Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-04-21
The Tfeas0nOus Utteranees in Congress
Speaker COIfax's Resolutions and Remarks.

ers a clearer idea OF the case, ana we SuDJOln
the passage of LoNG's speech to which espe-
cial exception is taken, together with Speak.
| er CoLFAx's resolution to expel him, and his
accompanying remarks, as well as the re,
marks of HARRIS, of Maryland:
The following is the exact language used by
LONG Of Ohio for which Mr.. CoLFAx proposed
his expulsion:
| do not share in the belief entertained by
my political friends on this floor and else
where that any peace is attainable upon the
basis of Union and reconstruction. If the
| Democratic party were in power, | have no
idea, and honesty compels me to declare it,
that they could restore the Union over thirty
four States. Ny mind has undergone an en-
tire change upon that subject. | believe that
| there are but two alternatives, and these are
either an acknowledgment ofHe independence Of
the South as an 1ndepeadent nation, or their
complete subjugation and determination as a
| people and Of these alternatives / prefer the
| former.
On the morning following this speech, Mr..
CoLFAx called Mr.. ROLLINS, of n. H., to the
| Speakers chair, and rising to question of
privilege offered the following:
WHEREAS, On the sth day OF April, 1854, when
the House of Representatives was in Commit ee of
the Whole on the State of the Union, Alexander
Long, Representative in Congress from the lid
District of Ohio, declared himself in favor Of recog
nizng the Independent nationality of the so-called
Confederacy in arms against the Union And
achereaS, The said so called Confederacy thus
sought to be recognized and established on the ru-
ms of a dissolved or destroyed Union has, as its
chief Off GERS, civil and military, those who have
added perjury to their treason, and who seek to
ohtain success for their parricdal efforts by the
killing of the loyal soldiers the nation who are
seeking to save it from destruction And aVhereaS,
The oath required of all members, and taken by
the said Alexander Long on the first day of the
present Congress, declares that he has voluntarily
given aid, countenance, counsel or encourage
ment to persons engaged in armed hostility to the
United States, thereby declaring that such conduct
is regarded as inconsistent with the membership
III the Congress of the Unit ed States therefore
ReSoiUed, That Alexander Long, a Represent alive
from the lid District of Ohio, having, the Sth
of April 1864, declared himself in favor of recog-
nizng the independence and nationality of the So
called Confederacy now in arms against the Union,
and thereby giving aid, countenance and encour-
agement to persons engaged in armed hostility to
the United States, is hereby expelled.
Mr. Colfax said he had pondered upon his
duty, and felt that he had double obligation
resting upon him-one as the presiding off
Ger, to administer the duties of the Chair
and the rules impartially, and the other as
Representative from the Nth District of In
diana, commissioned to speak, act, and vote
for his constituents, many of whom are in
the tented field and exposing their lives for
the safety and perpetuity of the country
He owed it to the women and children of his
district, whose natural protectors were strick-
en- down by the bloody hand of treason, and
whose household has thus been bereft. He
had no personal unfriendliness toward the
gentleman from Ohio. Their relations had
always been pleasant He (Colfax) believed
in the "freedom of Speech" and nothing
would have prompted him to the present
course excepting the utterances of the gen
tleman CAir. Long, that, in so many words, he
was in favor of recognizing the socaled Con-
| tederacy and its independence, and by such
| recognition, admitting 1t as one OF the family
| of nations. And now, when the Confederate
! flag was here boldly unfurled and aid and
| comfort were given to the enemy by the gen
| tleman (Mr. Long,, Notwithstanding his oath
of office, he (Mr. Colfax) felt it his duty to
offer this resolution, and called upon the
House to pass their judgment upon it. He
offered the resolution, not as the result of
consultation. but on his own responsibility
He (Mr. Colfax) said deliberately that his
(Mr. Longs ayowal could not be passed over
in silence. If such remarks, giving " aid
and comfort to the enemy" are suffered to
go unrebuked, why ought we to ask our sol
diers to peril their slives for the Union p
When destruction is thus openly advocated
upon this floor, we should cease to shoot de-
serters, for they have not repudiated their
obligations any more fagrantly-certainl
less infuentially. Complain not if foreign
Governments recognize the Rebel govern
ment, if you pass over this declaration of the
gentleman (Mr. Long, in silence.
If any gentleman of the same political par
ty as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Long)-a
gentleman who had advocated the recogni-
tion of the Confederate flag and government
desired to offer a resolution of this charac-
ter, he (Mr. Colfax) would give way to him.
| History is writing down on her enduring tab
| lets the events of every passing hour. He
| (Mr. Colfax doubted not that the gentleman s
| (Mr Longs) friends should have offered this
resolution for their own good name. The
| Senate of the United States, by a more than
| two-thirds vote, had expelled Senator Bright
| for writing to the Rebel chief letter of in
PRODUCTION, and after this, when the Legisls-
| ture of Indiana came to elect Senators-one
| for long term and one for a short term
| they, respecting the solemn act of the Senate,
| refused to send him back again to that body,
| and year ago former member of Congress
| (Mr. Vallandigham) was sent out of the coun-
| they, by verdict of one hundred thousand
votes, reafirmed the order of the Command
| ing General Major Gen. Burnside); and but
| the other day the Supreme Court refused to
reopen and review the judgment of that
| General If we pass over these utterances
| of % aid and comfort to the enemy in silence,
| those whose hands are stained with blood
may ask to come here from the conclave OF
| the Confederacy, saying, We have done no
more in Richmond than the gentleman from
Ohio has in this hail, and this he did in youl
| presence unrebuked.
A long and excited debate followed, in the
course of which
Mr. Harris Dem Md said that he Endorsed
| every word that the gentleman from Ohio
| (Mr. Long, had uttered, and would stand by
| him for veal or woe. You say that the gen
| tleman (Mr. Long, meant treason at the very
moment that you say he was sincere and hon
est. He was willing to go with his FRIEND
| (Mr Long) anywhere on this issue. CoulC
not a man say when war was carried on t
exterminate people, that he would rather
have peace, thus saving lives on both sides
We were a ground down people. lie (Mr
Harris) was a peace mana radical peace
man. He aras for recognizing tie Southern Con
tederacy, and for aequiescing n secession lie
had a hope, but it was not in this House. HI
hoped tornado would come and sweep YOU
from power, and give it to honest men who
have feelings of humanity and some regard
for the principles of their fathers Wa
would never bring you a termination worth s
cent. He was for peace and Union too
Laughter. He was better man than an.
OF them. lRenewed laughter If We canno
make peace, let as hare tarO sy,1eGI 7O1e13t,7let