Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-08

name for Speaker, said:
81 cannot find language adequate to convey my
deep ofobligation to honorable gentlemen DIVA
rious political opinions constituting this House. tor
the honor which they have endeavored to confer
upon me by placing me in the chair, and entrustlng
me with the high and important responsibilities of
presiding over the deliberations of this body. When
Irecollect how much of selfsacrice must have been
incurred, how much gentlemen have given up in
their patriotic effort to concentrate the votes of the
House on some individual who stood on national and
broad conservative grounds, and when remember
ALSO sir, that myself with name unknown to fame,
and now making my entry on this floor for the first
time have received the honor of large and honor
able vote as has been conferred upon me, can
only say that shall cherish, during the residue Of
my official term while member of this body, and
shall carry with me into the shades of private life
when my public service is ended, grateful and
abiding sense of those deep obligations under which
gentlemen have placed me.
But, SIR without intending-itis not the proper
occasion-without intending now to go into any
matters of detail, will here take the liberty Of
saying that am satisfied that the presentation Of
my name longer before this body would not contri-
butte towards the desired success, accord with
the wishes Of those gentlemen who have cordially
and steadily sustained me, and beg leave now be-
fore another ballot is taken, to withdraw my name
as candidate before this body and to say, that
themselves in this body, may be harbingers of re-
turning goodwill among all the States Of this Con-
federacy; that we may in the preservation of an in
tact and invioate Constitution find guarantee Of
| the rights of every part of our Confederacy, and
that our glorious and blessed Union may be perpet-
uated to the remotest period of time. Applause on
the floor and in the galleries
| On the same day, before casting his vote for Mr.
| McClernand, Mr.. Smith said:
| Before cast my vote, I wish to make brief
explanation. The gentleman from Illinois, who has
been put in nomination by his own party, did me
the honor of giving prompt and ready vote.
He did not sir, in that case as understood it. CON-
promise any Of his own political principles; nor do
compromise any of mine in the vote which now
propose to give; and without intending therefore to
say that that genemans peculiar views in reference
to the territorial policy are correct but placing my.
self upon the same footing towards him that he did
towards me- say he shall not excel me in the spirit
of patriotism that prompted his act; and sir. he
shall not be more generous to Inc than will be to
him. ! cheerfuly cast my vote for Mr.. McClernand,
of Illinois. [Sght applause in the galleries. follow
ed by cries of Orderr from the Republican bench
es."
In contrast with this exhibition Of just and libe
raj spirit read the following remarks on the same
OCCASION by Gen. Leach:
"Mr. Leach, of North Carolina, when his name
was called, said 1t was made condition precedent
when our Democratic friends agreed to vote for my
distinguished friend from North Carolina, that he
should before they voted for him. receive the entire
vote of his own party. see with regret that there
are number of distinguished gentlemen Of the
Democratic party, from different States who have
declined voting for the gentleman from Illinois. I
stated, heretofore, that would vote for any to
defeat the Republican organization. | am willing
now to vote for the gentleman from Illinois because
I believe him to be man of talent, and possessing
the necessary qualifications to discharge the duties
Of the Speakership; but my vote would effect no
result While l differ from him in the doctrines
which I understand him as holding, particularly in
the doctrine of popular sovereignty, which utterly
repudate still to defeat the Republicans am will
ing to vote for him; and l say now, that if the
Democratic party come up in mass l will cast my
vote for the gentleman from Illinois. For the pre-
sent, vote for Mr.. Bocock, Of Virginia"
And now turn to the letter of our Washington
correspondent and read the remarks of Mr.. Vance
on the same occasion. They furnish the best and
most conclusive reply that could be offered to Gen.
Leach.
On the LIST instant, the day on which Pennington
was elected Speaker, Mr.. Gilmer in reply to Mr..
Barksdale denied that he preferred conservative
Republican to Democrat for that office. In other
words he said he had never said any such thing
Mr. Giluer then went into calculation to show that
Mr.. McClernand could not be elected and he con
frmed his calculation by refusing to vote for him
He voted for Mr.. Etheridge, who charged the Presi
dent in speech which he delivered in the House
week or two SINCE with "haring stifed the dspira
tions Of 6rars and noble people after freedom -
meaning the people of Kansas as nstigated and lee
on by John Brown and Jim Lane; and the black
Republicans of the House appauded Etheridge fol
the expression. That is the man for whom Mr. Gil
mer voted.
tbs well known that black Republican Pennington
was elected Speaker by Henry Winter Davis, Know
Nothing, of Baltimore Mr.. Davis led off on the frs
f day Of the session by voting for Mr.. Gilmer fo
Speaker, and he continued to vote for him more fire
quently than for any else, for the space of si1
weeks. But finding he could not elect Gilmer h
went to the enemy boldly and elected Penning
; ton. Gilmer was his first, and Pennington was hi
second choice "a man is known by the compan.
he keeps" The excavations of all true nIen ar
now showered on the head of the traitor Davis
/ Mr.. Gilmer uniformly and stubbornly refused t
] vote for Democrat for Speaker; and when on tb
last ballot it apparent that full vote for Mr.
, McClernand by all the opponents of black Republ
) canism would tie the House, and might thus proven
an election until Mr.. Stallworth, of Alabama, coul
arrive and decide the contest in favor of the Const
tuition and the Union, Mr. Giser soent into calc,
lation to shoW that Pennington could not be dstsa
+ ed! And yet Democrats are censured because the
+ would not vote for Mr.. Gilmer for Speaker.
If Mr.. Gilmer really desired the election of ns
s tional Democrat over black Republican, he neoe
i shoaoed that desire by his cote.
ELECTION OF CLERK AND SERGEANr-AT-ARMs- Til
vote for Clerk Of the House of Representatives is
# follows: John W. Forney liz, James g. Allen z
N. G. Taylor %, D. L. Dalton 8, z. W. McKnew
. The black Republicans and some of the anti Lecom,