The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1862-09-26
The Confederate Congress.
DEBATE ON THE INVASION Of THE
NORTH.

The Richmond Wing of Saturday. the
18th inst, contains the following report OF
a discussion in the Confederate House of
Representatives of the preceding day upon
the propriety OF an invasion of the North
ern States. At the present time this de-
bate will attract very general interest:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at II o'clock NJ.
Mr. Hilton, of Florida, from the COnl-
mittee on Military Affairs, to whom was
referred the message Of the President com
municating the dispatches Of General Lee
relative to the late victories, and the res
olution OF yesterday in relation to the
movement OF our armies across the PctO-
mac, reported the following substitute ior
said resolution
Resolced, Tha: the thanks OF Congress
and the country are el.inently due and are
hereby rendered 10 fieu, Robert E Lee and
the officers and men under his command ior
their late brilliant victory, eliminating in
the signal defeat of the combined forces OF
the enemy in the .wo great battles OF Ma.
ma rs.
2. ResoiUed, That Congress has heard
with profound satisfaction OF the trium-
phant crossing OF the Potomac By cur VIC
toriops army. and, assured Of the wisdom OF
that mastery movement, could repose with
entire confidence on the distinguished skill
OF the Commanding General and the vaor
of his troops, under favor of the Great
Ruler OF nations, to achieve new trlumphs
to relieve oppressed Maryland, and advance
our standard into the territory OF the
enemy.
3. Resoiued, That the President be re.
quested to transmit copy of the foregoing
resolutions to Gen. Lee and the officers and
men under bis command.
Mr. Lyons, Of Virginia, moved to strike
out that portion of the resolution which re,
ie1s to the advance of our standard into the
enemy's country. He approved the movea
ment OF our armies thus far, and thought a
resolution of thanks eminently proper; but
if it were passed with the words proposed
to be stricken out, it would be an invitati on
from Congress to advance into the enemy s
country. and that was a responsibility
which, for one, he was not prepared to ass
sumo.
Mr.. Miles, of South Carolina, said that
the whole country had literally ruug with
the cry for the onward movement ; the
press had been loud in he might almost say
denunciations of cur officers for not pursu.
ing an aggressive policy. And now that it
was commenced, there ought to be some ge-
neral expression OF opinion, with the great
est warmth which we are capable, OF our
co operation in pursuing the enemy to. bis
own cogfnes, and with strong arms pluck
fortune from the enemy's soil. This is but
approving of plan which it will be an
honor to carry out, and what he believed
was the wish of the people of the country.
Let Congress, if need be, pander to public
opinion, if they will so term it, but carry
the war into the enemy's country, let them
bleed and let them feel the horrors of war.
Why then oppose this resolution =? Is this
just, is this generous to the brave soldiers
who are fighting our battles?
MIR. Lyons said the gentleman from South
Carolina had entirely misunderstood him,
and unintentionaIly misrepresented him. He
approved of the thanks to General Lee. He
approved of the passage of the Potomac in
to Maryland, but there be must stop in his
appreciation.
Mr.. Miles regretted that be had misrep-
resented the gentleman, still be must differ
with him in the view which he now stated.
He did not know what he meant by saying
that he was in favor of nothing more than
crossing the Potomac, unless he meant to say
that we must all carry on the war with the
defensive policy. Shall we not retaliate
upon an enemy who have outraged all the
laws of q civilized community? In the
prosecution of this war they had overrun
our territory, and pursued course of bar
barity unprecedented in the history of war;
fare and arr we to hesitate when we have
the power to retaliate, and infict upon them
the injuries which they have inflicted upon
us? The gentleman from Virginia was not,
he said, prepared at this moment to do any
thing but vote thanks. He certainly had
not looked at the phraseology of the resolu~
ton.
Mr.. Miles did not expect the armies to
accomplish impossibiities. We will res
lieve oppressed Maryland, and our victori-
ous armies will march onward into the ter
rltOry OF the Toe. us, SAID the speaker,
sis there heart here that will not bound
with exultation at the very thought ?"
Shall we undertake the policy, and then
pause because we might not be able to car.
ry it out ? Our Generals are bravely
pressing onward, and we ought to back
them up in their resolutions. If gentlemen
are anxious to make this test question, I
am prepared to meet the issue. Let us,
then, give the meaning to the resolution. I
am as averse as any man to have Congress
to indicate what shall be the conduct of
the war. I think it would be most unwise,