St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-02-09
From Washington.

The House of Representatives final.
ly succeeded, on the first inst, in
electing Speaker, in the person of
Gov. Pennington (Republican) from
New Jersey. We copy the proceed
ings as follows
Mr.. Briggs, who was one of the
Tcllers, said before the result of the
vote was announced, | rise for the
purpose of changing my vote. 1t will
be recollected that day or two ago
made a statement as to what
might do in certain contingency.
That contingency has now arrived,
and it becomes me to state my rea-
sons for the vote am about to give.
The time has come when my vote will
elect Speaker. have said on sew
eral occasions that could cast my
vote for any conservative gentleman
like Pennington or Corwin. Gov
Pennington now has ZIG votes, and
III will elect him. ! give him my
vote. A gentleman whom | am as
surcd will act fairly and impartially
to all sections of the country. Aware
of the responsibility which / assume
in so doing, Mr.. Clerk, l now with.
draw my vote from McClernand of H.
linois, and cast it for VIM. Penning-
ton of New Jersey. prolonged APP
plausc.
Mr.. Douglas stood at the desk,
watching Briggs during the whole OF
his remarks.
The vote was then proclaimed as
follows Whole number of votes 233.
Pennington, 1T; McClcrnand, So ;
Gilmer, l6 rest scattering.
The Clerk decided that Mr.. Pen
nington was elected. (Applause and
Kisses from the gallery
Messrs. Bocock and Sherman were
appointed by the Clerk to conduct the
Speaker to the Chair.
The oath was administered to him
by Mr.. Phelps, and the members were
then sworn in by States.
The Speaker amid quiet that
strongly contrasted with the excited
and disorderly proceedings which pre-.
viously prevailed, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of The House of Representa-
tres Il return you my grateful ack-
nowledgements for the distinguished
honor you have been pleased to confer
on me in electing me Speaker of this
House. Coming here for the first
time, at the present session, to be as
ISOLATED with you as member, no
event could have been more unlocked
for than that | should be called in to
preside over your deliberations, and
my friends will do me the justice to
say have not sought the position, as
l certainly never desired it. am, new
ertheless, conscious of the dignity and
importance of this high office as any
gentleman can be. but should have
been far better pleased could its du-
ties have been entrusted to ADLER an
more experienced hands. After wit
Messing the almost unsurmountable
obstacles in the way of an organiza-
ton of this House, l came to the con-
clusion that any gentleman of any
party who could command majority
of the votes for Speaker, was bound
in Difference to the public exigencies,
to accept the responsibility as an act
of patriotic duty. whether it was
agreeable to his personal feelings or
not. AS that choice has Unexpectedly
fallen on me have not hesitated to
accept it.
In the execution of this high trust,
my object will be to do my duty with
impartiality and justice to all. Ishall
have great necessity, gentlemen, for
your indulgence in the position in
which ! am placed, and l feel entire
confidence shall receive it at your
hands. Representative from the State
of New Jersey, on whose soil so many
brilliant achievements were accom-
plished in the revolutionary war, aud
whose people have ever been distin-
guished for their devotion to the I'm
ion and the Constitution, I pray to the
great arbitrator of orr destinies, that
/ may do no act to impair the integri-
ty of either, but that by wise and pru-
dent counsels peace and harmony
may yet reign in our midst, and our
free institutions may be perpetrated
10 orr descendants. | feel that have
a national heart. embracing all parts
of our blessed Union. Again thank
ing you for your kindness, / now en-
ter upon the duties of that arduous
and complicated office.
Mr., Washburn, of Nc, moved that