Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-24
The Wafchman & Reflector, of Boston,
las very NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
at Washington. From his letter of last
week we take the following

reek we take the following
rhe Debatable Ground-w ashingtOn RuIors-
A Day in Congress.
We have asdebdtable ground, which, Ike
that in the Revolutionary war, suffers equal
w from friend and foe. 1t lies on the other
side of the Potomac, between the plckets
Of both armies. It's inhabitants are
mixed breed Of loyal, sem-loyal, and tral-
tors. Our troops are indiscrIminate IN
their destructive zeal, and have LAID waste
the estates OF those who have sacrlhced
property and position in sustaining the
government. Upton's Hill is owned by
devoted Unionist, a member OF Congress,
vet his estate has suffered as much from the
wantonness of our men as from the hatred
of the rebels. Some day Congress Will be
asked to pay large damages for these ruthless
acts. Our policy should be to respect the |
property of Union men, and conhseate that
Of rebels.
The public complains of sensation rumoTs,
but Washington is a seething caldron oil
them. Here's a sample. Monday morning
A stranger walks down the avenue, over
hears one man say 10 another, odd you
hear of the excitement last night "No
what was il - Gen. Thomas was arrested
for informing the rebels" "Ah, good
Stranger thankful that at last somebody Is
hurt. ., p. NJ Stops at Willatd's, hears
that Gen. Thomas was not arrested, at ms
Office but his family is under guard. 4,P. VI.
"A Member of Congress informs him
that the General was arrestec two hours
since. Boy cries, "EreniHg SiGr. Three
cents paid; Star declares the story oaHdrd.
6,,P. MA friend wha know, says not
only Gen. Thomas but Gen. Meiss Is IN
DURANGO. ., p. Mo one arrested. but
several persons about TO be. 10, =. NJ
Il 900 rebels have crossed the Potomac
above Banks division battle expected. IL,
| p. Ma sldrnish Gen. Lander killed.
| -. M,-NO battle no rebels have crossed
the Potomac. Gen. Lander not killed.
! Stranger goes to bed, thinking how NashS
ins'on is given to lying. ami feeling very
| charitable towards reporters. Wonders
how they get 30 much truth from 81 many
lalsehoOds 4 reporter often walks miles,
and questions dozen persons, ere he de-
cides to send a rumor over the wires.
Monday was field day In the House.
The friends of Col. Baker, early in the scs
sion, introduced resolution inquirIng ot
the War Department If any measures had
been taken TO discover who was responsible
for the defeat at Balls Bluff? The DEPART
ment replied by enclosing letter from Gen.
Mcclellan, to the effect that an answer
to the inquiry would be detrimental to the
service. Mr.. COnkllng offered a resolution
stating that the answer was not satisfactory
and IN a studied speech dclineated the battle
and impugned the military skill OF Gen.
Stone. The House bristled with excitement,
newspapers were laid aside, for all saw that
the aRluuS OF the resolution was a criticism
on the military in general and Gen. Stone IN
particular. At the conclusion OF Mr.. COnk-
ling's speech, dozen members sprans for
the floor with the cry " Nr. Speaker , Ma.
STEAKER 9" The gentleman from Illinois,
sand the Speaker, and Col. Richardson ear
nestly deprecated any interference with the
military authorities by the House. Amid
a score of claimants, Mr.. Crittenden obtained
the JOr Members left their seats and thrOnged
about bin. The whisper outside was, Crit
tenden Is W" and the galleries were soon
filled. In a low voice, but with the manner
of an expert debater. he denounced any crit
ieism on the part of the House Of the
military management Of the war. Let each
party attend Its own business. The militia
~ had no right 10 interfere with the House
nor the House with the military. The old
man has lost the FIRE which gave him an ora
torical reputation in the days Of Clay and
Webster. Ere his final sentences had died
away the stentOTIan voice of Owen Lovy0y
called out, "Nlr Speaker ,' and he obtained
the floor. Earnestly he denounced the poll
ey OF the administration, affirming that ST
long as it refused 70 emancipate the slaves it
would lose battle after battle, for God would
fight against 1t. Mr.. Wickllfs. a venerable
gentleman from Kentucky, with iong, gray
locks, RULED shirt bosom, and the manners
, Of the old school, here rOse and wished o.
question the gentleman. He read from the
} journal OF the last Congress resolutions q
the effect that Congress had NJ power o.
abolish slavery IN the States Mr.. Speak
er, find recorded IN the affirmative IN,
( name OF Owen Loyejoy. Are yo,. he man
/ The House r0ared with the seeming hit, but
Lovcioy replied that rebels have no right:
under the Constitution. and asked Nr.WIck
life how he would act if it was found that
slavery and the Union could not both hC
preserved. The old man replied, he would
| throw the abolitiOnIsts overheard. Til,
= House thought Loyejoy had c1rncred him
] As a conclusion to his speech, he sent IT,,
clerk a Bible, and asked 10 be read the s n
enth chapter OF Joshua L1veioy made IN
, application that our Blbylonish Carmen
| vas slavery, and until We were nd OF Il. Tn
Almighty would blight US with delea; Tbei
= Mr.. Dunn of Indiana, suggested thut on
! Saviour taught by the parade Of The farc,
that goodness and wiclledness were 70 grow
together. Loyejoy replied, Now was IA
last day, the day of separation and burning
, Mr.. Mallory OF Kentucky, here interpose,
the remark, that. If the people of Ken
lucky found that slavery could not exist an,
the Union be preserved, they would throw
slavery oyerbo Ard The galleries applaud
3 cd the patrl0 tic sentiment. Mr.. Stevens
closed the cebate by den0uncing the remark
, of Richardson and Crittendeu, as tending L
subvert the rights OF the House, and plac
as at the mercy Of military despotism.-
Mr. Dunn craved permission to speak fiy
! minutes. on the ground that for three year,
he had not bored the House. This was $
: unique a position that be was suffered TO fire.
his mind. The House passed the resolution
and thus intimated to the powers that be
their intention OF watching and freely criti
t eising the military management of the war
So ended field day in the House.