Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-01-27
The Rebel Congress.
CHARGES OF "TREAsoN AND TIMlprrr

days business. Mr.. Orr OF Mississippi rose,
as he said, to question of privilege in re-
ference to an article in q newspaper OF
this 9itv.
The Speaker decided that this was not
question of privilege. Tie gentleman
could only proceed by leave of the House.
Mr.. Orr, under leave Of the House, rose
to personal explanation. lie had the
clerk read al article from the Sentinel Of
the 18th inst, headed "rreason." The
following is the article referred to =
Treason Treason. Treason Gentle
men, ii is rumored on the street that there
is resolution before Congress, III secret
session, to open irregular negotiation
through commissioners with Lincoln for
peace. This is not only treason, but, I'M
der the circumstances, il is treachery Of
the most infamous character. If you
please. let Us know whether it is true or
not. The people Of Virginia certainly,
and believe the people Of the coalederacy
generally, will not allow themselves to be
sold hy traicrous Congressman after this
| fashion.
Our correspondent ''0,r refers to re-
port which is pretty common upon the
street, and when has excited, SO far AZ it
has gained any credit, the utmost surprise
and Indignation among oar people. What
the citizens of Virginia, at least, think of
sIch revolutionary notions as are therein
referred to, may be seen in the noble ac-
ton Of our House Of Delegates on Tuesday
last Propositions not u whit more disor
derry, ruinaus, and fatal tllaR these rcierr-
ed 10 by "O," were indefinitely postponed
in the promptcst and most indignant man
ncr hy a vote of l0l to =. That vote
spoke for Virginia in substance and iii
manner, We do not douht that the honor
of the State is rs truly represented in Con-
grcss, and that TO one Of her delegates at
least could have Il part in such exceedingly
reprehensible and intolcrable proceedings
as are imagined. Ii there be indeed a sin
gle member remaining in Congress who is
in favor OF seeking peace by the Oceoquan
road, instead of the regular authorized
mode which the Constitution has provided
and which he has sworn 10 support, lie
knows bat little encouragement or tolcra-
ton, or escape the NEST indignant re-
IprehenSion. The sentiment OF Governor
Vance Is the sentiment Of oar whole PEG
pie, and the SWORN dHty OF oar legislators,
| Let all our movements, whether OF peace
or war, be in solid column. There is Meth
er dignity, honor, nor safety in any other;
nothing but folly, treason and rain.
He then said
Mr.. Speaker, the editor is the public
and private printer OF this house. and it is
commonly received as the organ of the cX
ecutiyc. This is my apology tor>notieing
Jhc slanlerous article which have handed
the clerk 20 reai. 1t is apparent to tlis
house, and to those who are familiar with
eur proceedings that the article is intend
ed as a criticism upon foreign affairs, sub,
mitted to them on last Thursday. 1t is no
less than grave charge Of treason against
that committee. and an implication of like
import against the members of this house,
who We're cognzant Of the substance Of
the report, and voted TO receive il in secret
session. trust that HE reputation of the
members composing the committee is sniff
Gent TO satisfy the eeAatry that the article
Is iai.t and ai;,!deroas. The dplibefatan
at the committee upon the report We're
presided over ~ tAeAenefabia. pare, and
distinguished gieAber ira.n Virginia (Mr.
RiyeS). Noald hc have 80 presided from
week ta week N.tei treason wa plotted.
Would he harr voted, II he did, in orcA
session, n - alto secret - 4i9a - receive
,Aat report! Would his colleague Mr.. D.
jaraat,e. & eHegal Atkins of tennessee.
Mr.. n itttalspgua OF SouIt Carolina, Mr.
Turner Of North Carolina, ana Nj. Suith
o. ..l,i}amG, have given thrjr sanction toa
treasoastge reper. Are .hcy capable ot
tfsachcI4 OF the most ni:,HouS character
Are they trat0r0as congressman! Gan it
bc that tlley have hroa@ht forward Gis-
orderly. faiuons and fatal proposition, re-
prrAensi5ie and iHt9.crablc, aGd having
neither dignity, honor, nor safety in it
Bat OF the !gsiuia delegation, MessYe
ltVcs aud De ,lWaotte were not alone in
voting % receive The report. Nv Wick
ham, AIR. Baldwin, t,tt. Nj. AiCNul,iaNptcd
with thcia. aware at the timc Of it, sub
stance, aHd thus they, too, iyll under the
rel Of ,ile power byAi.Id the throne Of the
scniArl. In reiHting this ealamny against
the members Of this house, il is unnecessary
to diya,ge TIE contents Of the report, or
the action OF tie house On the resolution,
although it is With ne, As announced
when presented It, 1t is matter OF in
difference whether it shoull he considered
III open or secret session.. If the writer OF
the article ever SAW the resolutions, he has
knowingly falsiled them; if he has not
seen them bat supposcs them to be as he
states, then, according to his own report,
he betrays gross ignorance in asserting
that resolution to open irregular negotia
tons, through commissioners, with Lincoln
for peace would constitute treason, and
greater crnnlnality i'll presuming to ar
TalSn worthy and patriotic men FOR sone
thing ot Wl.io. he Is ignorant. Why should
they he subjected to this maliesssnt
criticism For sake of argument, let it
be conceded THAI they have proposed to
send commissioners to Washington to open
irregular negotiations for peace. These
commissioners might be sent with no more
power than to confer and consult with the
authorities there on the terms of an honora-
able peace, with instructions to report the
result of such conference to the president,
and to this house. Snch negotiations
would be irregular, and yet they might,
think they would, ii ratified by the treaty
making power, secure an honorable and
satisfactory peace. Who but madman
would den0unce these mean; and this re-
suit of trcachery of the most Infamous
character! From the supposed relation
ship of this paper to the men in power, it
may have been intended. in indul ging in
bitter denunciation, to have the effect Of
intilnidating the advocates of an hOnorab e
and peaceful settlement of the war. If
this was the design, allow me to assure
you, Mr.. Speaker, that a greater mistake
was never made. Dcnunciation will be
met by defiance. This increment is not IN
the hands Of timid or Gme-Serriag men,
sustained as they are by rotame Of sent-