The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-12-08
INe NcsU .Spe0iter Of the House.

The Democratic majority in the lower
House of Congiess performed its first OF
fetal duty on Saturday evening last by
nominating for Speaker, i'll place of the
late lamented Kerr Hon. Samuel j. Kan
dali of this State, who received rs votes
in the the caucus against 60 cast for Hon.
S. 5. Cox. Of New York. There were two
other aspirants or presumed aspirants for
the position-NIessis. Morrison Of Illinois
I and Saylor Of Obio-but both those gentle
: men very gracefully withdrew on the open
ing of the caucus, thus leaving the honor
! to be contested for by Messrs Randall and
! Cox alone. with the result on first ba Hot
as already stated OF Mr.. Randall, the
successful candidate, we have deemed IT
our duty III times past to speak very pam
: ly, especially in regard to his course on the
back paw question, which we never had
any hesitation about condemnins in the
most unmeasured terms. Srill we are free
TO confess shat since that time MIR. Ran
dali has done more than enough for the
honor and welfare of the country to atone
for that one false step, and believing as we
have always believed that he is a man of
, more than ordinary intelligence and fitness
to lead, we cannot but congratulate the
Democracy in particular and the people OF
the country in general upon the selection
of so fearless and faithful gentleman for
the high and important position to which
lie has been called and which lie is sure TO
fill with honor to himself and entire credit
to the country. MIR. Randall is a native of
this State. is in the very prime and flush of
intellectual and physical manhood, and has
had very large experience as n legislator,
having first been elected to the Thirty
eighth Congress, and having served contin-
uOusly ever since. What further may be
said about him could not be better said
than it is said in the following extract
from long editorial on The subject in the
New York World Of Sunday last:
"He (Mr. Randal) was always an active
and prominent member of the minority
through all the trying times of the war, but
never decidedly assumed it's leadership until
the closing session of the FUrty-thrd Com
gresS, when he won the admiration, not of
the Democratic party alone, but of The whole
country, 10y his gallant AMI brilliant fight
against the Force bill. The readiness in de-
bate, fertility of resource aud knowledge of
parliamentary tactics which he then dis
played, surprised both his friends and his
enemies. His course gained him the love
and gratitude of the South, and nothing but
the superior claims of Kerr upon the party
prevented the choice of Randall for Speaker
of the Forty-fourth Congress at the outset.
In that body he has since played q most i'm
portant part. In his position as Chairman
: of the Committee on Appropriations he had
charge of the great work OF rctrenchment,
and he carried 1t out with unrelentins de
termination against the desperate opposi-
ton of the Radicals in the House and in the
I Senate. He was not moved 10y serious threats
OF m adjournment without making any APP
preparations, but kept coolly and doggedly
, 10 his purpose, and reduced tie appropria-
tious nearly $50, O0O, ,000 below the expeudi-
lures of the previous year. During the
greater part of the session he held the leader
ship of The House, though the honor aud re-
sponsibility of this post, owing to peculiar
circumstances, were never fully conceded
to hiR or TO any one. II is conduct in re-
gard to the Amnesty bill, for which he has
, been thoughtlessly censureG, really deserved
great praise. The measure had been passed
/ by a Republican Congress, and Mr. Randall
was right in Offering II, aud pushing it TO n
vote. The result was a tenn porarv triump ph
b for Blaine, At the utter sacrifice, however, of
his own consistency and of that of his party.
/ The new Speaker looks the resolute leader
that he is. He is tall, fiueiy built and grace
ful in person, with "a smooth, dark deter
/ Is habitually passionate and aggressive, al
ways ready 10 assume whatever RESPONSE
: Dility the occasion imposes upon him, and
cFreless of opposition. His impulse on the
l floor has always been TO strike for the es-
/ sential difference I'm Il debate and TO lead up
and straight on to the decision of the issue
| on the merits of that point. He holds his
| own opinions firmly, and as lie always aims
J to put them honestly, he is impatient of sub
: terfugos or pretenscs ON the part of his
/ enemy. The business of the House and the
: details of administrative affairs famil-
! lar to him a. an old song. As a parliamen-
. tartan he is probably at this tiuc without an
equal i'll Congress. We repeat that for the
! work now before the House OF Representa-
! lives it could hardly have better presiding
, officer"
Mr.. Randall was on Monday elected to
the Speakership by vote of 16i to So for
Hon. JAS. n. Garfield, the Republican can
didate, and on assuming the chair delivered
brief but eloquent aud patriotic address.
which was loudly applauded.