The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-01-31

There has been no pretence that all their
acts are void. The country has recognized
them This should, think, set the whole
matter forever at rest. There is a cumu-
lative reason for this view. There is a
public neces ssity that such construction should
obtain, and never more exemplifed than By
the situation IL which We are now placed
Il could wish, therefore, that all sides
of the House would consent TO the adoption
Of this rule. | do not ask any gentleman
having doubts of its cons,itutiouality to vote
for IT, but do ask all to let the question
on the rule be put. Surely We have fully
tested the question as TO e,ecting By ma
jority. Let Us. therefore. try the plurality
rule. Then some one must be chosen.
Who that will be, | know not but there
will be an election. | hope for the best in
that result. But let il come as it NAV,
the world will not come to an end the wa
ter Of the Potomac will still flow on in its
accustomed channels. We magnify the sub
ject, in my judgement. now beg to offer
this resolution
Rcsoired, That this House will this
day vote once for Speaker, and if no candi-
date shall ba~o ma jnrify Of the votes. that
the House Will again vote and if 10 cleo
ton be had, that no other vote shall then
be taken until Monday next, at which time,
at one o'clock, vote for Speaker shall
again be taken, and the candidate having
the highest number Of votes shall be elec-
ted, aud SO declared and in case of tie
between the two highest candidates, that
new vote shall De Immediately taken on the
same principle"
This proposition at once produced a sem
sation on the Democratic side Of the House
Several members vociferously objected to it
as out of order, and much confusion ensued,
in consequence of numerous members en-.
deav oring to speak at the same time.
At length, Mr. Grow got the floor, and
demonstrated very clearly, as We think, that
the motion was not only strictly in order,
but tha; a motion to proceed to the election
of a Speaker was the only business in or.
der before the House. and took precedence
of every other motion. On this point he
read from the proceedings Of the Thirty
first Congress, a decision by Mr.. Speaker
Cobb, which was affirmed by the House,
on appeal, fully sustaining his position.
But precedents and authorities had no eff.
feet upon gentlemen who had made up their
minds to resist an organization of the House
to the bitter end That such is the deter
mination of many members on the Demo-
cratic side is now perfectly manifest.
During the discussion, Mr.. Miles. Of
South Carolina, said {: T. for one. will
oppose it (the plurality rnle) TO the end Of
time and ] will do it. if need be. by resort
ing to dtkatoyy parliamentary motions"
Il is very certain, that under the ruling
OF thc Clerk, even one member has it in
his power to prevent the House from ever
coming TO vote on proposition to adopt
the plurality rule. If no gentleman can
command majority of the yotes-and such
appears to be the case-a refusal by mi
nOrity to permit the plurality resolution to
be voted upon, at any time, is simply fac
tious breaking up Of the Government Is
not this the object Of members on the Demo
cratic side Of the House To impute this
motive to men who have been threatening
to break up the Government ever since the
commencement Of the session, is only to
give them credit for consistency. Wash
Repui}sc