The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-25
Hon. Mr.. Vallandigham again ar.
raigned for Disloyalty.
SPICY DE B A T E.

In the Yankee Congress, on wednesday,
tho 10Th inst, Mr.. Hickman, representative
from Pennsylvania In the lower House, rose
to g. privileged question and sent up to the
Clerk the following resolution to be read
Whereas, The Baltimore Clipper OF this date
contains the following publication:
"DeoukRHTs sFouxp.-During yesterday DO.
paper, and took possession OF number Of
letters written by Senators Bayard and Saule-
bury, OF Dela ware, and tho notorious Vallan.
digham, of ohio. The documents contain
toucnins sentiments Of poor bleeding like,
and various suggestions how the Yankees
might be defeated -
Therefore, Resotred, That tho Committee on
the iciary be directed to Inquire into the
truth Of the allegations therein made against
u. L.. Vallandis ham, q lem ber OF this House.
and to examine witnesses on oath or affrma.
tlon, ana to make report thereon.
MIR. Hickman-I cali the previous question
on .he resolution. (Uries Of "No, no'D
mr.. VallandiR ham, (opp Of Oh,o-Will
the gentlem an Withdraw
nr. Hickmxn-Certainly.
MIR Nallandigham-Iw was Just waiting for
an opportunity to call the attention OF the
House to this statement myself, having re-
Ceived 1t from some source u few moments
ago. do not know, Of course, the moliys Of
the gen ntleman (Mr. Hickman)in brinsing it
in this shape before the HC use, nor do care
Ny purpose some lime since is just what it 10
nOW-to give prompt, direct AID en- nh a tic
contradiction, Il NAT denial, to the infamous
statement IN that paragraph. never wrote
line or letter upon political su biect to the
Baltimore SoutA, or to any other paper, or to
any man south OF Mason and Dixon's lire
since this controversy began-never, l dsfy
any one to prove it.
It Is false, infamo us, slanderous, beyond en-.
durance, that mans reputation should be
ut the mercy Of scavengers employed To visit
lowest hAnnta N nv,
the local editorials Of Irresponsible newspa.
pers, TO parade before the country nbellous
and slanaerous faisehoods like these do
not object to the controversy, but l avail my
self OF this opportunity-untii the letters
shall be produced here upon which the course
taken is oasec, if there be any such in exist.
encs-to denonnce them as forgeries. enter
upon no defence; l intend none. We have
had enough OF this kind of business already.
I deny the duty or the right of members to
rise here and call for Investigations upon ir.
respO, sibis statements like that. only le.
gret did not have an opportunity, in the he.
ginning, and before the Cnaifman Of the Ju-
dietary Committee had risen here in this for
NAL manner, to ask the attsn tion Of the
House TO the matter. 1never did this before
For the five years that have been a mem.
ber OF this House l never rose to d per sonal
explanation except oupe before, and con
demn 1t In others, as unaecoming the dignity
OF the HOUSE, 10 De so engaged did intend
as members near me Know, 10 make the Il rat
career.
desire that this matter may be fully reported
In the gallery, SO that my defence NAV 20
forth with the charge III ade on this ii tioor-the
Infamous statement, tnat have been in cor.
respondence with any one In that State. and
uttered sentiments Inconsistent Wi tn m duty.
not only as member Of the House. but as a
citizen of the United States-one who has
taken solemn oath to support the Constitu-
tion. and which, thank aod, Inever deviated
from. have rights. which, while God lives
and I live, l shall exercise for myself. in til is
house and our of this house, for the burmese
of vindicating the rights Of American citi
zens. uronical laughterl Beyond that l
have not gone. My sen tim ents will be found
here on the records OF the house, al u nowhers
else. There is the repository; and roresee.
