The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-02
The Election OF Speaker-How It was
Done and What It Teaches.

OOne ana w nat ~ Ve0CheDs
The defeat of Sherman and the election of
Pennington as Speaker of the House Of Rep
resentatives, is the first step in the march of
the great conservative elements to victory
over the revolutionary designs of the aboli-
tonized black republican party.
We saw long since the danger into which
fanaticism and demagoguism were Fastening
the country, and, regardless of the outcry
which we knew would everywhere be raised
against US by scheming politicians, we sounded
the alarm, and CALAMITY has the national spirit
come to the rescue. The election of Speaker
was the Malakoff Of the fight The black re
publicans, entrenched themselves under the
banner Of Sherman, on the outrageous prin-
ciples of Helpers incendiary book, and, con-
6dent in their numbers, proclaimed that they
would not give him up till the trump of Gabriel
sounded For eight long weeks they held their
ground, hoping, by pertinacity, to live out their
opponents; and at last, when they were routed
on Friday they surrendered, and hauled down
their black flag. Had certain Pennsylvania
and New Jersey members held themselves
truly to the virtue they professed to have, a
national man, unafiliated in any way with the
republican party, would have been elected;
but their sudden throwing off of the cloak of
hypocrisy gave the republicans time to retreat
from their advanced position, and by throwing
overheard Sherman, Helper, and Stewards ire
pressible conflict, to bring forward candidate
untainted with the fanaticism of his party.
A. srl cc1o kho-o I.
should not go unmarked. 1t was brought
about by the detection from the support of the
democratic candidate of man who represents
a constituency which, with the exception of
some pure Southern district, is as much op-
posed to the principles of the black republi-
can party as any other in the country. Mr..
Briggs is not only member from the great
metropolis of the Union, but his
district comprises those wards in this city
where q very large portion of our merchants
dwell and vote. The Ninth, Sixteenth and
Twentieth wards, running from Sixth avenue
to the North river, and from Hamersley to
Fortieth street. are inhabited to great extent
by those prosperous New York merchants
who are too busy in making money
down town to lose an hour or two on
election day to vote. They have, therefore, the
pleasure of congratulating themselves that, not
their Union meetings and their
vociferous antirepublicanism when trade is in
question, their neglect to 60 to the polls has
been the main GAUGE Of the partial success of
the anti-commercial party in the House.
The event, however, marks an era in our po-
litical history. During all the time that the
republicans chung to Sherman, they insisted
that they did 80 because he could poll a
stronger vote than any other member of their
party On this plea Seward and Thurlow Weed
urged his retention; the Tribune shrieked,
stormed and implored in his behalf, and the
fanatics strained every nerve to save his en-
dorsement of Helpers book. But the weight
Of treason grew heavier and heavier, until at
last it sunk him. The immediate effect of the
election of Pennington is the overthrow of the
programme of Seward, and the breaking of
Thurlow Weeds Congressional slate. On its
black surface were written the names of Sher.
man, Forney and Bowlee, as Speaker, Clerk
and Printer, respectively, of the House. The
rotteDneess and weakness of this combination
have been shown in the defeat Of Sherman; and
If the republicans now support Forney, who
genes from an adjoining State, and represents