before the vote was taken that he desired to vote for the bill if he could properly do so; if properly considered and amended. The vote in the Senate, yeas thirty-six, nays six. The nays being Breckenridge, Bright, Johnson of Missouri, Kennedy, Polk and Powell.

A National Loan bill reported to the House by Mr. Stevens, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, passed and became a law January 17. This bill provided for the negotiating a loan by the secretary of the treasury of $250,000,000 and for issuing treasury notes or registered bonds, at a rate of interest not exceeding 7 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually-irredeemable for twenty years, and after that period redeemable at the pleasure of the United States. Mr. Vallandig ham, on the passage of this bill, made a carefully prepared written speech, attacking the course of the President and also opposing this bill. Mr. Holman, a Democrat from Indiana, put to Mr. Vallandigham, at the close of his speech, the following question: "Let me ask the gentlemen from Ohio one question before he takes his seat. Is he in favor of the government suspending its efforts to maintain the integrity of the Union, and of recognizing the so-called seceded States as a separate nationality, while he censures the policy of the administration? We would like to know whether he goes with his constituents, in demanding that the constitution must and shall be preserved?" Instead of answering directly, he replied: "I will answer the gen

tleman in the words of a resolution which I propose to offer at some future time." The clerk, at Mr. Vallandigham's request, read the resolution:

'Resolved, That the Federal Government is the agent of the people of the several States composing the Union; that it consists of three distinct departments-the Legislative, the Executive and Judicial-each equally a part of the government and equally entitled to the confidence and support of the States and the people; and that it is the duty of every patriotic citizen to sustain, the several departments of the Government in the exercise of all constitutional powers of each, which may be necessary and proper for the preservation of the Government in its principles and its vigor, and to stand by and defend to the uttermost, the flag which represents the Government, the Union and the country."

Mr Holman, not satisfied with the answer, again asks him: "While the gentleman censures the administration, let me ask him whether with his own constituents, he is resolved that the Union shall be maintained ?”

Mr. Vallandigham-"My votes shall speak for me on that subject. My position is defined in the resolution just read. I am answerable only to my conscience, and not to the gentleman from Indiana.” The credit of the government at this time was not fully established, and therefore it was supposed that it could only obtain money at large interest. The bill passed the House with one hundred and

Burnett,

fifty yeas to five nays. Norton, Reed, Vallandigham and Wood voted No. The bill passed the Senate without serious opposition. Senator Clark, July 11, introduced a resolution with a whereas, giving the reasons for the expulsion of Senator Mason, Hunter Clingman, Bragg, Chestnut, Nicholson, Sebastian, Mitchel, Hemphill and Wigfall, which was passed, thirty-two voting for and ten against it. There was There was an interesting

discussion in the House July 11 on a bill making additional appropriations for the support of the army. This bill appropriated one hundred and sixtyseven million dollars, less six millions, which had been appropriated early in the.session for the same purpose. The Democrats, except those who were Secessionists, sustained this bill. Burnett, who soon after joined the rebellion, and Vallandigham opposed it. Mr. McClernand expressed generally the sentiments of the Democrats who supported the bill in the following words: "All who are in favor of a vigorous and successful prosecution of this war until rebellion and treason shall be crushed out, all who are in favor of this-and I am one of them, all such persons, and they are overwhelmingly in the majority, are in favor of an increase of the military force, in such form and proportions as will insure this most important and desirable result."

Mr. McClernand, July 15, introduced the following resolution and pre

amble:

'Whereas, A portion of the people of the United States, in violation of their constitutional obligation, have taken up arms against the National Government and are now striving by aggressiveness and iniquitous war, to overthrow it and break up the Union of their States: Therefore,

"Resolved, That this House hereby pledges itself to vote any amount of money and any number of men which may be necessary to insure a speedy. and effectual suppression of such rebellion, and the permanent restoration of the Federal authority everywhere within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States." This was passed by a vote of one hundred and twentyone to and only five against it. Mr. Logan moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was adopted, and also moved to lay the motion to reconsider on the table, which was agreed to. This is the formal motion usually made to make final a vote passing a bill or resolution.

The extra session was a busy one, showing great earnestness and harmony in the support of the war measures, deemed necessary to meet the great crisis for which it was called. This uniformity and harmony were conclusive evidences of the changed state of public opinion in the free States, after the commencement of the war by the Confederate Government at Charleston. They were unprecedented and unparalleled in the country's history, and they increased in intensity and unanimity in the country

and in Congress after the first real battle of the war at Bull Run, Sunday, July 21, in which the Confederate forces were victorious. The cannonading at this battle was heard by the members of Congress in Washington, and was heard also more distinctly and to the great inconvenience of the few members who went to witness the battle, which was expected to result in a Union victory. One member of the House, Mr. Ely, found himself immediately thereafter, in Libby Prison at Richmond. He was exchanged, but as a spectator, he did not care to see any more battles, especially on Sunday.

