The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-09

The Thirtieth congress was provided over
by Robert c. Winthrop Of Massachusetts,,
the oldest sx-speaker now living. Winthrop
was a pupil OF Daniel Webster, and served
q part Of one Of Websters terms in the SEN
ate. But for forty years he has been for
the most part out Of politics. While in
political life he was a whig, and became q
republican at the birth Of that party. In
late years Mr.. Winthrop has been active in
educational and benevolent movements,
and his whole life has been one Of great
honor and credit.
Howell Cobb Of Georgia was speaker Of
the Thlrty-first congress, 1S49-'51. The
ofboe went further south in this election.
Before entering congress Cobb had been
/ governor OF Georgia, was Buchanan's Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, and afterward a
general OF the confederate army.
The Thirty second and Thirty-third con-
crosses had Dim Boyd OF Kentucky for
speaker.
THE GREATEST CONTEST IN OUR HISTORY
With the assembling of the Thirty~fourth
| congress the first great protracted battle
for the speakership began. In this congress
several parties and fractions of parties con-
| tended Tor supremacy. They were pro-
slavery wings and snti-slavery wings, and
the democrats themselves were divided INTO
pro-slavery and snti-slayery men. Besides
these were the free sellers and know moth
AHSe- 4hS struggle DSLWeeH THESE cor ulCt-
Ing elements ragged in most heated way
from Dec 8, 1850, TO Feb. 2, 1855
The election of n. p. Banks was
| brought about by the union of nearly all
| the anti-slavery men, all the free sellers and
most OF the know nothings. The union of
these elements was the first really political
| and formidable shape taken on by the Re.
publican party. Banks had been governor
OF Massachusetts and served later as a gen.
eral in the union army. In this contest
over the speakership-a contest In which
the issue was slavery-the successful candi.
date was from Massachusetts,, while the
defeated candidate was from South Caro-
lima, being William Aiken of that state,
In the Thirty-ffth congress the speaker
ship came again to the democrats James
L.Orr OF South Carolina was chosen speaker
the only full term ever held by that state.
Orr was governor of South Carolina Just
| after the war.
A LONG LINE OF REPUBLICAN SPEAKERS.
There was again sharp struggle for the
| speakership In the Thirty-six congress,
| lS5e-'61. The republicans controlled this
congress- enc attempted to elect John Sher-
man speaker. After two months they sue
| ceeded in electing William Pennington of
New Jersey. With Pennington began a
line OF republican speakers, which continued
unbroken until 1875.
When President Lincoln was inaugurated
| in 1861 he called the Thirty-seventh con-
gress In special session on July 1 1861.
| Galusha A. Grow Of Pennsylvania was
elected speaker, and he is still alive at the
age OF 6S.
Schuyler Colfax of Indiana was speaker
| OF the Thirty eighth, Thirty-ninth and
Fortleth congresses. retiring from that
ottce In 1869 to become Vice President with
Grant.
With the Forty-first congress, which
assembled in December, 1859, we come TO
one OF the most famous speakers in James
u. Blaine. He was speaker six years, and
was succeeded In the Forty-fourth congress
by Michael G. Kerr OF Indiana.
Mr.. Kerr was the first democratic speaker
10 De elected after the war. Kerr died be-
Tor the end Of his first year in the chair.
Sunset" Cox was chosen speaker pro TEN.
and served until the next democratic ma
tional convention, which nominated Tilden,
met in st. Louis in 1875. At that time Cox
was retired at the premptory order Of Boss
Kelly, the Tammany chief, and Milton
Saylor presided to the end of the season.
Samuel j. Randall was chosen at the as
sembling of the second session Of the Forty
forth congress and was reelected in the
two congresses following. Mr.. Randall
died in April, 1890.
When Garfield was elected In 1880 the
House of Representatives again came into
the hands Of the republicans J. Warren
Keller of Ohio was chosen speaker of the
| Forty-seventh congress. he is the least
| ilustrious Of the republican line.
John G. Carlisle of Kentucky presided
over the Forty eighth, Forty-ninth and
Fftieth congresses. He was transferred to
the Senate on the death Of J. B. Beck, and
| by coincidence based upon this unexpected
| transfer be voted on the tariff bill the same
year IN both houses, leading the opposition
| in each house.
| The Fifty-frst congress, which expired
March 4. was presided over by Thomas B,
Reed of Maine. In one of the stormiest SEES.
sions ever held In the House of Representa-
tives. This congress contained three ex-
speakers. Banks, Randall and Carlisle. The
| present congress will have as a member
only one ex-speaker, Thomas B. Reed.