various Democrats,
now seeing prospect of making an election,
| changed their votes for him. Some made brief
| explanations, that they wanted to promote
| harmony and end the contest Frequent bursts
of applause came from all sides. Messrs Nor
ris, of Pennsylvania, Millward, Nixon, Scran-
| ton and Wood, who had voted heretofore for
| Mr. Sherman, now voted for Mr.. Smith.
Before the result was announced there was
| change in the current of feeling, Mr.. John
| Cochrane rising to give his reasons why he
could not vote for Mr.. Smith.
| Several gentlemen endeavored to deprive
| him of the floor by raising points of order on
him. In conclusion Mr.. Cochrane changed
his vote to Mr.. Millson. He said he could
| vote for none but Democrat.
| Various other explanations were made by
| Democrats for changing their votes to Mr..
| Smith.
Mr. McClernand said that as it was in the
| power of the Democratic party proper to elect
| Mr.. Smith, he changed his vote for him. and
expressed the hope that Democrats from the
| North and West would give him their sup
| port.
Mr.. Bocock made a short speech. He was
| always willing to unite on any sound man.
| and he voted for Mr. Smith.
| Other Democratic charges to Mr.. Smith
were made, with occasional remarks. some
| saying they desired to give peace to the coun-
try and strike blow at the ''irrepress sble con-
| tlict' party preterring national Whig to
| sectional Republican.
| Mr.: Morris, of Illinois, said if his vote could
| elect Mr.. Smith he would not give it,
| Other explanations were made favorable to
| changing votes for Mr.. Smith.
Intense interest was expressed throughout
these proceedings.
| More short speeches followed. Mr.. Cobb
| made humorous speech by way Of exhorta-
tion to his dissenting political friends to come
| up to the support of Mr.. Smith. He called
| al ten ton to the fact that men of all parties
| voted for him, and il gentlemen did not now
| avail themselves of the present opportunity
| they never would come near electing a noml-
| nee opposed TO the Repu blicans.
MIR. Ruffn, as the only man standing aloof
| from the Southern phalanx voted, after ex-
PLANTATION. for Mr.. Smith; saying he had been
| encouraged by his Northern Democratic col
| leagues To do SO.
| Other explanations were made Messrs.
| English and Niblack said they voted for Mr..
| Smith, as the contest had narrowed down he.
| tween the Republican and American nomi-
neeS.
| Mr.. Morris, of Illinois, wanted Mr.. Smith
| to say tor himself whether he repudiated the
doctrines OF the Know Nothngs.
| Several Democrats stated that they heard
| this from his own lips.
Mr. Burnett said he thought they ought to
| let patriotism rise above party in this crisis.
| Mr Morris wanted Mr.. Smith to answer the
| QueS ton.
MI Clemens and others, objected to Mr..
| Sml tn res pOnding.
Mr. Clemens wanted man to go into the
| chair untrammelied, as a fair, honest man
| should
| Other votes We're now changed for Mr..
Smith. and were severally greeted with ap-
| plause.
Mr. Morris, of Illinois, finally came over to
| Mr.. Smith. being as he said, satisfied that Mr..
| Smith was not Know Nothing. [Tremen-
| dous applause.
| Several other Democrats changed their votes
| TO Mr.. Smith, among Others Mr.. John Cuch-
| rane, who had learned, he said, that Mr.. Smith
| never was member of the Know Nothing
party, but an CD Line Wing. and the repre-
! sentative OF national principles.
| Much applause greeted the announcement of
| Mr.. Cochrane's change of vote and the in ter
est greatly increased rs the House neared an
| election.
Mr.. Barr changed his vote for MIR. Smith.
| MIR. Sherman voted for Mr.. Corwin, when
| Mr.. Junkin changed from Mr.. Smith to Mr.
Sherman, thus spelling for the time an elec-
| tion.
| Mr.. Scranton withdrew his vote from Mr..
| Smith and put Mr.. Corwin in nomination
(Cries of ''too late" and much sensational
| Mr.. Morris, OF Pennsylvania, said that un :
ders,anding the Republicans presented Mr.
| Corwin, he withdrew his vote from Mr. Smith
aud voted for MIR. Cprwn. [Hisses from the
galleries and on the hoor, and great con fusion.
| mingled with cries OF "announce the yote"I
Messrs. Vallandigham and Cox changed
| their votes to Mr.. Smith.
| 1t was now understood that but two more
| votes were req Ulred TO elect Mr. Smith and
| the most intense Interest everywhere was
| manifesto ted.
Mr.. Nixon changed his vote from Smith to
| remington, thus removing the result far ther
| Mr.. keitt commenced making speech
| Mr.. Dunn said Mr. keitt's remarks were de-
| signed to delay the result in order to afford an
| opportunity TO manipulate the tender foot ted
| Democrats.
Mr.. Kei;t proceeded to expose the inconsis-
| tency of those who voted for and then changed
| against Mr.. Smith.
Finally the result of the ong-pending bal
| iotwas announced as follows: Whole number
OF votes cast 22S necessary to a choice rs of
which Mr.. Smith received li2, Mr.. Sherman
lC6, Mr.. CorWin 4, scattering6.
The House then adjourned to Monday.
CAN MAN STEAL HIS OWN LETTERS I'm
the United States Circuit Court at New York
on Tuesday, William Slavin atlas Sawyer, was
put on trial, charged with stealing his own
| letters from the post-oflice. The Commercial
says:
The defendant went by the name OF Slayin
IN Rhode Island and on moving to New York
| took the name OF Sawyer. He was In the hAb.
| IL of receiving letters at the UoSt-Ofilcp H.