The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-03-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
. Letter from the National Capital.

Letter from the National Capital.
HUNoRs OF THE CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 1864.
To the Editor of the Press;
when the rowdyism is to begin," says Mr.
Sala, the American correspondent of the Lon
don Telegraph, writing of tie organization o
the House of Representatives, Il do not know
Everything which beheld appeared to me
thoroughly modest, simple and noble" Mr..
Sala should know that the rowdyism will not
begin. That element in our national councils
was almost entirely withdrawn by the seces-
sion of the flre-eaters. What remains takes
the harmless form of buffoonery. OF clean,
sharp wit, glittering but dangerous, such as
John Randolph or Tristram Burgess once un-
sheathed in these halls, there is very little.
There are many powerful debaters, few Or
ators, a multitude of patient workers in the
committee rooms, and so the different work
OF legislation for these perious times gets on
ard shows assuredly no lack of faithful study
or practical wisdom.
Nor is there any lack Of buffoonery, occa-
sionally rising into wit, to relieve the monot-
ony OF business. Thus Senator Lane, when
Mr.. Sunderland was elected Chaplain of the
Senate, expressed his regret that Mr.. Stockton
had been dropped. "The late Chaplain" )" said
the Senator from Kansas. repeated the Lords
prayer every morning, and had hoped that
"before the end OF this session some of the
Senator'S on this side of the chamber would
shave learned it by heart" Mr. Lane through
some whim sits on the Democratic side. The
lines are not so strictly drawn however in the
House Of Representatives. SO again Senator
Wilson, in response to the castigation inflicted
by Garrett Davis in speech as bitter as it was
long, which is much to say, illustrated his
equanimity by referring to the case of man
who when asked why he didn't stop his wife
from beating him replied, "Oh, it don't hurt
4me, and it seems to do the little creature
"good."
1t is not often that anybody gains an ad-
vantage over Thad. Stevens, the Nestor of the
House, but the impudence of Cox of Ohio Is.
s., familiarly known as Sunset Cox is unri-
vailed. Mr.. Cox was interrupted in the course
Of a noisy harangue against the con1scation
bill, which has been fought tooth and nail by the
tender-hearted Democracy. Mr. Stevens wan
ted TO know whether, if sentenced of death
could be pronounced against traitors, Congress
might not prescribe some other punishment,
such as a total forfeiture OF estates. "Sir,'
said Mr.. Cox, addressing the Speaker with
grave decorum, 81 must refer the gentleman
'to the views Of the President. Mr.. Lincoln
regards a total forfeiture as unconstitutional,
"and regard the man ,cho does not stand by
"the administration on this point as seces-
"sionist and traitor"
The operation of the previous question"
and of rules limiting the time of each speaker
in the House are unknown and comparatively
unnecessary in the Senate. As a natural
result, the larger body usually outstrips the
smaller in the dispatch ofbusiness, and is re-
duced to the necessity of killing time by pass
ign test relutions. Here is one which
was offered early sn the session by Mr. Myers,
Of Pennsylvania and sparkles with certain
grim humor:
Whereas, in the opinion of this House, The
General Government is invested by the Con-
sttution Of the United States with all neces-
sary power and authority to repress any resist
ance, whether armed or unarmed, to the right
fnl power and jurisdiction the Unitee States
therefore, be it
Resolced, That, in this national emergency,
Congress will forego all feelings Of mere pas
sion, except that which loyalty dictates, allre-
sentiment, except suchas is due to treason, and
thatthis war OF national seli-defence against
armed rebels, insurrectionary traitors, and
sympathizing abettors should be waged Oh
our part until such rebels and traitors are
conquered into love for the Union, are made
obedient to the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and take the oath of allegience
70 the country and of submission to the Eman.
cipation Proclamation and the Proclamation
of December 8, 1868; and when these objects
are accomplished the leading rebels and chic
traitors should be hung, and the ,oar cease.
This is tolerably ineligible Saxon speech
The resolution was on motion of Mr.. Stevens
referred to the Committee on.Reconstructiol
OF States, and has never been heard from.
Mr.. Cox one day last week asked leave L
offer resolution, modestly offering to with
draw 1t If any objection should be offered
The resolution was read for Information, a
follows:
Resotred, That the rebellion be, and tn
same Is hereby, abolished.
The house in an uproar of laughter pro
ceeded to adopt the resolution. | venture 4
say that this Is the only proposition by Nj
Cox, which has been adopted during tn
session.
Nothing however can interest the citizen
of New England more than the propose
amendments to the joint resolution amend.
tory of the Constitution. These amendmen,
were offered in the Senate last Thursday b
Mr.. Davis OF Kentucky, thus:
First. No negro or person whose moth,
or grandmother was negro shall be a citjze
of the United States, or be eligible to al
civil or military office, or to any place of tru
OF profit under the United States.
Second. That the States of Maine an
Massachusetts shall constitute one State