Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-20

The Richmond Dispatch Of the 18th concludes
an editorial assailing the rebel Congress for
having inauguTated steps in secret session to
make peace with Lincoln, by saying:
"The disasters which we have suffered of
late are not only not irreparable, but they are
not so great as others we have suffered on other
occasions. But the people have becoIna more
depressed by them than they ever were before,
because they had been battered by hopes OF
peace by persons who we'll knew there could
be no peace short OF submission and enslaye-
ment. This fit OF depression has been longer
and more violent than formerly, because they
see that Congress, to which they naturally
turn for encouragement, trif1ing on the yery
edge OF the abyss, with q reckless disregard Of
their situation, which prompt the rulers when
the ship is about to go down, to break open the
They see little hope in that quarter. Congress
is IN fact assisting the enemy by encouragf cling
disposition to croak, which seems to have be-
set the whole country"
Rebel Congressional Proceedinss-The
House. Jan. 10.
Immediately after the opening Of the days
business, Mr.. Orr Missy rose, as he said to
question Of privilege, In reference to an article
in newspaper OF the city. He had the clerk
to read an article from the Sentinel OF the 18th
inst, headed 'treason." He then said Mr..
Speaker, the editor Of this paper Is the public
and private printer OF this House, and it is the
commonly received organ OF the Executive.
This is my apology for noticing the SANDER
our article which had the clerk to read. It Is
apparent 10 tuo house, ana 10 tQOS6 VINO are
familiar with our proceedings, that the article
is intended as criticism upon the report from
the Committee upon Foreign Affairs, submitted
by them on last Thursday. It is no less than
grand charge OF treason against that Commit
tee, and an implication OF like import against
members OF this House who were cognizant Of
the substance Of the report, and voted to re-
ceive it in secret session.
Mr.. Orr proceeded to charge that jeff. Davis
was the "power behind the throne of the Sem
tinel who made the charge of treason. He went
on to say -. For the sake of argument, let it
be conceded that they had proposed to send
commissioners to Washington to open irregu-
lar negotiations for peace; these commissioners
might be sent with no other power than to con-
| fer and consult with the authorities there on
| the terms of an honorable peace, with instruc-
! lions to report the result Of such q conference
| to the President and to this House. Such ne
| gouations would be Irregular, and yet they
| might, l think they would, If ratified by a
| treatymaking power, secure an honorable
| and satisfactory peace
Who but O madmen would denounce these
| means and this result as treac hery of the most
| infamous character! From the supposed rsla-
| tionship OF this paper to men in p0Uey, it ma,
hare been intended, in INDUCING IN this bitter de.
.auncidtton, to hare the effect Of intiniddting tn.
advocates of an honorable and peaceful settlement
of the tcar. II this was the design, allo W me tc
assure you, MIR. Speaker, that a greater mistake
| was never made. Denunciation i0ilt be met b.
defiance. This movement Is not in the hands o.
| tiDiid and time-serrinJ men, Sustained as tneJ
are by the volume OF sentiment In the country
and in the army, and by their own sense o
duty, they are determined that in some form th
states manship of the country shall be invoked
in an honest effort to end this carnival Of dealt
by negotiation.
The Sentinel In commenting upon Orr
speech, says:
..It is had enough for private citizens to at
tempt to usurp functions otherwise appoints