The Portland daily press., 1864-04-22
Letter from the National Capital.
The House Debate of Thursday, April n.
AWAsmINGroN, Apr. Is, 1854.

in the House of Representatives, is the nrst
of this session which has risen to historical
Importance, the first which has had for its
subject universal and eternal principle. The
right OF free speech and the correlatiye right
of self-protection against its mischievous and
licentious abuse, will furnish matter for dis
cussion while the world stands. 1t was only
question of such Importance, which could
thus have arrested the legislation Of Congress
in these last weeks of the session, for four
long days. Mr.. Longs unexpectedly famous
speech was delivered on Friday, Sth instant
When he entered the House on Saturday, he
heard the Clerk reading Mr.. Coliaxs resolu-
ton for his expulsion. Saturday, Monday,
Tuesday, were consumed in the discussion Of
the resolution, and the sessions on Monday
and Tuesday were prolonged till half-past
IL at night On Wednesday the House adj
journed to attend the funeral of Mr.. Rives,
the founder and late publisher of the Globe
The debate was resumed on Thursday, and
can send you nothing better than rough
sketch Of this closing scene.
Long before IL o'clock ON this as on every
other day of the debate, the galleries were
thronged Mr.. Rollins, of New Jersey,
young gentleman known in the House a. the
representative of the Camden and Amboy
railroad, had secured the floor just before
Tuesdays adjournment and talked during
the first hour. Mr.. Rollins alluded to the
Bastile, called General Burnside despot and
Vallandigham a patriot exile, whereat the
vast audience smiled visibly. Mr.. Rollins
used other queer epthets, gesticulsted fear
fully and wonderfully, politely spoke of the
President as "Old Abe Lincoln" and again as
skiing Abraham l." There was no part Of
his speech except the comicsl characterize
ton of vallandigham, to which anybody
seemed to be listening. On every side of>the
great hall arose a deep, continuous buzz,
which only ceased at the conclusion Of the
Juvenile efiusion. Mr.. Rollins was lost TO
view in a cloak room, and presently reap
peared at the door, csparisoned in an over
coat, the collar carefully tied about his throat
with large silk handkerchief, while he re-
plenished his exhausted energies with a
cigar.
Mr.. Colfax has the floor, the first gentle
man of the House, and had nearly said of
America. Mr.. Collax has a very quick but
not comprehensive mind. He is rapid and
correct speaker, but he is not .eloquent He
does not rise intellectually above his peers,
but he stands there the best beloved man on
the floor. Il hold that day lost, in which /
shave not made some human being happier"
said Mr.. Colfax once in private conversation,
and Mr.. Forney who overheard the remark,
remembered and repeated it at the dinner
given TO Mr.. Colfax by the Washington repre-
sentatives OF the press, in honor of his cleo
tion as Speaker. His confessedly great in
fuence in the House is mainly personal, takes
root in his character in that fine blending of
modesty and composure, oil tact aud perfect
integeity, which marks the gentleman, with
out fear in all ages, and without reproach.
The great assembly grows silent as he rises,
and the floor Of the House presents throng
OF privileged spec tators coming in noiselessly
on all sides.
The question is first on the amendment to
the resolution OF expulsion, offered Tuesday
night by Mr.. Brownall, of Pennsylvania, de-
member of the House, and instrueting the
Speaker 10 read that declaration daily during
the remainder of the session. Mr.. Colfax ac-
cepts the amendment, on the ground that a
two-thirds vote for expulsion cannot be OBJ
tanned. Henry Winter Davis, who wants the
. .F t.
not SO easily satisfied aud gives notice that he
will renew the original proposition. The pre-
vious question is demanded and the demand
seconded by vote of 76 to II. II seems i'm
possible to review the 20 speeches Of this pro-
lix debate in the narrow compass Of an hour,
but that is the task to which Mr.. Collax ad-
dresses himself, speaking always clearly but
SO rapidly that the photographers can hardly
follow him. Cautiously he yields to not UNI
frequent Interruptions, often Selling nimbly
the half-uttered thought of his slow interlocu-
tor and answering the query or objection be-
fore the enquiriug or objecting mouth has
found me to close its IT, Within the hour he
reviews the debate and considers Mr.. Longs
entire speech. Ten minutes more, and he will
finish. But no, the gavel falls and Mr.. Chan
dler, OF New York, objects 10 any extension Of
Mr.. Collars time.
Then followed an extraordinary scene
Three or four opposition members on their feet
at once, protesting that unanimous consent of
the House was already pledged, that Mr.. Col
fax had repeatedly yielded to interruptions
with the understanding that he was TO have
time to finish his remarks, and finally that they
individually were not responsible for the OBJ
jections. Mr.. Long himself appealed to Chan
der TO withdraw his objection No repent
sing concession from the gentleman from New
York, will accept" replies Collax; 81 ask
mo favors." Mr. Long then asked the unani-
nous consent of the House TO allow Mr.. Col
fax to print the remainder Of his speech, and
promptly comes the answer, 81 never print
"what do not utter"
BY an arrangement understood to be due TO
Mr.. Colfax, it was now left to Mr.. Long to
close the debate. He took the distinct and
incompatible positions, that on the one hand
he had simply carried out Republican princi-
pies TO their logical conclusions, and on the
other that he was in advance Of his own Dem
oeratc party in opposition to Republican
principles. This paradox he did not attempt
to explain it formed the two grand divisions
of his speech. He is a weak man logically
and little uncertain in his English Speak