Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-19
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times

Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times
WASHINGTON. April ~
The rebels will derive far more aid and com
fort from the extraordinary proceedings OF the
House on Saturday than they will from the peru
sal of the speech OF Mr.. Alexander Long on
Friday, il. indeed, the latter ever reaches them
The speech OF the nndistingui>hed gentleman
from PorkOpolis might have been unwise and
iniudciouS; but il possessed no Importance and
had no political significance whatever, until the
ridiculous conduct OF the Speaker of the House
invested il with both Importance and significance
The shape in which the matter will reach the
rebels will be. not that "A member from Ohio had
announced desire TO recognize their ndepend-
ence. founded on A conviction that they cannot
be conquered but that the Republican members
OF the Federal Congress afraid TO discuss the
policy OF the further continuance of the war, and
disposed TO gag and silence every member
who dares 10 question the wisdom of an unre
lenting war OF limilless duration, and with no
other object in view than the abolition OF sav-
erv and the permanent disruption OF the Union.
Such WAS the complexion which given. on
Saturday, to the matter which crew out of Mr..
Longs speech. When Your readers come TO see
that speech for themselves, they will he amazed
To find that its alleged treason consists in the
expression oi sentiments exactly similar 10 those
heretofore used by Republican members of Con-
gress; by the most eminent and Influential Re
publican newspaper IN America. the organ par
excellence, indeed. OF the Republican parry: and
even by President Lincoln himself The re iders
OF the Times will remember the speech delivered
in the House. some months ago. at the last ses-
sion / believe by Hon. VI T. Conway ot Kansas
in Which he advocated the immediate 40 udon-
ment OF the war against the Soath. and the re-
co.nition OF the South a independent nation
The \. \. Tribune, at the beginning OF the var,
contained editorial after editorial jusiiiN ing "the
secession OF the South from the Fe,eral Union
in 1851, and urging that twenty millions of
people AT the North cannot rghtfuliy hold the
Southern people IN deie,ted union with them by
military force" Aud Abraham Lincons speech
in Congress in le4S, in which he declared that in
accortuce with the principles OF the Declaration
ct Independence any respectable portion of a
people shake off Their existing government
aud establish mn independent government OF
their own has ever since been household word
in the political discussions at the Jay
Nov there WAS nothing IN Mr. Longs speech
halt so favorable Ia the south A. these 'Reoub-
hcan' declarations Mr. Long was speaking OF
the policy of "suhiugaii0n AMI determination
which has been adopted bv the Administration
a the governing principle IN the future con
due, of tie war: and he declared it TO be his
individual opinion that il was better to ac-
knowledge the independence ol the South than
Ia carry az the war with such ends in view.
The result OF the discussion which followed the
descent Of the Speaker 10 The floor OF the
House will be regarded with some complacency
at the Sgufh: for tiN- Eight members came up
IN solid column aud voted against the eSpui-
sion OF Mr. Harris. OF Maryland. who boldly
avowed that he ndorsed every worc that Dir.
Long had uttered.
1t Is not likely that the Republicans will
succeed in sitting free discussion IN this man
ner The right Ut free speech in Congress has
been assaulted But the Dempcrttic members,
much as thew NAV condemn The expression o'
Mr Longs views are determined that that right
shall De mantnued. That determination found
expression IN the session OF the House Yesterday
aud lat evening. in the eloquent speeches ct Mr
Cox. Mir Voorhees, and Mr. Fernando Wood IL
sevhlent. ir1m The tone OF these speeches. ihat
the day has gone past when the rsGrpttions OF
the President. aud the textures al savage ierocits
Which under his direction. the war has been
made To sssume will be allowed ~ pas without
exposure and ceusure Mr. Fernando Wool. TOT
instance. not ONLY denounced the war. n u has
been c. rried on, as failure. but he proved u Z"
ne So
The storm Of last Saturday " : terrible IN lie
effects The damage done ~ the railroad he
tween this c,v and Gen N AIDES army on he
ksnpahannock wss great that u VIII be as
e'sy a task 70 build an entirely new railroad a.
TO repair the old one All the bridges and cul-
verts. with few and unimportsnt executions nave
been swept away. and the swollen streams have
overlooked their banks for miles on both sides.
Al points where the railroad ran through deep
cuts. the earth on each side vas washed down
over the track. and the latter IS now covered Tor
long distances. with closely packed mud, 20 the
depth Of from three 10 ten feet The assurance
- given that the track will be in running order
again in = few days. but il is we'll known that It
VIII require fully two weeks for superficial repairs
even. and the labor of whole month to make
'he road what il was before the storm.
VI course, all ideas of army movements are a.
an end for three weeks vet, at least. This DELAY