The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-21 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.
The steamship Canadian, which touched at Lon-
donderry yesterday, arrived here to-day.
In the Senate, on the 6th, the following debate
took place on the proposition to print the Presi-
dent's inaugural message :
" Mr. Clingman said, in voting for the resolution,
he did not wish to be understood as endorsing the
position of the inaugural, if he understood it cor-
rectly, for all in it was dark. The purpose which
seemed to stand out clearly and directly, if carried
out, would lead to a war against the Confederate
States. The policy indicated was therefore unwise,
and should be avoided. He continued—The Pre-
sident expressly declares that he intends to treat
the States as if they were all in the Union. and
regards the acts of secession as mere nullities. Cer-
tain States claim to be independent, and if the
President acts as he enunciates there can bei no
result except collision between them and the
Federal Government. It is plain and unmistake-
able that he intends to hold, occupy, and possess
the forts, arsenals, &c., in those seceded States,
when he knows this can be done only by displacing
the State authorities. The collection of the revenue
must also lead to a collision of arms. After we
declared our independence with Great Britain
nobody supposed the colonies would pay taxes. In
fact, they refused to pay before their declaration of
independence. He repeated, if the President's
policy be carried out there must inevitably be war.
" Mr. Douglas (opp.), of Illinois, could not consent
that the senator's remarks should go out unanswered.
He had read the inaugural carefully, with a view
of understanding what the policy of the Adminis-
tration is to be, as therein vindicated. It was cha-
racterised with great ability and with great direct-
ness on certain points. A critical analysis was
necessary to arrive at the true construction. He had
partially made an analysis, and had come to the
conclusion that it was a peace rather than a
arr
message. He had examined it candidly and critic ly,
and thought there was no foundation for a dif-
ferent opinion. On the contrary, there was a dis-
tinct pledge that the policy of the Administration
shall be conducted exclusively with reference to
a peaceful solution of the national difficulties. , It
was true the President indicated a certain line of
policy, so to be conducted as to lead to a peace-
ful solution, but it was not as explicit as he
(Douglas) desired. He then quoted from the in-
augural in support of his position, saying that
unless the means be furnished, the President can-
not execute the laws. He thought the President,
in his remarks on this subject, was referring to
the future action of Congress giving him power
to enforce obedience to them. The President must
have been aware that in 1832 a law was passed
to enable President Jackson to enforce the revenue
laws in the port of Charleston. The act expired
in two years. Was it to be supposed that Mr.
Lincoln thought he had more power without than
General Jackson had with the aid of legislation?
He repeated, when the President pledges himself
to collect the revenue and enforce the laws, un-
less Congress withholds the requisite means, is it
not to be understood that his act is dependent on
the future course of Congress P He thought that
was the proper construction of the inaugural, for
the President says, He shall perform his duty so
far as practicable, unless his rightful masters, the
American people, shall withhold the requisite
means, or in some authoritative manner direct the
contrary: The President further says, ' The power
confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and
possess the property and places belonging to the
Government, and to collect the duties and imposts;
but beyond what may be necessary for these ob-
jects there will be no invasion, no using of force
against or among the people anywhere.' The Pre-
sident does not say he will take possession of the
forts, but that he will hold, occupy, and possess
them. This was equivocal language, but he did
not condemn the President for it. Beyond what
may be necessary for these objects there will be
no invasion, no using of force among the people
anywhere. If it is the duty of the President to
enforce the revenue laws, it is his duty to en-
force the other laws. It cannot be justified that
the revenue laws shall be enforced, and all other
laws which afford protection as a compensation,
for taxes shall not be enforced. He thought there
were two points in which they could find a solu-
tion of these doubts. The President says—' Where
hostility to the United States in any interior locality
shall be so great and so universal as to prevent com-
petent resident citizens from holding the Federal
offices, there will be no attempt to force obnoxious
strangers among the people for that object.' The
President draws a distinction between the exterior
and the interior. If he has power in one case he
has power in the other, If it is his duty in one
case to enforce the laws, it is his duty in the other.
There is no provision of law which authorises a
distinction in this respect between places in the in-
terior and on the seaboard. This brcught him to
the construction of another clause—the most im-
portant of all and the key to the entire policy. But
he was rejoiced when he read it. He invited at-
tention to it as showing conclusively that the Pre-
sident is pledged to a policy which looks to a
peaceful solution of our difficulties and against all
others. He says the course here indicated will be
followed, unless the current of events and experi-
ence shall show a modification or change to be
proper, and in every case of exigency his best dis-
cretion will be exercised, according to the circum-
stances usually existing, and with a view and a
hope of a peaceful solution of the national troubles
and the restoration of fraternal sympathies and
affections. In other words, the President says if
the collection of the revenue will lead to a peaceful
solution, then it will be collected. If the abandon.
ment of that collection has that effect, then it will
be abandoned. So of the forts and arsenals in the
seceding States. He will recapture them or not
recapture them, and will icinforce or not reinforce
Fort Sumter and Pickens—pledged in either vase
to a peaceful policy,
and Ewing with this view. If
this is not the true construction, why was there not ;
inserted a pledge to use coercion, retake the:forts,
recapture the arsenals, collect the revenue, and
enforce the laws, unless there was attached to each
one a condition on which the pledge was to be
carried out ? But the pledge is only to do it in
order to secure a peaceful solution, and for no other
cause. He submitted whether or not theeinaugural
friends of
peace had not much to rejoice at. rrh
was much more conservative than he had anticipat-
ed. it was more pacific and conciliatory than he
had predicted. He repeated, after a careful exa-
mination and analysis, he was clearly of opinion that
the Administration• stands pledged to a peaceful
solution, and will do no act that will lead to war