The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-01-01

| rested II they were not innocent they would
not have been discharged. Then why were
they arrestedf The President was the last
man to assume despotic power. But We might
have man Of different character At the. head
OF affairs, and any assumption to despotic
power ought to be prevented by law. II was
Just In such times rs these that the founda-
tions of tyranny were laid. It was always
done under the plea OF necessity.
Mr. Hale was rejoiced that the inquiry had
been proposed, for he would never yield the
right to inquire into official acts of the Kxecu-
tive. He had come into this Senate without
a party, and should go out of it without a
party, if free inquiry into the proceeding of
the government was to be- denied by those
with whom he acted. II the day should ever
come when this government Gould not he sus
tanned upon principles of constitutional liber
ty, let it perish. Bull Run had, he said, been
to this government what the Hartford Con-
vention had to the party that avowsd it. 1t
had cast shade over those who ~ere con-
cerned in It. But the country could better
stand another Bull Run defeat than the. con-
tinued course of inaction and indecision that
had marked the course of the war.
In the House, yesterday. there was q
sharp war Of words between Fouke. OF
Illinois. and Conway, of Kansas. How
q duel between these gentlemen is to be
avoided, l do not very we'll see. The
following is brief synopsis of the discus
sion: l,c 3 .ssTs.e73sF
Mr. conway, OF Kansas, rose to q personal
explanation, and requested the clerk to read
from the Congressional Globe the rcpert of
the debate Of Thursday last, between Mr..
Fouke, of Illinois, and himself, with regard
to the battle of Belmont. He did not hear
the remarks Of that gentleman at the time
they were made, but his attention was imme-
diately called to them by a friend sitting BY
his side.; lie would now repeat the qu sstion
made elsewhere, whether the charge of false
hood was personally appliedto himself.
Mr.. Fouke, Of Illinois. said he had never
heard of any paragraph article in any
newspaper regarding the battle at Belmont q
defeat, except one in the Chicago Tribune.
The troops, numbering . little over three
thousand, took Belmont after fighting about
i've hours, and captured large number of
horses. and cannon, including two hundred
prisoners. He looked back at that bold bat
tie field and remembered the comrades who
fell by his side-some at his feet and knows
that his brave commanders are in arms and
left to meet the enemy at any day or any
hour. He could not return to his camp and
look these gallant soldiers in the face aud say
that he would permit charge OF that kind to !
g. uncontradicted.
He asked the gentleman upon what proof
be had made that statement, and he said b. |
made it upon newspaper report. lie pro |
nonnced that as false, aud if the gentleman
IS as maguanilnous as our soldiers, and would
seem to desire to be on other occasions, bui
let him take this explanation. -
Mr. Conway, of Kansas, sndeavered to do
The gentleman justice in this matter. and he
had refused to avail himself of his (Conway's)|
He proposed, therefore, to sub /
NIT this question to the Candid Judgment of
.his House and the country, whether SUCH
,onduct as his, in this case, does not clearly
portray a deliberate purpose to bring per
'onal collision betw-ru himself and the gen. |
.leinau from Illinois without cause, and |
s Thsther such conduct, instead of bee o,ning a |
Gentleman and member Of this House, is only |
worthy of a b.ackguard and scoundrei. |
Cries Of order.)
Mr.sRichardson, Of Illinois, called the gem |
ieMan to order. This was not the place to |
indulge in such remarks.
The Speaker--No debate is in order.
Mr. feulke-Sir, shall enter upon no de- |
pate; but this Twill say, that he lMr. Conway |
s disgrace to his State, o disgracs to his ma |
lure. and disgrace, Sir, to humanity.
THESE men are preparing the way for
. dissolution of the Union--getting ready
to oppose all appropriations unless the
war is prosecuted for the abolition ol
slavery.
A law was passed at extra session con
fiscaaing slaves actually employed in aid
ing the rebellion, and even that is a dead
letter, as yet, on tie statute books, for we
have not been able to go with our army
where slaves have been so employed
How ridiculous. thea. to declare this q
war for emancipation It's only object
will be to crash out every sentiment OF
loyalty in every Southern State--the
border States not excepted. II is the
very measure, Of all others, that the reb-
els desire this Congress to pass. It would