The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-12

rality rule was again offered by Mr.. Cling
man of North Carolina-106 yeas to no
nays-the Republicans generally voting
for 1t. NH
On the second day of February. 1856,
Samuel A. Smith, Democrat, from Teunes-
see, offered a resolution providing that the
roll should be called three times and II no
member received a majority vote, then, up
on fourth trial, plurality of votes
should elect. A motion to lay the res0lu-
ton on the table was lost-yeas 104, nays
Ito. 1t was then passed-yeas 1l3, nays
104.
The friends of Banks voted for it. while
nearly all the Democrats and a majority OF
Fuller's friends voted against 1t.
Two successive motions to rescind the
order were made, but declared out Of order
and voted down.
The first vote under the order was then
taken and resulted as follows: Banks.
102; William Aiken of South Carolina, 50;
Fuller, IA; scattering. 6.
The second trial resulted as follows:
Banks, 102; Aiken, 90: Fuller, 10; scatter
The third vote was as follows: Banks,
1O2; Aiken, go; Fuller, 10; scattering. g.
Upon the fourth trial the vote stood:
Banks, 1903; Aiken. 100; Fuller, 6; Lew
Can lrll, 4 Daniel Wells, Jr., /.
THIS vote was taken under the most in
tense excitement all over the House. As
is customary after roll call, ample time
was given members to change their votes.
under the UiUd Uoce rule, each member
naming the member he voted for.
When the first call of the roll was COM
pleted and before any changes were made,
Aiken had his SO and Fuller his IS. Then
as one after another of Fuler's men arose,
briefly gave their reasons and then changed
to Aiken, the excitement grew tremen-
douS
The Banks men had done all they could.
They knew they could not get another
vote, but the Democrats expected enough
votes changed from Fuller to elect Aiken.
DIR. A. *. Marshall of Kentucky was the
first man that changed from Fuller to Aiken.
Upon this, the most uprOarouS cheering
Was put in by the Democrats. Then fol-
lowed Emerson, Etsridge, j. Morrison
Harris, Robert 1. Paine, William r Smith,
Robert T. Triple and James b. Ricaud-
the Aiken men cheering themselves hoarse
at each and every change.
By keeping tally of thesvote the Demo-
Gratis saw 1t wanted four men more to
elect Aiken. In one corner of the Rspre
sentative Hall were seated together Jacob
Brown OF Philadelphia, Bayard Clark of
New York. Elisha ID. Cullen OF Delaware,
d. Winter Davis Of Maryland, William
M.llwsri OF Pennsylvania, and Thomas r.
Whitney of New York, all Fuller men. As
the vote hung FIRE, wild and almost furious
with excitement, the leading Democrats
surrounded these men, plead and I'M
pl0red, in impassioned tones, that four
of their number at least would change
their woes and thus elect Aiken. During
all this time the 103 Banks men sat in ST.
ience. fearful every moment that these
faithful Fuller men would yield. But
they stood like a rock against every in
ducement to change. and the Aiken men.
for the first time. saw certain defeat star
Ing them in the face. The end was now
reached and the tellsrs, through Samuel P.
Benson of Maine, declared the result: Ma
thaniel Banks. 2I3; William Aiken, 100
The chairman, Col Ferney, officially an
nOunced BankSelected speaker.
The Banks men then said that their turn
had come to "bring down tho house,. when
they made the walls of that old hall ring
with applause, as they never did before
and never have since.
La the face of ali this, after the presid
Ing officer declared Banks elected. DIR.
Marshall of Kentucking white with rage,
sprang to his feet aud offered a resolution
decar ng Howell Cobb of Georgia electsd
speaker. But the cooler heads among the
Democrats said they had been beaten at
their own game and gave IL up.
Thomas l.. Ciingman of North Carolina,
offered a resolution declaring Banks elect
co, and Cobb of Georgia, who several
years before that. was elected Speaker
undtr Tue plurasity RUE, SAID the Demo-
Gratis had been caught IN their own trap,
and now should stand 1t like men, and even
ex-Gov,. Aiken himself said that Banks
was fairly electrd and should be declared
SO. Clingman's resolution passed, 1856
yeas to 40 nays. Mr.. Banks was conduct
ed to the chair by Gov Aiken, Henry M.
Fuller and Lewis D. Campbell, and de
iiyered his address to the House. Amid
the closing excitement of this Rine weeks
contest for Speaker Nathaniel p Rapks
apparently, was the least excited man In
the crowd. With firm step he assembled
the Speakers desk. and In clear, calm,
distinct voice, delivered his admirable OBJ.
ening address to the House.
Thus ended the greatest political battle
of the Republic-the first great victory for
freedom won at the National Capital. It
was the f0rerunner Of those great events
which followed and eliminated in the cleo
ton of Abraham Lincoln to the Presiden-
cy and tue destruction of slavery in the
land. ZIP.