Among the important war measures of the extra session was an act to provide internal revenue from imports, to pay interest on the public debt and for other purposes. This was a most comprehensive law; increasing largely the tariff tax on imports, levying a direct tax of twenty million dollars on the United States, and apportioning it among the several states, with such provisions as were necessary to the collection of the taxes. This bill caused much discussion in explaining its provisions and in objections to some parts of it. The bill passed the House by a vote of seventyseven yeas to sixty nays. Many Republicans voted against it. This was the only one among numerous measures having relation to the prosecution of the war that met with much opposition. There were many other measures which increased largely the appropriations and taxes at this ses

sion made necessary by the war. There were very few prepared speeches made, the labor of the committees and the action of both Houses on measures carefully prepared by them consumed most of the time of this busy session. Three elaborate speeches were made, one by Mr. Vallandigham in the House, and in the Senate, one by Mr. Breckenridge and one by Mr. Bayard, criticising the measures of the administration, and one in reply by Senator Latham, a Democrat from California, in defense of the Union and in reply to speeches of Messrs. Breckenridge and Bayard. The character. of Mr. Latham's speech can be inferred by a few passages of its close: "Mr. President, having detained the Senate already too long, I repeat and conclude as I have commenced, by saying that while I have a seat upon the floor representing a State upon the far-off Pacific, I shall support the constituted authorities in upholding the laws, supporting the Government and securing obedience to all its subjects, in the constant and fervent hope that with as little bloodshed as possible, these people may return to their allegience and their duty to our government. It is a page that is now spread before our vision. No man can see what will be written upon it. It may be God's will that star after star shall shoot crazily and be blotted from the sphere in our political firmament. It may be his purpose that column after column, now sustaining our political temple, shall fall and

Be

crumble in the dust, and that ruin, confusion, destruction and decay shall prevail in this once happy scene. it so. Let me be glad in the thought that whenever a future Marius shall wander amid the ruins of our Carthage he will find one column at least stand

ing erect, beautiful in all its proportions, cloud capped its summit-bearing inscribed upon it, in imperishable letters, the name of my own beloved state-evidence of its truth and fixed determination to uphold the constitution and the Union of our fathers in the very face of time." The amount of appropriations in this busy session, continuing only one month and two days, amounted to two hundred and sixty-five millions one hundred and fifty-eight thousand three hundred and fifty-seven dollars and ninety-nine cents, for the following purposes :

Civil and Miscellaneous. $1,371,873.90 Army, Arms and Fortifi

member, voting always to sustain the Government, but he had a clear and unusually loud voice, which at its best could be heard nearly over the District of Columbia. Extract from Congressional Globe.

Mr. Kellogg, of Illinois-I move that a committee be appointed to wait on the President of the United States, and ascertain whether he has any further communication to make to the House?

The motion was agreed to and Messrs. Kellogg of Illinois, Fenton and Chresfield were appointed such Committee.

NORTHWESTERN INTERESTS.

Mr. Colfax-Would it be in order to hear the gentleman from Minnesota in reference to the condition of our northwestern frontier?

Mr. Stevens-And the Red River of the North?

The Speaker-If there be no objection, the chair will make none. There was no objection.

Mr. Aldrich-The gentlemen from Missouri desire to know if the gentleman from Ohio objects?

Mr. Vallandigham-Which gentle

man?

Mr. Aldrich-The gentleman in the aisle, Mr. Vallandigham.

Mr. Vallandigham-I belong to the northwest myself, and object to nothing that concerns her interest.

Mr. Cox-I would like to know the effect of the new tariff on whiskey in the Red river country. [Laughter.]

The Speaker-The chair cannot per

mit any personalities to be indulged in.

Mr. Aldrich-I desire to say at the outset, to my friends from Ohio, these young men, worthy young men, educated young men, talented young men, young men―― -Mr. Speaker, can I have the Speaker's ear? [Roars of laughter.] I was saying, Mr. Speaker, with due solemnity, (continued laughter) to the young men here, one (Vallandigham) standing in the aisle, where he has stood nearly all the session on the frontier [General laughter.]

The Speaker hopes gentlemen will preserve the decorum due to the occasion.

Mr. Aldrich-The other one (scribbling) away as he ought not to do. They are worthy young men, talented young men, but the trouble is, they are laboring under a mental hallucination of mind, [uproarous laughter.] But before I get to the Red River of the north, Mr. Speaker, let me say to the gentleman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the worthy Chairman of Ways and Means

A voice-A committee of mean ways.

Mr. Aldrich-Sometimes they are mean ways, especially when they oppose anything for the Red River of the north, as they sometimes have done, which was very much to be regretted. I have almost forgotten what I was going to say. [Laughter.]

Mr. Stevens-Made some suggestions.

Mr. Aldrich-The gentleman has re

minded me that my light-haired young friend from Indiana (Mr. Porter), sometimes gets off the track, and votes against appropriations for the Red River of the north; that too, is very much to be regretted. But the gentleman from Lancaster, (Mr. Stevens), the place where J. B. (James Buchanan) comes from, a young man who ought to know what is right, and ought to vote what is right, sometimes get off the track too. Mr. Speakerwe of the northwest, living on the buffalo trail between the Atlantic and Pacific, have asked favors at the hands of this House; sometimes we have been favored and sometimes we have not. When we ask an appropriation of $200,000 for a mail route from the Mississippi to Puget Sound, the gentleman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said there was nothing there to transport except rabbit skins, (laughter) but that gentleman is not posted. The gentleman ought to come into our country and look at it, as my friend from Indiana, this nice young man, (Mr. Colfat) has done. He understands all these things. what was to me more surprising than anything else, that this nice young man, as Chairman of the Committee on Post-office and Post Roads, when the Senate had voted to give us $200,000 for an overland mail route, opposed it, (Mr. Hutchins, louder,) the gentleman from Ohio will recollect that I informed his colleague last session, that my lungs were very weak (laughter), and that I could not speak loud. Here is

But