The national Republican., 1862-04-22
MEN AND THruos AT THE CAPITAL.
ExMflNo DEBATE.

Woo y Nohy uVoiy uuy III uOLU ~ "o O~P'so"
The rain poured hard without, and the debate
ragged furiously within. In the Senate, Gen.
Stone was the subject Of the exciting discussion,
and In the House II was Gen. Fremont. The
day was spent In discussing these two gentle.
men.
GEN. STONE.
Mr.. McDougal opened the debate in the Sen
ate by somewhat bitter attack on the Admin
istration, or the War Department, for Its ar
rest Of Gen. Stone, and its refusal to give him
an immediate trial. The speech was In pre-
cisely the same vein a. the one he delivered
last week upon the same subject. He attacked
Mr.. Stanton, the committee on the conduct Of
the war, and almost everybody suspected Of
instigating the arrest Of the Massachusetts, gen.
eral. Senator Wade replied most eloquently.
He certainly never did better in his life, and
succeeded triumphsntly in defending the Ad-
ministrstion, Mr.. Stanton, and the committee
on the conduct of the war. Other Senators fol
lowed, and 1t became quite evident, before the
debate was concluded, that Senator McDougal
would obtain little comfort from the action Of
the Senate upon bis resolution.
SUMNER AND STONE.
Sundry uneasy msrtsls, having heard that
sometime last winter Gen. Stone attempted 10
insult Senator Sumner in private letter, have
attributed the arrest Of the General TO the
active exertions of the senator. The story.
which has been zealously circulated trough
the newspapers, was ut all times preposterons,
but Mr.. Sumner squelched it by q fve-minuie's
speech In the Senate yesterday. He stated
that he knew nothing whatever respecting the
arrest OF General Stone, and expressed the
hope that trial would be granted him in
stantly, unless great military necessity i"r-
bids. So the scribbers, who have charged the
arrest Of Stone upon Mr.. Sumner, are withou;
an excuse for further story telling upon the
subject
WHY STONE Is NOT TRIED.
Is II possible that any man of brains cannot
understand why Gen. Stone is not granted an
instant trial: The Witnesses he would sum
mon are to day on the field Of battle. He would
call Gen. Mcclellan IA one Of his Witnesses
can the Government spare him from York
town? On both sides, not less than one hun.
dred army officers would be called as witnesses.
Is it not easy to see that they cannot now be
spared. The trial will occur at the earliest
possible moment
FREMONT IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Divep, Of New York, openod the debate
in the House upon Fremont and the fortifca-
tions ut st. Louis. Mr.. Diven wanted the forii
fcation contracts inquired into at once-even
if General Fremont had to be called from the
field, we suppose. Mr.. Diveu nsed very harsh
language towards Gen Fremont, and Mr.. Col
fax ielt justified, in bis reply, to characterize
his speech as " malignant Mr.. Coliax's re
ply was worthy Of him when he is 10 hts best
trim. He defended the General with great
ability from tho Sc congressional attacks made
upon one Of our generals who is periling hls
life for bis country. By degrees the cid ques-
tion Of Fremonts Missouri campaign came up
and Col. Blair got the floor. OF course, be spak.
with abiliiy--he always does--and il he had
only been on the right side, he would have suc'
ceeded. As 1t was. he called out Thaddeui
Stevens, who made fearful use Of the invec
tive Of which he is the accomplished master
The speech swept everything before it. The
fact is, Mr.. Stevens Ia SO given " startling as
sertions and effects, that one fears to trust him
One Of these startling speeches yesterday WA
| In these words: ~ verify believe the con
tracts committee have committed more lraudi
than they have discovered y
| RAINY DAY
Outside OF Congress, little was stirring yes
terdsy, except the rain. In the course OF th'
day a wild story was floating over the towt
that Mcclellan had broken through the enemy,
line Of Notifications at Yorktown, but with grsa
loss Of life Before night, the idle tale haC
skulked out of sight. Among the notc-worth!
people in town Just row is Mr.. Giddiugs, Con
sui General at Montreal He was upon til,
floor OF the House yesterday, and listened Il
the entire debate concerning Gen. Fremon
with apparent interest. Gen. Hitchcock ha
just returned from trip TO Fortress Monro
aud Yorktown. We hear that he brings up al
encouraging report Of the state Of things there
The army is waiting patiently for the signal T.
push on TO victory. The late rains must caus
u great deal OF Inconvenience and some suffer
ing to the army Of the Potomac, but it viii
soon be over, and, with the sunshine, livel
military movements will come.
CoNTRABAND.
The statement Of the LateAgencsr, yesterda
morning, that the President went down TO Aqui
Creek, Saturday afternoon, to confer with Gel
Mcdowell regarding new military movement
was coutraband on Sunday night. None {
the newspaper men were permitted to send
over the wires taen, though it came out In tn
htel!igencer Monday morning. 1t could then b
used, and WAS sent ut once over the wire
This censorship Of the press works very queerl
sometimes but If the Government really Gu
be aided by ii, grumbling is out of the question
But does the censorship do anybody any good
That's the question. SPECTATOR
From the Star OF last evening