Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-04-14
The Expulsion Of mr.. Long.


the floor of the House, Mr.. Davis of
Maryland made speech, of which we
ind given the following brief telegraphic
summary. Imperfect as the report nee
essarily is, it contains the substance Of
the argument used by those who regard
Mr.. Longs expulsion as due to the body
he disgraces. A case of technical, legal
treason, it is not necessary should APP
pear. The true foundation Of the resolu-
ton for expulsion was,a substantial VIC
lation of his oath of Office, and the enter
tanning and expressing in Congress of
such sentiments as made him an un-
worthy member of the House and gave
aid and comfort to the enemy. He had
taken an oath, necessary to his seat in
Congress- to support and defend the
constitution. As a member of Congress
he had violated this oath by using his
influence (by argument on the floor) in
favor of what was equivalent to the des-
tYuetion OF the constitution, in preference
to subjugating its enemies, if that, as he
believed was the only alternative left
for its preservation. A large majority
of the House, including some democrats,
had already voted Mr.. Harris an I'M
worthy member of that body, for the
expression of similar sentiments; which
was, or rather ought to be, tantamount
to his dismissal from his seat. AS to
the aid, comfort and encouragement af
torded to the enemies Of the constitu-
ton and Union by such speeches, it is
too evident to require argument.
Such in brief, we understand to be the
position of those who favor Mr.. Col
fax's resolution, as embodied in the fol-
lowing imperfect abstract of Mr.. Davis
speech, and as our columns will not
admit a full abstract of the lengthy de-
bates, we copy this as condensed state
ment Of the case;
MIR. Davis (Un., Md,) said the ques-
ton was not whether the speech de-
liyered by the gentleman from Ohio was
reasonable within the law, but whether
he was unworthy to be Representative
of the people Of the United States. He
did not envy those gentlemen who had
refused to expel the gentleman from
Maryland from the House, and afterWard
voted that he was unworthy to hold a
seat here. He argued that the House
had the right and had exercised it, to
expel member, not capriciously, but for
something wrong which he had done.
The gentleman had proclaimed himself
the friend of the enemies of the United
States. In violation Of his solemn oath
to sustain the Constitution, he said
rather than sustain it to the extent of
determination of its enemies he prefer
red it's destruction. 1t was not the free
dom of speech he complained OF. He
was brave aud honorable, and he thank
ed them for it. 1t revealed an enemy
unlike the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Wood, who with similar senti-
ments, concealed them. Laughter
He did not wish to punish him for his
speeches, but for entertaining such SEN
timents. This was one of the cases
where, with or without law, his expul-
sion was necessary. 1t was one of those
questions where there was no right to be
on more than one side. President Blu
chanan scandalized the American name
when he said that the war was uncon-
stitutional, and that there was no pow
er to coerce sovereign States. Those who
had taken up and echoed this sentiment,
and acted upon it gave aid and comfort
to the enemy. When Mcclellan and
Fitz John Porter shall again bring the
rebels within sight Of Washington
when Vallandigham shall rule in Ohio,
Bright in Indiana, Seymour in Connec-
ticut. Woodward in Pennsylvania and
when the friends" of Seymour in New
York shall make the streets run with
blood, and when division shall prevail
throughout the States then those who
have thus given aid and comfort to the
enemy will acknowledge their masters
at the South. At every hazard of his
life would he meet such antagonism.
The democrats have rallied to the
defense of Mr.. Long, and two-thirds
vote, necessary to expel, is not expected.
The result Of the debate will probably
be vote of censure, as in the case of
Mr.. Harris. Bnt indirectly, and unin-
tentionally of course, so far as Messrs.
Long, Harris, Fernando Wood, & Co. are
concerned, we believe more aid will
accrue to the Union cause from their
open disunion utterances, than the reb-
els will derive therefrom, however much
the latter may be. Where the democ-
racy" have hitherto succeeded in North
ern elections since the outbreak Of this
rebellion, it has been through dissimu-
lation and concealment of their real SEN
timents from the people. The disguise
had already been pretty well stripped
of, as shown by the elections of 1863
and so far of 1864. But it is well to
have every shred of covering removed
and the contemplate, cowardly, in
famous Observation-Disclosures traitors
democracy Of the day exhibited in all
its naked ugliness to an indignant and
patriotic people. The immediate effect
will be its burial so far down that it
shall be heard of again only in history.
The future effect will be the historical
exaltation Of the Tories of the Revolu-