The Portland daily press., 1864-04-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the National Capital.
About the Second Ohio Martyr aud his
Hartyrdon.

WASHINGTON, Apr IL, 1864.
To the Editor OF the Press;
How Mr. Long, of Ohio, last Friday, in the
Hall OF Representatives, adyocateda a recogni-
tion of the Southern Confederacy how Speak
er Colfax on Saturday took his place on the
floor aud offered resolution to expel Mr. Long
from the House; how Mr.. Harris, OF Maryland,
thereupon reaffrmed Mr.. Longs opinions in
more offensive language; how a resolution to
expel Mr.. Harris received 81 votes against IS.
lacking II OF the requisite two thirds; how
vote of censure was nevertheless promptly
passed and how the Representative of the lst
Congressional district OF Maine voted against
the resolutions of expulsions and lodged the
the vote OF censure-of all these interesting
facts, the telegraph and the last letter of your
regular correspondent have already informed
you.
The debate on the resolution to expel Mr.
Long was postponed to two o'clock to-day
tMonday.) 1t is one O'Clock as l take my
place in the reporters gallery. Except this,
little space above the Speakers chair, sacred
to the Fourth Estate, every inch in the huge
galleries is already crowded and every door
way packed with dense, ,impenetrable throng
There sits Mr.. Long, well back on the right,
the Democratic side ofthe House-an inoiien-
sive looking man, with face like fire brand
ALEX Long, NJ. c." says Cincinnati letter
in my possession, sis good personal friend
"and right clever gentleman That letter
was written four weeks ago, and no doubt Mr..
Long deserves the commendation. The word
cteUer must OF course be taken in the Ameri-
can sense OF g0od-Ildtured. Such is Mr.. Longs
bonhomie that he cannot endure to think of
the righteous retribution which has befillen
our long-sufiering Southern brethren. Such
Is his simplicity that he is not even conscious
OF the indecornm, to say the least of his prop
osition to the American Congress 10 recog-
nize and admit the success of the infamous
rebellion now tottering into ruin. His hon
esty may be admitted. The courage which
Gen. Garfield attributed to him on Saturday,
may be doubted for probably no human be-
ing was ever more astonished and confound-
ed, than is this poor man at the notoriety in
TO which he has suddenly blundered. The
mark of all eyes, he sits there and reddens
aud bushes like school.boy.
1t is halfpast one. The business before the
House is completed. No new business can re-
ceive any tolerable attention at this moment,
and on motion, no one obiecting, the resolu-
tiOn OF expulsion is taken up halt am hour be-
fore the time appointed. There is a sudden
rush toward the Union side OF the House. All
Thad. Stevens has the floor, and neither friend
nor Toe cares TO lose Il word that falls from his
lips. Last Saturday, while he was sick In his
room, somebody charged him with the ex-
preston OF opinions taniamount il pursued to
their legitimate conclusions, TO these mis-
chievous utterances OF the Ohio Represen-
tatiye.
''when the cats away.
The mice viii play,
but now see how the whole fabrication tum-
bles and colapses under the force Of his pow
erinl statement OF the broad difference be-
tween his admission of the de fdcto existence
OF the Coniederacy and Mr.. Longs assump-
ton OF its existence de jure. What 4 grand
air the old man has, as lie patiently waits for
that conceited popingay, Cox of Ohio, to ex-
plain what he said and what he intended TO
say. MIR. Cox's anxiety is relieved by the as
surance that Mr.. Stevens has no reference to
him Whatever, and was not aware that he said
anything at all upon the question. And so,
with the round conclusion that "those gentle
men who pretend TO find any likeness in
views SO diametrically opposite must be
either foels or knaves-lrobdbly b0tL" the.
veteran limps slowly from the Hall.
Fernando Wood rises next Long, 1.-THE, sin
uous. snaky, and presently sends up a long
series OF extracts from a new book, 10 be
read by the Clerk. They are intended appar-
emily 10 show that various public men, who
now labor faithfully TO maintain the Union, at
some past time doubted its efficacy for good.
Somebody asks II that is an enlarged edition
OF the New Gospel of Peace" Mr. Wood
occupies his hour, aud then follows merci-
less but strictly parliamentary chastiscment of
Fernando is placid, plays with his eye glass,
performs his part to admiration, but if you
study his face with glass, you will perceive
that the lines of that quiet smile are very
hard and firm, that the features are only COM
posed by strenuous effort. And no wonder
He tries TO get the floor. Il will not yied,''
cries Schenck, "to that-enemy of his coun-
try"
Voorhees, of Indiana takes up the debate
1t Is all the same story. Nobody dares TO
agree with the unlucky Long, but then - the
sacred right Of free speech. There are limi-
tations TO FREE speech, o Voorhees, = the
daelio In half-clvilized communities, the law
against iiLel, the right of parliamentary bodies
10 sell-protection. Free speech cannot be
allowed to degenerate into insult. Mr.. Voor-
hees sometimes speaks very well. To day he
allows himself TO become excited. His thick.
red hair is combed back in fashion even
more leonine than usual. He talks too fast
and roars too much, spts too profusely and
does not always speak plainly.
rhe floor is quite full now Garrett Davis
the Kentucky martyr, comes in aud shakes
hands with Mr.. Long. There sits Charles
Sumner, quietly listening. Yonder stands
Jim Lane, conspcuously munching an apple
and just beyond is Reverdy johnson. The
Senate must have adjourned
Half-past five. Voorhees, is down While
the motion for adjournment is pending, Mr.
Colfax tries to effect an arrangement to vote
on the resolution tomorrow at three. The
opposition will not consent. They want more
time to explain how utterly they differ from
Mr. Long and how inflexibly nevertheless
they are opposed to his expulsion. SO the
motion to adjourn is withdrawn. and a recess
only is taken till seven this evening.
IL is very doubtful il the resolution will pass
A resolution of censure will doubtless b,
adopted, and then we shall see whether Mr.
Long will have the hardihood to retain hi
seat, as Mr.. Harris has to-day, III. W.R.