The United States House of Representatives has at length solved
the difficulty respecting the choice of a Speaker. After many experiments, the House elected Mr. Pennington of New Jersey by a majority of 117 to 87. His election has been carried mainly by the Republican party. But there is an important dis- tinction to be drawn between Mr. Pennington and Mr. Sherman, their previous candidate. Mr. Pennington is what is called an " old line Whig," and he was elected to Congress by a coalition of the Republicans and old line Whigs of his district. Not com- mitted, like Mr. Sherman, to the doctrines of the " Helper Book," he professes old-fashioned Whig views on the subject of slavery. His election therefore is not a purely Republican triumph. The Democrats went in to ballot with the distinct understanding that they would not consent to the election of a Republican pledged to the doctrine of the " Helper Book," and they have acted up to the line of their stated policy. It may be remarked that the delay in the election of a Speaker is not so goat by two days as it was in 18.0, when Mr. Banks did not accomplish his election until the 3d of February.
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