The Portland daily press., 1864-09-12
Honest Aid to the Administration,
How l., ID. M. Sweat Received 1t.


HOW HE REDEENED THE PROMISE.
Nothing shows more clearly the political
position of members of Congress, than their
votes ON certain compact and pointed resolu-
lions which are offered, from time to time, by
persons who wish to test the sense Of the
house. These resolutions are generally placed
under the operation Of the previous question,
which cuts off debates; much to the disgust
of many members like Mr.. Sweat, who talk
on one side and vote with the other, who would
unquestionably be glad TO avoid these trouble
some calls to vote without an opportunity to
explain away their conduct. MIR. Sweat as we
have before stated, protested and called his
God to witness that he would "honestly aid
holy and wicked rebellion" Now let us see
how he carried out his noble and patriotic pur-
poses.
A few days after Congress met a resolution
was presented censuring the Administration.
The only ground OF censure mentioned in the
preamble was interference with slavery, and
the resolution substantially asserted that the
maintenance OF slavery was essential to the
preservation Of the country, and that the OBJ
ject of the war was to "ceerce" the people Of
the South to modify or abrogate the system.
Mr.. Sweat voted in fauor Of this resolution
with all the avowed opponsnts of the Admin
istration. How much "honest aid did that
vote give the Administration
On the same day resolution was introduc-
ed denying that either Congress or the Presi-
dent had the power to suspend the act of ha-
beas corpus. Persons who have lived in dis
loyal communities know what would be the
result II the government had not the power
to make arbitrary arrests, and it is the general
opinion among men of whose loyalty there is
no shadow of suspicion, that the power has
not been used freely enough. For these reso-
buttons Mr.. Sweat voted also with the solid
copperhead phalanx. How much "honest aid
| did that give the Administration
Three days before this he had voted fol
Fernando Woods resolution TO send commits
sioners to Richmond TO sue Tor peace; a ropo
sition which makes any man, who has ''an,
manhood or selirespect," to use Mr.. Sweat
favorite phrase, blush with indignation. Tha
Dixons' line, base enough to offer it, is sufii
GENTLY humliating; but there were sixty
seven members of the House of Representa-
tiyes SO cowardly or so tratorous, as to vot,
for those infamous resolutions. Among tn,
number was L. ID. M. Sweat of Maine, How
much ''honest aid" was here?
At about the same time the Union side of
fered three resolutions. The first affirmed
that the government was threatened by the
rebellion, opposed any armistice or peace I'M.
til the rebellion was crushed, and declared
that there were but two parties, traitors and
patriots. The second declared ii to be the
| duty of Congress to vote men and money
and the third rendered the thanks Of Con
gress 10 the soldiers. Mr.. Sweat again went
with the solid democratic phalanx and roted
against these resolutions! They were ther
taken up separately. Mr.. Sweat lodged the
first, and voted for the second and third
Against the two last but one vote was cast
that Of Mr.. Benjamin g. Harris. Subsequently
as we have before stated, Mr.. Sweat refused
10 vote to expel Mr.. Harris, and Also by
lodging the vote Of censure, declared that be
considered said Harris, a worthy member OF
the House and fit associate for himself! AS
to the latter we think there can be no doubt.
Such are few of the instances in which
Mr.. Sweat has given his 'honest aid" to the
Administration. The last vote we have men
toned, is the one referred to in his great
speech when he pledged the "honest aid
Aforesaid. 1t is the only instance where he
did not vote against the Union members, and
here he merely voted with his party.