Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-30
The CONTEST fOv ne speukorshIp.

~ Ne uOute OF Representatives uams very
near being closed ON Friday, by the election Of
Mr.. Smith, of North Carolina, an old line
Wing and South American The occasion was
most exciting, the galleries were densely crowd
ed, and the spare room on the floor was filled
with Senator'S aud distinguished strangers. The
N. Y. Tunes correspondent thus describes the
contest
As l had predicted somo days ago, Mr..
Smith, Of North Carolina, was put in nOmina'
ton, and received five Republican votes. The
Americans next came 10 his standard, and last.
ly the Democrats wheeled into line, and az
they did so the excitement became intense.
State after State, and Democrat after Demo-
crat, followed in support of Mr.. Smith, and as
each vote was announced, a round of applause
went up from floor and galleries. 1t appeared
evident that an election would be had, and the
interest was every moment increasing. Al
last it was asceItained that Mr.. Smith had a
hundred and fifteen votes, hundred and four
teen being necessary to a choice. Before the
vote had been announced it was arranged that
Messrs. BocOck and Sherman should conduct
the Speaker TO the chair. The fact Of an elec-
ton seemed too good to be true. The hope wGs
indeed delusive, for discovering that Mr.. Smith
was actually elected, as the vote stood, MIR.
Mcpherson, of Pennsylvania, who had led of
in support of MIR. Smith, got up and changed
his vote, Withdrawing il from Mr.. Smith and
casting it for Mr. Corwin. Mr.. Morris and
Mr. scranton followed suit, thus reducing Mr.
Smiths vote to q hundred and twelve. Mr.
Sherman then voted for the first time. which
rendered a hundred and fifteen necessary to a
choice The Democrats then endeRvored to
obtain three votes more, and to again elect Mr.,
Smith. Now Mr.. Cox, Of Ohio, came to the
rescue, and Mr. Holman, of Indiana, agreed to
do likewise, provided the third man could be
obtained.
Every possible influence was brought to bear
upon Allen, of Ohio, and Davis, Of Indiana
but without effect, and the result was annOunc.
ed Mr. Smith 1 II, Mr.. Sherman, LOG. Had
Mr.. Smith himself not voted he would still
have been elected, as the votes of Cox and
Holman would have been sufficient Democrats
now urged another ballot, but the Republicans
resisted, and moved an adjournment. Mr.
Stanton, of Ohio, stated that his friends would
resist any effort to have another ballot, and
thereupon the Democrats yielded 10 motion to
adjourn. Intense excitement prevailed through.
out the proceedings.
Mr. Sherman is now regarded as out of the
ring, ani he requested his friends to meet in
caucus at noon tomorrow. One fact is worthy
of note, the South cast united vote, save one
for the first time in the history of our Govern
ment, and that for an old-line Whig-the last Of
the Mohicans. The chances now are that Mr..
Corwin will be elected on Monday.
The special dispatch to the Cincinnati Ga
zette makes the following note Of the excl
ting time in the House:
Ths Americans met in caucus this morning
at 10 O'Clock, and sat until IL NJ. The early
part of the conference was quite exciting
Some few were for going for a Democrat, but
the older councillors in the party at last tn
umphed, and it was agreed not to elect Dem
oerat, but to nominate Mr.. Smith, OF North
Carolins, Opposition, and stand by him. They
did so, and placed the Democracy in the disa
Qreeable position of either refusing to vote fol
him, ,or taking the responsibility OfnOn-organiza'
tion.
The scene which followed beggars descrip
ton. The Democrats onO after the other pull
led down their flag and run up the old Whig
standard. The order was given by the little
band of twenty-three Opposition men to the
Democrats-ground arms, and down went eveTy
mnsket.
The Democracy for once is defeated: it is
demorahzed and PROSTATE. The tiimsy excuse
that Smith Is not an American and never was
viii not do: he has persistently from the begin,
ming acted with and voted for the American
candidate Old Whiggery is not disguis
that will serve the treacheTy ofthese gentlemen
who were elected by foreign constituencies.
The desire of the Democrats to defeat Mr..
Sherman has sent the arrow to their own hearts.
Every Western Democrat who was elected by
/ "a
more than three hours In changing their votes.
One after the other went, until it was reduced
to Valandigham, Cox, Howard and Allen. Mr..
Vsllandigham went the whole ticket without
choking. Howard went the same way, but it
went harder with Cox: he worked half an hour;
he writhed horribly under it, but went down
in the mire. Then there were two or three
left, and manipulation was Immediately COM
menced upon these gentlemen. Mr.. Keitt Of
s. C. talked against time and played the part
of the buffoon for the Democratic party. He
played it well.
It is not known whether any trade was
made with the Democrats to give them all
the pap or not, it is not however improbable
All other matters are lost in the struggle
of to-day for the Speakership.
Messrs. Stokes, HattOn, Briggs and Hill,
will call upon Smith to define his position re-
specting Americanism, and others will ask
his views regarding Slave code.
A later despatch dated Jan. q, 1OP. NJ. says;
It looks now as if the Democrats will split
up on Monday. Mr.. Smith is in favor of
slave code. No Free State man can vote for
him. If he were not, the South would not
vote for him. He denounees Amerieanism.
How can Briggs, of N. Y, or Hill, of Ga7
vote Of him2
The Pennsylvania men who voted for
Smith and left him, did it to catch the Demo-
Gratis. The ruse succeeded.
The result of to-day has been glorious Re-
publican triumph.
Another despatch of the 9th says;
Allen, of Ohio, stood firm to-day against
voting for Smith, in spite of the efforts and
example of Pugh and other Western Demo-
Gratis.