The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-11-30
An Inaida Yiau Of the Rebel Oongress.

hers. The debates upon several questions be-
fore that august body have been characterized
BY anything but harmony and good feeling.
It would be marvellous indeed If such con-
gregation of men could agree in council. But
these debates are pregnant with signs of the
times in Dixie. The various questions that
come up show that the affairs of the Confed-
eracy do not flow along very smoothly. There
are some rapids in the current Of events
which endanger their Confederate ship In spite
of The adroitness of him who stands at the
helm.
The laws of the several states are too Aoer-
al In exempting men from military service, es-
pecially In relation to state officers whose ser
vices at home are not absolutely essential 10
carry on their respective governments. A
committee IS proposed to look into this sub
ject and see if some soldiers may not be gath
cred from these functionaries. That they are
needed sat the front" about this time the mem
bers of this Congress have no doubt. Their
Consumption Bureau shows that there are
more than 10000 who are out Of the army on
the plea of state exemption. We think this
body of officials ought to be driven immedi-
ately to the front, while any front remains to
the rebel army. Even in Virginia there are
l400 Of these and proportionate number in
other rebel states.
The rebel government has recently met at
Augusta to hold counsel upon the state of the
country, but one member of Congress thinks
they did not go far enough upon the subject of
state exemptions. He was for making pa
thetic appeal to the several states to send these
men into the army, for they must now COM
prehend the crisis Of the country. They pro-
baby do, but then what power have the State
Legislatures in such central despotism as
exists in Richmondp This very member is
a great stickler for State Sovereignty, but fear
ed the point might be carried too far. he ex-
claims estate Sovereignty cannot save us =
We believe him most sincerely; neither will
military despotism save them. He continues,
"We must arouse all our energies and put
forth all our powers to meet the death strug-
gle that is upon u.s."
We believe that too, and yet it will not save
them. This Virginia member would even
"obliterate lines of State Sovereignty" rather
than yield to the Yankees. The despotism of
JEFF Davis has nearly done that thing already.
Mr.. Leach OF North Carolina thought that
was monstrous doctrine, As his State had
come in for large share Of abuse, he stood
ready to vindicate her. She had given In
this war more than 118 900 men, which was
more in proportion than any other State,
North or South. She has lost more troops
too, than Virginia. He was tired Of such
cant. We should think he would be, but
when such men fall out the honest people Of
the South may get their rights. "a great hue
and cry was raised," he exclaimed, "about
Georgia, because Gov. Brown and Vice Presi-
dent Stephens dared to differ from the an
nolntedl"
That's plain talk. The annointed! We
wonder what JEFF. viii say to that. This
North Carolinian Is quite saucy to the arch
traitor. asN
Mr.. Miles of South Carolina now came to
the rescue, and expressed much regret at the
party feeling exhibited in the legislative halls
of the nation at time like this. "Exaspera
ton and division could only be fatal to our
cause"
Not only fatal, for Sherman comes in for a
share of that fatality to their cause. Miles
exerted himself to throw oil upon the flames
But he regretted to hear talk about "peace,'
Reconstruction" convention of statesv &c.
1t only injured them; nothing short Of indie
pendence would suit him; no restoration Of
the Union. He understood that Boston was
exceedingly anxious to make q negro colony
of South Carolina He was SO informed by .
gentleman from Boston. .asa
We are rather inclined to believe that some
of the Bostonians would 60 in for that. He
did not wish to create an impression in the
Northern mind that the rebels were sick OF
the war, for that would make them fight more
desperately.
Mr.. Foote said that persons high in official
authority have stated that treason was abroad
In North Carolina, and have asked for the sus-
pension Of the writ of habeas corpus to sup
press it'll Here several members called Foote
to order. He said when he rose to speak there
were always raised some technical points O
order against him. They are hard on poor
Foote. but abe was not going to be choked of
in that way" He spoke of "skulking attacks
on Vice President Stephens" Mr.. Miles rose
in anger and called for explanations. Foote
then said, "the gentleman from North Carroll.
ma insists that we have no friends in the
North" s
Now it is quite possible that Foote may have
known more about the Chicago platform, and
the man who was selected to mount it than
some other members of the rebel Congress,
he might have been in secret correspondence
with certain gentlemen on the Canada side OF
Niagara Falls and in New York city; at any
rate he speaks like one having authority. But
hear him and then judge. In answer to Mr..
Miles, the South Carolinian, he says:
81 make issue with him. say we have
friends-good, true, valiant friends I'm The
North. Every vote given for Mcclellan was
vote against Llncoln's African policy. Ey-
cry vote given for Mcclellan was vote given
for an armistice. Ii Mcclellan had been elect
ed, he lFoote) was prepared to make from his
seat proposition for convention of the SOW
:
ed that the South weuld have secured from it
peace and her independence"
There 1t is as plain as q pikestah; but fortu-
nately for our country, and for those noble
men Of the old world who are struggling fol
the rights OF humanity against despots and
crowned heads, Mcclellan was not elected, and
Southern traitors have not yet established q
separate and independent Confederacy, whose
cnlei corner stone is negro slavery. And the
prospect Tor such contamination of rebel
affairs appears rather dark about this time.
inns inside view Of the rebel Congress er
veals many facts and shows to what straits.
Southern traitors are now driven. Division Of
opinion and feeling is growing wider every
day, and, as it widens, the Union sentiment
is gaining strength. andiwill ere long become
poyer insthe land of Dixie. When that in
cubus, military despotism which now rests
~ - . "