Federal Congress.
In the Senate on the 1st inst., the bill to suppress insurrection, sedition, &c., being under consideration, Mr. Breckinridge, with his usual ability, exposed its unconstitutional features, and freely criticized the acts of the Northern President. The bill was not disposed of. In the House, Mr. Fenton offered the following:‘ Whereas, it is currently reported that the forces now in rebellion against the Government have certain persons in their hands, one of whom is Hon. Alfred Ely, a member of this House: Therefore.
Resolved, That the President be requested to furnish this House with any information on the subject that may have reached him.--Passed.
’ Mr. Blair, of Missouri, then rose to a personal explanation, and made a pretty severe attack upon Thurlow Weed, of the Albany Evening Journal, for ascribing to him (Blair) and his brother, (the Postmaster General,) the design of precipitating the action of Gen. Scott, and involving him in battle without prudent preparation. We quote from the proceedings:
‘ As for his brother, Mr. Blair said, he could take care of himself, but he (Mr. B) denounced the charge brought by Weed against him, as chairman on Military Affairs, that he had ‘"emasculated the bill,"’ as utterly false, which the record would show.
The attempt to impute to him, and others who had urged a vigorous prosecution of the war, responsibility for the disaster at Bull Run, came with a bad grace from Thurlow Weed, who came to the National Capital representing, as he declared, ‘"the whole people of New York,"’ to infuse vigor into the management of the army. If Weed, who had formerly contended for compromise, could urge vigor, surely he (Mr. B.) might do the same with propriety.
’ He then alluded to the recent speech in this House of Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, (much quoted in the newspapers,) relative to a conversation between the President and General Scott, growing out of the late battle. He (Mr. Blair) protested against Mr. Richardson's remarks, because they suppressed the fact that General Scott had in that conversation positively exonerated the President from the charge of forcing him into an untimely struggle.
Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, explained that he had endeavored to repeat that conversation honestly and respectfully. If anything had escaped his memory the members of this House who were present ought to have corrected him.
Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, did not understand his colleague to say, on the occasion referred to, that Gen. Scott had been forced by the President to fight the battle of Manassas.
Mr. Richardson did not think that his language had been fairly interpreted, if construed in such a sense.
Mr. Blair, of Missouri, alluded to the matter for a double purpose, to exonerate the President as well as Gen. Scott, and he wanted the truth now to go on the record. The President needs the confidence of the people and must be sustained in it, and this he could not be if the impression prevailed publicly that he had forced the Commander in Chief into this battle.
Mr. Olin, of New York, said he did not believe any good ever came from these personal explanations, which, besides, were very unpleasant.
