New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-18

Of n foreign conflict with nations whose materiai
interes,s, az they think, depend upon our dis
comf,ure. and whose chronic Jealousy OF our
Penublcan success has led their ru'ers to hail such
diecomfiture with ill-concealed delight We are 100
sansitive of foreign opinion. We naturally dislike
10 hive onr Government and institutions misrepre-
sented We have the spirit OF the Spanish motto,
DE- rei rel solo-no one shall speak Of our king bnt
ourselves But we afford to be indlileren. 70
the rnaligrity of foreigners, whose moral stanaru
increased By their commercial loss ana gam, anu
whose complarent neutrality can view a great
Christian and kindred nation humiiated without q
regret or sympathy because OF ts splendid lilustra
ton of commercial grandeur and democratic govern
meni Let ns pursue our duty TO our age ana coun
try with uuruflied composure. Heaven VIII no,
desert the undismayed To despair Is 10 ole, ana
Ginning aside our national woe, amenting nothing
of the past doing all that is inst and constitutional
making no cruel ard disastrous diversions from the
great object Of rescuing orr nationality crushing
as we would q nest of adders those
who would deride us from that ooJec. 10
other and puoble objects involving fresh diversions
cruel deception, socal revolutions servile nsnrrec
tons, perpetual penalties and eternal hate moving
one aud all the heart soul and body Of men, means
munitions, intelligence and patriotism to the one
Grand object, the restoration OF the dlsmariled
Ir,;on. ga IL was and ought to be. We may emerge
from The rife. and arise like the failed demagoque
from our rrostraiion more grateful and strong in
spired with larger measure OF power, and clearer
and less ostentatioua, conscious OF our destiny.
| During the debate a colloquy occurred between
Measrs COLFAX aud VALLANDlGHAM.
Mr.. COLFAX rep, Ind. in replying to re-
mark Of Mr.. Cox, said he yesterday voted TO refer
Mr.. vallandigham's resolution, ius;:::yying Capt.
Wikess conduct, because he preferred that, what
ever was fent ont on the subject, should emanate
from Standing Comp,itee of the House, after grave
consideration instead of being impulsey acted upon
b. he Gonss.
Colfax was not so crcumspect and explicit on The
frat dav of the session. when he offered resolution
proposing to closely imprison Mr. Mason in retalia-
ton for the treatment Of Col Corcoran. The gentle
man had not then heard from England.
| Mr. COI.FAX further explained the reason why
he offered his resolution on the first day Of the ses-
sion. which WAS because Mr.. Mason had, as Sen,
ator taken an oath to support the Constitution and
/ had violated it. lie was not only traitor, but
periured himself When we deal with traitors it is
n different thing.
Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM could not perceive why
the gentleman was so ready to Justify the act Of
Capt Wilkes on the first day of the session, but not
now. There were no fewer traitors now than at
that tine What made the difference
| Mr. COLFAX replied that he was still in favor OF
netting punishment to traitors.
Mr.. VAILANDIGHAM predicted that in lefs
than three months Messra Slideil and Mason Will be
returned.
Mr. cox hoped the prediction would prove un-
| true.
| Mr.. OWEN rep, n. " was for leaving tie
question with England in the hands Of those on our
| part who will conduct the negotiation. IL should
| be conducted with dignity and due regard to its
honor and interests. Under these circumstances be
was willing to risk the chances of war. Two
cnsscs would be disappointed by the preservation of
peace, namely those who want war 10 give
strength to the Rebels and enable them 10 succeed,
and those who have been reyeling in the spirit Of
bravado.
The bill was passed.
Mr.. SEDGEWICK rep, N. ", from the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs reported bill, when was
nasset further TO promote the efficiency of the navy,
bv the retir7lry of officers, etc. He also reported
bin authorizing the Secretary Of the Navy to con-
strnct twenty ron-clad steam gun.boats by contract
or otherwise lie stated that each would cost from
$4,000 TO $5S0,00O.
After brief debate. the consideration Of the bill
was postponed, aud the House adjourned.