The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-04-13

TIE Administration newsp ,pers through
out the country have been, for a, few days
past, making great ado abeut a speech
delivered in Congress last Saturday by Hon.
ALEX. LONG, of Cincinnati. They have
been flashing themselves into terrible fury
about the sentiments contained in the speech
and indulging in ecstatic eulogies upon the
conduct of Speaker CoIFAx who left the
chair of the House and moved the expul-
sion of Mr.. LONG. 1t strikes US that oil
this "tempest in . teapot" is supremely
nonsensical and inconsistent. Mr.. Lone
made speech advocating the recognition
of Southern independence and urging the
cessation of the war. In this, he did very
foolish thing and expressed sentiments
which are held by very few indeed of those
whom he claims to represent, or by very
small faction of the Democratic party. In
fact, be avowed that he spoke only for him.
self Is an individual, and his sentiments
were expressly disclaimed by the Demo-
Gratis in the House. His speech was emil
nently un-democratic, for the Democratic
party Justly prides itself upon being the
only true and unconditional Union party in
existence, and it will be the last to consent
to any peace which involves the dissolution
of the Union or the recognition of the
Southern Confederacy. But the action of
Congress and the comments of Abolition
journals have been such as to invest an OBJ.
scure and uninhuential member of the
House with an importance to which neither
his talents nor position justly entitle him.
Mr.. .oNe's speech will now be read by .
hundred persons where it would have found
one reader had it been passed by in the 81
lence which would have been its most ft
ting rebuke. If it has any influence at all
in making converts to his peculiar WY of
thinking, if it plants in one mans breast =
willingness for disunion or confirms another
in his already formed belief Mr.. Speaker
CoLrAx, and the Abolitionists generally,
are responsible for giving it that effect.
But there is another point which should
not be omittedS1 is undoubtedly TIC
right of the majority in Congress to
stop the war. They may even take
steps, subject to the restrictions the Cousti.
tuition imposes, for the recognition of the
Southern Confederacy. Whether such q
course would be proper or not, is a legiti-
mate subject for Congressional debate. 1t
is a question coming properly before the
legislative branch of the government for its
consideration, and surely, in this view Of
the matter, it 10 right to hear argument
upon both sides. Whatever opinion any
member of Congress may entertain upon
the question, he has a right to express
If no be conscientious man and honestly
holds conviction which he deems to be
right, it is bis duty to urge itforthe adoption
of others, af his opinion be, as in the case
of Mr~Long; ill judged and worthless, it will
fall to the ground, still born. But no man
mouth should be gagged, no man should
be expelled from Congress for senti'
ments spoken in Legitimate debate
We all remember that in the last Congr ess
NJ. D. CONWAY, of Kansas. argued in favor
Of recognizing the Southern Copfedcracy,
in certain contingencies, but no one moved
to expel him from the House. He is IN
Abolitionist and hence no clamor was rails
ed. HORACE GREELY has repeatedly even
since the beginning of the war, favored the
dissolution of The Union, but his paper new
er was suppressed and whatever subscri-
bers and influence the Tribune has lost on
that account have been mainly due to the
fact that it has been let alone. There is no
greater truth than the maxim that "error
may be tolerated when truth is left free to
combat it." The intolerance and bieotry
of these times have done more for the
spread of error and the incubation of dis
loyal sentiments than five hundred such
speeches as ALEX. LONGS could accomplish
The denial of the right Of free speech and
the clamor and hullabaloo that arc raised
whenever any one, no matter how obscure =,
utters sentiments distasteful to the MAORI
ty of those around him, are daily inflicting
serious damage upon the Union cause
1t is iclaimed that these disloyal utter
ances give aid and comfort to the enemy,
But who invest them with sufficient import
ancefor the rebels to build ahopeupon2 Who
proclaims that these foolish speeches by per
sons Without influence reflect the sentiment
of the Democratic party? Who endeavor
to convince the rebels that nearly one half,
and perhaps more than one half of the
Northern people are really their secret
tri0ndS2 III rho raha1s dar,vo onr al oal