The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-17

The spirit and feeling of the nation
marks itsel as sharply and as clearly
/ in the uttersnce and action of Congress
as does the density of the atmosphere in
the readings of the barometer. An earn
| est and decided conviction entertained
upon any subject, in any portion of the
republic, may be measured and exactly
estimated by the language which it in
spires, and the conduct which controls
st the point where convictions and incli-
nations assume shape and substance and
1 material form. Let the determinations
which have been grown up &c; the reso-
lutions which have been arrived st; the
decisions which have been concluded
upon, and the action which is likely to
be enforced be read, therefore, to some
extent, from the current Congressional
debates.
Mr.. Howe, of Wisconsin, on Thursday,
offered in the House resolution:
Requesting the President of the
/ United States to call out a million of
volunteers for ninety days, 70 carry free
dom to every captive in rebel prisons;
and that Gen. Grant be assigned to the
command of said troops"
The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Baldwin, OF Massachusetts,, offered
3 preamble setting forth that
"As organized treason, having its head
quarters at Richmond, exists in defiant
violation of the national Constitution,
and has no claim to be treated otherwise
than as outlaws; therefore
Res0lved, That any proposition or ne
gOtiation with the rebels ought to be re-
jected without hesitation or delay"
This resolution was adopted, IS to "a,
and the preamble was sgreed to unani-
mously.
Mr.. Rogers, of New jersey, inspirited
undoubtedly by the precedent action,
Offered a resolution declaring for .
vigorous prosecution of the war, but at
the same time for peace, Cancellation and
compromise, 90 far as was consistent
with henor, and most earnestly recon-
mending the cooperation of the Presi-
dent and the Senate in sending commits
sioners to Richmond, in order that the
war may be brought to . close"
A vigorous prosecution Of the war, and
peace and Cancellation and compromise?
Warmth, but no heat; light, but no illu-
mination; energy, but no action. What
do these gentlemen dream of! Were
have they lived? What are they
looking forward TO? Can they neither
be taught by demonstration nor convin-
ced by hard fscte? VIII they cling to
their Compromises" which have been
scorned, even by the rebels to their
cancellations" which leave our men to
death and suffering, and all our commO-
ton to peace committees, which are be-
ligerAntlY kicked homeward from their
missions, and to their inculcatiOns Of
charity, whose margins are written all
over with rubricsl readings of blood
Fortunately, we need no discussion to
demonstrate that those plans ought not
to succeed no urgent pleading to secure
the defeat of those schemes which are
wrapped within them. The feeling Of
the country is written in the action Of
its representatives. The resolution was
tabled by a vote of n to A. In its
stead goes forth to the rebellion every
where, to Europe and the world, the de-
cision that "any proposition or negOtia-
ton with the rebels will be rejected
without hesitation" that the Constitu-
ton will be maintained 10 its last letter,
and in al the fullRess Of its original
spirit. If there is encouragement to
treason in that, it remains 10 be pointed
out.
But more. Some portions Of the coun-
try fare not exhausted in men or
money or spirit. The people are not
driven by oppressive laws into the ranks.
They request the Executive officer Of
the nation 10 call out million more men.
They ask that they may be put into the
aeld, with a pledge 10 bury forever the
foul villany which has SO long eluded de-
struction. And TO this, maddened by al
the crimes and Outrages with which the
story Of the last four years is made foul,
they add that @any proposition or negO-
tiation with the rebels shall be rejected
without hesitation or delay" If our
Herring southern brethren" can discover
the prophecies Of an early peace-the
evidence Of . more sympathetic spirit
having possession Of the northern mind
lin these procedures, We congratulate
their perspieaeity.
There was never sent up from me Ro-
man forum so certain and hearty a cry,
when the great orator gave bis iieraled
peroration- Cartilage est deI7laa-a IS now
goes up from the American people when
it is announced that treason and Febeil-
ion must die By their Heapons.--soTtA
AulsneaR.