The Portland daily press., 1865-02-04

those in the Navy Department, SlS2,U0O; to
those in the Interior Department, 500 600: to
those in the Post Office Department, $50 coo;
making total of sS,67o0OO. This includes
the pay of the Heads of Departments, but ex-
cludes all contingent expenses. An increase
of compensation In these Departments, SINH
lar to that proposed by the House for its own
employees, would therefore enhance the ex-
penoitures of the government about three
quarters OF million of dollars per annum.,
IL moreover, the pay Of any class Of public
servants is to be increased. common decency,
not to speak of patriotism. would require an
equal relief to be extended to the soldiers Of
the Republic. The Army Bill appropriates
for pay of the Regular and Volunteer Army
alone, duriug the year 1865. $2l0 900 900.
An increase of twenty per cent. upon this
would amount to the snug sam of $4,000
600. .sprEa ii
It is not necessary to discuss the matter
farther. In the meantime let me say to any
and every expectant of extra compensation
that he may bestow all he will receive from
this Congress in the inner corner of hisleft
eye without any Inconvenience therefrom.
saoz h9 TUESDAY, Jan. 81, 1866.
This has been white day-a day upon
which ordinary matters are as nothing. Not
more than once or twice in human history
have mighty events been born between the
rising and the setting of the same sun, but
seldom indeed has one day witnessed anything
SO grand and glorious as that which this has
beheld. How long and how earnestly have
the friends offreedom labored and prayed and
waited, and how welcome is that moment now
come at last when
"The energy sublime
s.z OF century bursts full bossomed NEs
On the thorny stem of time
1t was with anxious and uncertain minds
that the friends of the Constitutional amend
ment in the House went to their hall at noon
to-day. AS the hour of three, the time fixed
upon for voting upon that ali important meas
ure drew near, some signs of good omen ap-
peared, but the issue hung in trembling sus-
pense. The hour hand of the clock opposite
the Speaker at length reached the point at
which hundreds of eyes had long been direct
ed, and Mr.. Ashley, rising in his seat, moved q
reconsideration of the vote by which the
amendment was defeated last session. Here
amotion to lay upon the table was made from
the Democratic side of the House, on which
ayes and nays were ordered. As the tedious
roll call goes on let us look about. The gal
leries are crowded and packed and the floor
of the House is thronged by crowd of priv
iledged persons, among whom we notice
Judge Bingham, Judge Miller ofthe Supreme
Court, seated by the side Of Washburne SEN
ators Lane of Kansas, Farwell Of Maine, Har-
ris of New York, Doolittle Of Wisconsin,
Wilson of Massachusetts, to whom Trumbull
of Illinois is soon added. At length the call
Ia ended and the vote declared, Ayes57, Nays
Ill. The nays having three votes less than
two-thirds. This looks bad. Is the amend
ment to fail for want of three votes?
! Aud now the motion to lay on the table
being lost comes the motion to reconsider the
vote of last July. Slowly the roll call pro.
ceeds-it is ended-the names are read, and
the vote declared-Ayes 112, Nays 81. Here
is gain of one vote but two more are needed
to make the two thirds requisite upon the main
question. And now in the midst Of breathless
suspense, the final vote upon the Constitu-
tional amendment itself begins. The call
goes on quietly until, when J. E. English
Democrat, and soon after John Ganson of like
political faith, vote aye, the latter being gain
from the opposition, the Republican side
breaks out into applause. The Democratic
quarter is too sore over this last vote to toler-
ate any breach Of the rules, and Indignantly
demand order. Quiet is restored and the call
goes on. The skies brighten. Wells A. Hutch
ms, William Radford aad John B. Steele, all
Democrats, and who have not voted on any Of
the preliminary questions, now, as their names
are called, answer, aye. The end of the roll
is reached. The momentary silence is broken
by clear wellkrown voice
"The Clerk will call the Speakers name."
schuyler Colfax."
= "Aye." 81 s. f62sss ASH ssss]
A chesr rises and is quelled in the same mo-
ment. The end is reached, and-is it not toe
good be true the Constitutional Amend.
ment, God be praised, is carried! But all do
not know it yet In breathless suspense the
immense audience awaits the announcement.
And now the Speakers voice is heard once
more:
+ "Upon this question the Ayes are 119, the
Nays Sc; SO the resolution is passed"
There are times when the higher law of orr
humanity takes precedence of all rules and
orders, and SO 1t is now. As the voice Of the
Speaker atters the words sis passed." there
comes burst of tempestuous applause, alike
from floor and galleries, like the explosion Of
a mine. Handkerchief wave, hats go up,
shout after shout arises in one continuous
roar. The gavel falls in vain, the Speakers
voice cannot even be distinguished, the angry
demand for order If it be made is lost amid
this mighty shout Of jubilee. And SO closes
a scene that the poet, the painter, the his
torian will hereafter delight to picture and
which will make the name ofthe 3Sth Congress
illustrious forever. u It's. P.
Quarterly Responsibilities Aid.