The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-22
CORRESPONDENCE.
From our Regular Corrcspondent) -
WASHINGTON CRY. April. l6, 1894.

|
rebels, aud openly expressed himself as desir'
Gus for the independence OF the Southern Con
federacy. On Saturday morning speaker Col
fax descended from the chair, and offered res
oution for his expulsion. On Monday the IN
tercst to hear became so intense, that although
the consideration of the resolution was made
! the special order for half past ono o'clock, a.
half past nine, people began to take their seat;
in the galleries, and long before the appointed
hour, not only the seats, but every available
place for standing was filled to suiiocati0n:
The debate was opened by Mr.. Bliss OF Ohio,
on the Democratic side, who, without the cour'
age to endorse the speech Of his colleague, was
DESTROYS OF having his open ayowal of treason,
considered as an error OF jud gment. and of let.
ting il pass unnotioed. This speech was followed
by Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania. the
veteran leader Of the House. and the ables'
member Of this Congress. His speech was q
yindication of his position, which had been as
sailed during his absence from the House. His
reply to Cox, the Ohio pettifogger, who had
perverted an old speech Of Stevens into an ar
gument against him on this occasion, 81 know
how perfectly easy it is for the devil to quote
ter and applause, which Cox did not appear to
relish. I afi 20 1h 500 .lg
Mr. Stevens was followed by Fernando Wood
of New York. the veritable "Phurnandywud,'
who Is immortal as the hero Of the Gospel ol
Peace. Keen, shrewd and sly rs cat; with a
face smoot tn. shaved and irresistibly meek-im.
pressing the beholdcr that danger turks behind
with a smooth, captivating gesture, and an
oily tongue whose utterances verify the philoso-
ply, that speech is faculty with which to
conceal our thoughts; opposed to the Admin
istration and the war, he Is ready to avail HIM
self Of every means, whether fair or foul to
compel our Government to stoop ignob!y before
the rebel chief. and sue for peace ON any terms
consistent with the dignity of armed rebels
He represents the "friends" Of Gov. Seymour
who inhabit the sinks and cellars OF New York,
and is the exponent of this leading element Of
the Democratic party, ready to do all its humil-
iatinC ofices-even 70 the cutting Of the Ma
tional throat. In him Is reproduced the charac.
ter to whom hepoetic sarcasm OF Ben. johnson
was applicable. 30. .-.....t. ...| ..
"This fellow
For six soils more could plead against his maker"
On this occasion no new arguments were pre-
sen,ed; and this debate from beginning to end
will be distinguished by an absolute dearth OF
argument ON the opposition side. Fernando
Wood, like others, cOntentcd himself with reit-
Grating the thread.barc arguments which for
three years have been the capital stock OF the
rebels both in Washington and in Richmond ;
such as, the Republicans are Aboltionists, and
Abolitionists are responsible FOR the commence
ment, and the continuance of the war, Nc, &c.
noticed that Mr.. Wood gave his audience .
little Of the "spice of lfe," to wit: variety
not included in the stcreotyped Earrings" which
other disunionists gave their "views." In
speaking Of the eminent philanthrophst aud
scholar, George Thompson, he ventilated his
spleen by dignifed allusion to that English
yagabond, Thompson" whom he asserted had
come here as the guest of his "fellow disunion.
sts," to witness the "bloody harvest" OF the
war.
On the evening of Monday the galleries were
crOwdeItto overlooking by IN audience, many
of whom had kept their seats since the conn
mcncement Of the session in the morning. The
halls and passages leading to the House were
also filled by hundreds eager to get glimpse
of the scene within. 1t was near midnight
when Mr.. Davis Of Maryland addressed the
House Could the scene Mt the time be trans
fcrred to canvas 1t might well be placed among
the historic paintings OF our country. Direct
Is in front of Mr.. Davis, and turning in his
seat so as to look him in the eye rs he spoke,
sat speaker Coltax, who, until this moment had
been busily ut work preparing his speech IN
support of his resolution. Nearby sat the dis.
,inguished Secretary OF the Navy, rendered
conspicuous by his celebrated immense white
whiskers. The Senate was unable to secure a
quorum, and many of its members had "ad-
journed" to the House, and could now DC seen +,
earnest spectators of the scene, which can
never be forgotten by any who witnessed 1t. a
hundred and fifty thousand rebels drawn up in
line of battle were within sixty miles ot the
capital. Washington itself one vast camp pro-
tccted by batteries extending in every direction
for thirty miles around tin daily expectation
of battle, the magnitude and Importance OF
which is without parallel in history; and
which In the nature of things, It will require
the sacrifice of twenty thousand loyal soldiers
to gain. An avowcd $, mpathizer with armed
, rebels was ON trial in the House, for speech,
every sentence of which would be applaudcd
in the streets of Richmond; and the House in
n session protracted from noon till midnight
was unable 10 reach vote.
Under such circumstances the youthful cham.
pion Of Liberty in slave holding Maryland rose
TO address the House. Mr.. Davis has the APP
pearancc of q man OF thirty.fye (; his manner
Is free from constraint {; he Is wide awake, and
ms active as boy of fifteen dresses in an or
binary business suit, short tailed coat, jaunty
low crowned hat and when he rises to speak
generally rolls up his coat sleeves enough 10
show his wristbands, and prepares to "sail in"
ms the boys have it. There Is little in his APP
pearancc to indicate the statesman, IL such o
position is Indicative of severe dignity, aud
none would select him as the author Of those
magnificent efforts in Congress and upon the
platform, which have gained him place among
the ablest statesmen of the land. His speech on
this occasion has been pronounced one Of the
finest efforts ever made in Congress. Many
who were present in tho galleries Of tho House
on last Monday night must have been carried,
in Imagination, back to the times when "therc
were giants in those days." when the Wcbsters
and the Haynes pleaded with each other for
the mastery. The audience. composed Of the
beauty and fashion and talent OF America, Of
men holding high positions In the nations Of
Europe, was sufficiently distinguished to salts
fy the ambition ot the orator, who was, during
the delivery of his speech, frequently interrupt
cd by enthusiastic applause, or rs he turned to
ridicule some position Of the copperhcads, by
roars of laughter, which was ofcourse very i'm
proper, and was promptly subducd by the
Speakers hammer. Ii was complete vindi.
cation OF the Government, and n scorching re-
bukc to rebel sympathIers in Congress. No
description can do 1t justice. 1t is sufficient to
say that II was worthy If the name and fame OF
lIfSRY WINTER DAVIS.
On Thursday, the resolution being still un-
der consideration, and most OF the members
having had an opportunity to ventilate their
opinions. Mr.. Colf,x addressed the House, an
aiyzing Mr.. Longs speech and showing be-
yond doubt his completely with treason. lie
submitted to frequent Interruptions during the
delivery OF his speech, under the express under.
standing that the time 20 occupied should not
bc taken from his hour, and, as consequence
had not finished his speech when his time cI-
PRED. In accordance with the arrangement, he
asked for few additional minutes, to which
Mr.. Chandler, of New York, objected Mr..
Colfax replied that she asked no favor and
would take his scat" This was an outrage OF
which even the Democrats wcrc ashamed, anu
FASTENED 10 disclaim being party thereto.
The objection would gladly have been win;
drawn. hut Mr.. Colhx very properly refused