Ing, mors than year ago--fOreseeing in the
carly part OF December, the magnitude ana
character Of this revo!u ton or rebellion in
which the country was about to be plunged
resolved not to Write-though your own
mails then carried the letters-a single soil
tary word or syllable even before secession
began, to any man in seeded State. Now
graph for the purpose OF giving dignity and
Importance to G. charge OF this kind Had n
como in a tangible sbape-had ADy editor
endorsed it-there might be some SHADE OF
apology for it. But no; 1t was found In the
local columns OF an irresponsible paper.
know nothing Of those letters Wi III reference
to others than myself, but deemed it due 10
myself and to tho House to meet this charse
Mr.. Richardson, topp Of In.-rhere are
Nom bers on this floor who decl ared that thev
would not vote dollar for this war unless /,
was a warfare upon slavery. denounce
brought % trial and execution.
Mr.. Hickman-The motives which have
actuated me in the ma tier are not to be doubt
ed. So far as the charge contain cd in the ar.
this House, even a suspicion-aE ordinary
suspicion-wOuld justify such an investiga-
tion as this resolution contemplates But The
gentleman (Mr Vallandighaml kn ows As
we'll as other mem bers on this floor know
ihak the suspicious which have existed ag aipsj
him-I do not say VIII other they ars justified
or not-arO numerous, and have existed for q
long time past. It is the duty Of this House
to purge Itself OF un worthy members. 1 do
not know whether tho gentleman occupies
properly or Improperly seat On this floor
BY Offering the resolution do not prajudice
him. If he WAS the most intimate friend I
had on earth, and acc cused. as he is in the pa
ragraph in question, would deem 1t my
duty, and perhaps moro solemnly my duty,
to urge the investiga alton which Is here sug-
gested. But, sir, the charge does come be
fore us in q fair and unquestiOnable shape -
It appears as an original article in the Balti
more Clipper, and is, therefore, presumed to
be editorial, or at least ,np der the imme.
diate supervision OF the editor, aud thai
makes It emanate from responsible source.
But l suggest, further, that the suspicion
against the newspaper in question, aud the
seizure Of the Office where 1t was publishei /
was made under the diFect authority OF this
Government, and it is TO be presu med that
the effects Of that Office are at this time in the
custody Of the Government, or agents Of the
Government, and that. therefore, the infor.
m .tion communicated in this paragraph
must have come through the Governmen,
or its agents, and 1t is, therefore, responsible
in its orisin, as far as we can judge l refer
the gentleman MT. Vallandigham) as my an.
swer to the suggestion that was not jus i.
cumstances s, to tne " Manual Parliamentary y
page g. section Is Under the head of " Ex.
am ination of Witnesses common fame is q
lust ground for the House TO proceed to In.
quiry, and even to accusation This, sir, IL
more than common fame. l repeat 1t is, &C
far as II appears, direct charge by the edi
tor OF responsible newspaper, and come.
before US, we must believe, from the Govern
ment or Its agents, and Is, therefore, more
Mr. Vallarcigham-Is 1t not merely Local
item, in which the author does not pretend Il
have ever seen the letter. know he never
did.
Mr.. Hickman-I don't understand what tn,
YER saw It," and that he himself knows h
never saw It. Who never sawt ttf
Mr.. Vallandigham-Thsa author Of the para
graph.
Mr. Hickman-I don't care whether 1t 10 4
local item or not, it IL an original article in
responsible Newspaper, and therefore pre-
sumed to be inser ted under the direct super
vision of the editor, If not written by him.
mr.. Vallsndignam-Ths gentleman has al
luded to the suspicions existing In formel
times. Now, desire to know Of him wha
he ever heard, OF any specific item ON which
any suspicion ever rested, anything Other
than words spoken In this House, OF made
public over my own namef
Mr. Hickman-Sir, have heard thousands
Mr.. Vallandigham-Namea single one.
Mr., Hickman-I do not desire TO do injus
tice to The gentleman.
Great confusion sprung mp at this point
calling for The Intervention OF the Speaker
Members having taken their seats, debat'
was resumed.
Mr.. Vallandigham-I call upon the gentle
man to specify an item.
| Mr.. Hickman Many.
| Mr.. TallAndtg ham Answer tnat question
- nd