Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-27
"REMINISCENCES OF ruBLrc MEN.
LY BEN: pERLEY rooRE.

Inc 1ulItJ -SAAtu SouSTeSS nlet VI
the first Monday in December, hut it
was not until the first Of the following
February that Speaker of the House
was elected on the forty fifth ballot.
The opposition had selected as their
candidate John Sherman of Ohio, but
he was charged with having Endorsed o
book on slavery, written Hy MIR. Helper
of North Carolina. For eight weeks
the battle continued, tho Democracy
persisting in their unbending antagon-
ism to Mr.. Sherman, and the opposi-
tion opposing him as having Endorsed
doctrines at variance not only with ev-
cry principle of divine and human JUS
tice, but with the laws of the land.
Through the manipulatiohs of John w.
Forney, who wished to be Clerk Of the
House, Messrs. Haskin, Hickman, and
Schwartz deserted the Democracy, and
Messrs. Adrain and Reynolds were
willing to follow. Finally Mr.. Pen
nington of New Jersey was nominated
by the opposition, and received its en-
tire vote. He was q large, sluggish
man, well-to-do in the world, but not
possessed of any great ability, and en-
tirely ignorant of parliamentary ac-
ton and the duties Of presiding
officer. Fortunately for him, Thad
Morris, who had beet the page of
Speaker Banks. and was thoroughly
posted in parliamentary law, remained
in his service, and stood at the side Of
his table ready to prompt him on all
. occasions. On one occasion, soon after
Mr.. Pennington became Speaker, q
bill had been discussed, and had reach
ed its final passage. "Those in favor
of the passage of the bill, said Thad
Morris, soto voice, twill say |aye."
Whereupon Speaker PenningtonIecho-
ed in stentorian tones, "Those in favor
of the passage of the bill will say aye"
CHOSE opposed" whispered Thad
Morris, will say no." "Those Sppos-
ed" roared the Speaker, twill say no. "
"The ayes have it, and the bill i pass
ed," prompted Thad Morris, and the
Speaker responded, "The ayes have it
and the bill is passed." "Nbw sit
down." said Morris, in faint tones, and
the Speaker exclaimed in loud voice,
"Now sit down." Nor could he COM
prehend for some little time tile blum
der which he had made.
President Van Burens son, famil-
iarly known as Prince John, WIS man
of great natural ability, good lawyer,
and ready wit. On one occasion he
had taken some technical legal advan-
tage, by which his opponents client in
an action was nonsuited. The man
was furious, and declared his purpose
to give John piece of his mind when he
saw him-he would wither him. Hap
pening to see John one day Iat Down
ing's, standing at the bar, getting out
side of dozen New York bays, he
boldly confronted the Prince, and, be-
ing small man, looked up at him
fiercely and burst out: "Mr. Van Blu
rem, is there any client 50 low and
mean, or any case so nasty, that you
won't undertake to defend him in it?
II don't KNOW" said John, stopping to
put away another oyster. then bending
down and confidentially drawing out
you been doing?"
Daniel Webster received the cleo
toral vote of Massachusetts in 1886
(when Martin Van Buren, was elected
President), although great efforts were
made to have the vote cast for William
Henry Harrison, who was elected Presi-
dent in 1910. When Mr.. Webster was
sounded on the subject, he wrote Mr..
Silsbee of Salem, one of the electors, q
letter, in which he said: "TLis result,
the relation in which have stood to
the people of the Commonwealth dur
ing the contest, and recent events
which have TRANSFERRED, or are antici-
pated, in other States, have rendered
itproper, in my judgment, that should
address you this letter, to be laid be-
fore the electors when they shall as
semble. My purpose is to say that, in
the discharge of their high and most
interesting trust, it is my earnest wish
that they should act with entire free
dom from all consideration merely per-
sonal to myself; and that they should
give the vote of the State in manner
the manner they think most likely to
be useful in supporting the Constitu-
ton and laws of the country, the union
of the States, the perpetuity of our
republican institutions and the impor-
tant interests of the whole country
and in maintaining the character of
Massachusetts for integrity, honor,
national patriotism and fidelity to the
Constitution. The fourteen votes OF
Massachusetts were accordingly cast
for Daniel Webster for President, and
Francis Granger for Vice President.
A few nights before the expiration OF
Gen. Jacksonis administration, there
was "a call" of the House of Represen-
tatives, and the sergeant-at-Arms was
sent with his posse over the city of dis.
tances SO magnificent, to knock at doors
and ring at bells, and to arouse out
members from their beds. The night
was stormy, snow and sleet were fall
ing, and the members, like very sensi-
BILE men, were loath to come. All the
night thus the sergeant-at-Arms was
patrolling the city himself, or his posse
of boys, disturbing the public peace,
and alarming many great man in his
bed. A few sleepy sluadrons every
now and then he would gather up into
the House, whom he led in, and paraded
at the bar, whose excuses for absence
the House was ready to hear. Mr.. Nc.
Comas, of Virginia, said he though,
the House would be occupied with