Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-21

PROPOSED EXPULSION OF A MEMBER.

L Inc Iousc prOcceutu lQr. nOllihS OF New ramp
shire. having been called to the chair pro tenn
pore to the consideration Of the resolution offered by Mr.
CoLrAx on Saturday last to expel the gentleman from
Ohio, iNr. LoKG) II s..l5 n sl,fss,;s .ai ,.. scs
Mr.. BLISS, of Oh0,a took The floor, and delivered i
speech IN opposition to the resOluton He said that the
Speaker OF this House, nsaad OF hastily introducing this
resolution in moment If excited sentiment should have
taken time to deliberate upen the subject have made
himself better acquainted with the facts upon which hi.
accusation s founded The words Of the resolution were
Rssolved, That the said ALEXANDER Love Representa-
tive from the second distrcs of Ohio having the
April 1884 declared himself favor Of recognising the in
in arms against the Union and thereby given aid
tie IN armed hos
The words Of the gentemau from Ohio principally re-
lied upon to sustain the charging part Of the resolution
| arc the following: ,t, ~ ssgg ~, s-.s,. a Ear 4
now believe that there but alternatives and
the South Independent nation, their compete subu-
CATION and exterminator as people, and Of these aterna
tves prefer the former" sTs se
These words CONTINUED Mr. b are said to be treason
able showing state of mind preudced against the cause
of Government and partial to the enemy with whom
at If such be the import of the words their
utterance cannot be tolerated but to me- upon
fair consideration Of the words and their connections
aud of tho whole speech that the Of this resolution
much mistaken in the estimate which he put upon the
substance Of the thought which my colleague expressed
do not understand my colleague have expressed here
desire for the Of the Confederate over tho
arms of the UDited States did not understand him
have expressed any want Of sympathy with the
the Union But understood him to have expressed simn
ply an opinion OF his an opinion formed from his own
reflection, opinion formed from the interpretation
which he has placed the history of the times and
the events which, since the of tbis war have
ranspred and to have to the coDcu ion that the
and disasters attendant upon the war to sub
gate the Confederate power are greater evil than the
acknowledgement OF the independence of the Confederate
States do not understand him to rejoice in such re-
suit or such state OF things but understand him TO
express as his Judgment under all the circumstances that
the Lesser evil OF recognizing the socaed Confederate
States might be udicousy adopted by the Government
scarcely necessary for say that do not as
sent to the opinion thus promulgated by my colleague
However his judgment may be formed it does not agree
with mine 1t does not as understand the iacts ag rec
with the sentiment Of those represent upon this floor
and does not with the sentiment OF his other col
leagues belonging to the same party in State have
always put myself upon the record when have had the
opportunity Of briefly presenting my views in this House
national affairs to the contrary of the sentiments which
complained OF In my colleagues remarks But do not
know any other question than that involving the vital
principle and the law Of the republic by what right can
claim to nsist that other mems shall conform pre-
ciseIy and specifically to mine God has given TO me no
warrant to infabty Of Judgment and to make
my opinion the standard for other mem If believed
that my colleague had come into this House with dispo
siton, or in had manifested disposition erpeuse and
maintain the Of public enemies and TO remit
his good faith and his allegiance to the Government /
would regard him as unworthy OF his seat If he has
erred in judgment disposed to look upon him with
charity To make that ground Of expulsion would empty
all the seats 10 this House What is IL that giyes the
right to failibe and msjudgng to exact uniformity
Of opinion from bis felow-bengs when the sources of
opinion various and adverse V.ItE
Now il Is pertinent to the of my colleague
from the Cincinnati district (Mr LoNG) say that he
ates novel opinion here when he signifies that in his
judgment peace is the better policy say that it is not
idea. 1t is not to the Republican party We
have had the same sentiments from who occupied
positions statesmen and affiliated with that party
They have said that the Southern Coufsderacy could
maintain s independence for year or two then it would
be wise and just to let it 60. Who tell where such
seed upon the human may have
root and generated the sentiments of to-day
i do not believe, Mr. Speaker, that this House, in
moment OF passion in paroxysm of anger should expel
member because he enerns and expresses an opinion 10
the freedom OF debate has been praced the
hall OF this House without dissent, not comportng with
the of majority Of those who listened to him The
speech OF colleague contains nothing significant Of any
purpose on his part to advance opinion aid the
cause OF the adversary to smother any sympathy
for the success Of he country II be be guilty only Of
error and not Of intentional cme it is useless to stand
here and contend that his language reasonable and
that ought to receive that construction from his fellow
citizens cannot give my vote for the passage Of the
resolution now pending for other offence than the
preston OF an opinion which citizen Of what and
should be now free Government, my colleague had
right TO introduce and communicate to his fellows at his
pleasure He exercised bis right of free speech under
the protection Of the clear guarantee of the
and to undertake to punish him for it il ruhlessy
ga the fundamental principles Of American liberty
Mr.. STEVENS, OF Pennsylvania, explained the position
he assumed at the beginning OF the session. saying: con-
tended that the Confederate States had co seeded
from this Union, that in doing they have committed
great crime which should be punished not only by the
extreme rights allowable in all by the laws of war;
but that they had outawed themselves from all protection
under the Constitution and laws of the United States
that they bad abrogated the laws and the Constitution
the Union so az they concerned that they could
invoke the protection Of neither TO them from the
vengeance which should be inflicted by the Unions that 10
addition to the ordinary laws of beigerens ought
con6scate oil their property far the leaders
concerned that ought IT, take from them their real
ugaed by the Of this nation that they could ella
rights different from those Of conquered foreign
my waging most unjust and cruel against the Gov
erDmeDt and that their rights none other than
accorded by the laws Of war in its EXTREMIST extent
contended that they had de jacoas s undenahy true
committed the crime OF secession that they stood in that
atttude therefore outlaws and aliens from the pro
lection Of the Constitution and the laws Of this Govern
ment and that they could invoke the aid of neither for their
projections and then went to show the kind of pun
ishment which believed Alien enemy, composed Of
traitors should receive; that they begerent
cupyug the poion Of foreign nation with regard to
reign nation because they composed Of traitors
their Government and that their punishment should be
pursued by fire and sword to their utter subjogaton
Indeed, much did insist extreme punishment being
awarded to them, that certain portion OF this House
seemed to be struck with horror a the extremity OF the
| vengeance which asked should be visited ON them
Mr. f. proceeded to deny that his position could be
simulated 10 that Of Mr. LONG 1t could not he SAID be
assmilated to the position Of offering 10 recognise the re-