The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-02-07

ton. lie asked the SOutn Americans whether
they would not vote for Mr. McClernand.
Messrs Hill, Gilmer, Mallory, and others of the
South Americans, said that the defeat could not
thus be effected.
Mr. Barksdale resumed, saying on member of
the American party, Mr. Davis, from Maryland,
would rest the responsibility of the election of Mr.
Pennington.
The vote was then declared as follows:
Necessary to a choice, III
Pennington, 1lS
McClcrnand, 80
Gilmer, Is
Smith, of \. c.,
The rest scattering.
Mr. Pennington was conducted to the Chair by
MesSrs. Bocock and Sherman. On taking the
chair Mr. Pennington made the following speech:
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.:
| return to you my grateful Acknowledgements
for the distinguished honor you have been pleased
to confer upon me in elccting me to be Speaker of
this House. Coming here for the first time at the
present session to be associated with you as "a
member, no event could have been more unlocked
for than that | should be called upon to preside
over your deliberations; and my friends will do me
the Justice to say that | have not sought the
position as | certainly never desired it, | am
nevertheless conscious OF the dignity and importance
Of this high office any gentleman can be, but
should have been far better pleased had its duties
been entrusted to ADLER and more experienced
hands
After witnessing the almost interminable obstacle
in the way Of the organization Of this House, |
came to the conclusion that any gentleman, of any
party, who could command majority of votes
for Speaker, was bound in Difference to the public
exigencics to accept the responsibility act OF
patriotic duty, whether agreeable to his present
feelings not. AS that choice has unexpectedly
fallen upon me, | have not hestated to accept it.
In the execution of this high trust, my object will
be to do my duty with impartlality and justice to
all. | shall have great necessity, gentlemen, for
your indulgence in the position in which |
am placed, and | feel entire confidence [ shall
receive it at your hands.
A representative from the State of New Jersey,
on whose soil SO many brilliant achievements were
accomplished in the revolutionary war, and whose
people have ever been distinguished for their
devotion to the Constitution and the Union, pray
the Great Arbiter of our destinies that | may do
act to impair the integrity of either, but that
by wise and prudent counsels, peace and order
may yet reign in midst and our free institutions
be perpetuated to our descendants. feel | have
national heart, embracing all parts of our blessed
Union.
Again thanking you for your kindness, now
enter upon tie discharge Of the arduous and
complicated duties Of my station.
The members were sworn in delegations and
the rules of the last Congress adopted.
Mr. Phelps, of Mo-, wished 10 introduce the
Post Office Bill but it objected to on the
ground that no Clerk was elected.
A Committee was appointed to inform the Senate
that the House was organized. An adjournment
until Friday then carried amidst great noise
and confusion.
In further explanation of the election we copy
ell A.
Mr. Pennington, of New Jersey, who has been
elected Speaker is Republican, but not quite so
black as Mr. Sherman. it is understood, and was,
indeed stated in the House on Tuesday, that he
voted for Fremont. He is not one of the sixty-sx
endorsers of Helpers book. Whether he is
member Of the Know Nothing order or not we can
not say. We rather think he is, or has been. He
made himself very conspicuous by his efforts to
have Mr. Brooks, Of South Carolina, expelled on
account of the Sumner affair.
Mr. Pennington was the Governor Of New Jersey
who affixed the Broad Seal of that State to the
commissions of set Of representatives to Congress
who were not deemed the representatives of the
people. He was then Wing
On Tuesday Mr. Smith withdrew, and the Dem
ocrats resolved to support MIR McClernand, of
Illinois. One would have thought that after the
strenuous and united efforts made by the Democrats
to elect Mr Smith, the Southern Opposition would
have concentrated upon the candidate brought out
by the Democrats, but they did not.
The result of the ballot taken on Tuesday was
announced as follows
Whole number of votes cast 233; necessary to
choice III; Mr. Pennington received ll6; MIR
McClernand 81; Mr. Gilmer 5; Mcqueen 6.
The Baltimore Sun .of Wednesday thus charac-
terizes the vote Of Henry Winter Davis:
THE VOTE OF H. WINTER DAvIs.-Ths man. who
grossly msrepresents the fourth district of Maryland in
the Congress of the United States, consummaed the
nlmy his position yesterday by giving the and
suffrage of this people 'black republican for
speaker of the House of Representatives. The act is
foul calumny reckless libel upon the citizens of Bal
timore, and is applicable only upon the we-known
fact that he returned nominaly only by the viol-
and fraud of that club law" which prevailed here
upon election day. His seat WILL of course, be
rmed by the "back republicans into whose he
has plunged himself from tho hdeou exposure
which has pursued him to Washington in the testimony
taken in the contested election of the State
Verify he has his reward. Unfortunately, Baltimore
has representative in the lower House of Congress
Throughout this long contest the Democrats have