Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-12-12
p Congress-


hppoIhNtu 10 MI tne vacancy accustomed bI
the death of Mr.. Clayton, appeared aud tool
his seat
The credentials of Mr.. Foot. elected Sen
ator by the Vermont Legislature for siS
years, we're presented by Mr.. Colamer.
The motion to PRINT 5000 extra copies Of
the Presidents Message and accompanying
documents was then taken up.
Mr Fitzpatrick said this motion had al.
ways been submitted in similar cases. lie
had thought It would hsve been agreed to
without objection. lie was panied to see
this occasion seized upon to arraign the Pres
ident for the manner IN which he had per.
formed his constitutional duty of commun-
eating 10 Congress irom time to time, such
facts ADD suggestions as he might deem ne,
cessary or eXpedent lie believed the
Message contained a truthful account of the
circumstances connected with the establish
menl OF the Missouri COMPROMISE, and the
subsequent events growing out Of that act.
lf the President had failed to do this, he
would have been dorelict to his duty.
The South had no disposition TO interfere
with the institutions Of the North, and they
would as hule tolerate any interference BY
the people of the North with their institu-
tons. What was to be gained by reopen
ing this agitation under these circumstances
The Senators on the other side avow they
are all deeply devoted to the Union. lie
was delighted to hear that declaration. One
Of them WILSON, had drawn picture OF
the dark banner of dlsunion floating over
the entire South, and covering 1t as with
black clouds.
Now be, ,Ftzpatrlcb,) lived in the South
but had never seen such clouds. If the South
we're permitted 20 pursue their own course
unmolested, there would never be such
clouds seen there lie had heard Of flags at
the North, with only sixteen stars on them.
but he had heard Of no such flags al the
South. lie did not hold these Senators re-
sponsible for these disunion sentiments in
their section, aud It was Just as little to be
charged that the South we're in favor of dis
union because there were here and there a
few extremists
Mr.. Wade said if the debate had been
suffered to drop where It was left the other
day, he would not have uttered a word upon
the subject, but since the Senator from Al
abami (fHzpstrick) had thought proper 10
express his views upon these questions this
morning, he should claim the same privilege.
lie was not dmposed to agitate, but while hu
never commenced agitation, he never shrauk
from It when commenced by others. lie had
no objection 10 agitation, because he thought
It was likely to throw light upon the subject
discussed and he believed that light would
advance the side of the question which he
advocated. Therefore he did not deprecate
discussion. The Senator from Alabama had
expressed his surprise and regret that this
aNh b. 4
this occasion, and considered this an i'm
proper time TO take u up. But # ), was le-
gltumatc aud constitutional question, and
was proper To be submitted by the President
10 hs annual message, then 1t was especially
a question for Congress 90 consider The
President was therefore responsible for the
commencement Of this agitation, If blame
wns 10 be cast upon any one for that Near
ly one half OF his message is taken 10 with
the discussion Of the subject Of slavery.
Mr. Wade proceeded 10 Charge the Pres
ident with having pronounced libel upon
large majority of the people Of Ohio, i'm
pugning the motives Of one hundred and
seyeniy-ive thousand men who cast votes for
John G.. Fremont m the recent Presidential
election Were they TO be assailed from the
Executive mnnslon mmply because they had
seen To to discharge their duty 10 "A manner
different irom that which the President an.
proved? Was he to shield himself behind
wha, he called his constitutional privileges.
to SANDER, truduce aud abuse large major
ny Of the people of more than one OF the
States OF the Unioni tie bad CHARGED them
with adopting principles which. If carried
out, would lead TO civil war. the dissolution
% the government, aud dissolution of the
Union
That charge came with an III grace from
he President, WHO was the apologist aud
supporter Of those who have committed the
most groes and most IneNeu sable vuuagus iu
Kansas lie talked IN his message as It the
election Of Mr.. Buchanan was an endorse
nent OF his administration Did he not
know that the Democratic party dad not dare
% re-numlnate him on account Of his CON.
llicty with The affairs at kansas II the
ivowal had been openly made beforu the
election, as % was now, by the Senator from
Virginia, (Mason) that the South claims the
1ght Of expansion for slavery AZ much az us
protection where Il exists, the ireetnen of
he North would have given an almos, unan. I
nous verdict ngainsi that party. The cleo T.
ION was thus carried By shrewd and adrou
management, by conceallng before the cleo
ion what was now avowed. 10 some States
was claimed that Mr., Buchanan was the 7.
most reliable candidate to secure the fire.
Ion OF Kansas, md they had flags inscribed .
-" buchanan, breckenridge, and Free Kan I.
as, This was further proved by the result |
n Illinois. There the question was fairly /
PRESENTED IN the two candidates for Govern /
v. One was the chief engineer Of the Ne /
raska bill through the House of Represen- |
ltves, and against him was pi,ted a man
Who had opposed that bill inch by inch. The 1
primer was overwhelmingly debated. A re- I
domination OF the present Chief Magistrate
you'd have led to a similar result.
Mr.. Butler observed that he came to the
senate at this session, with the determina-
on not to allow himself To be drawn into
he discussion Of any subject, excepting such
s legitnately belonged to the business OF
congress. lie, however, felt called upon TO
tier lew words IN reply to the remarks
Inch fell from the Senator from Ohio, Mr.
Nade,) and he gave II as his deliberate Opin-
IN, that although the South were, as a body,
3 loyal TO the Union as any other portion of
he Republic, yet the time might come when
continuance Of the confuderacy might no
niger be desirable. When the Northern
eople shall have gained such ascendancy
yer this Cover lment by means of their
umbers, or to make It government TO be
under the form of Union with
ut regard TO the Constitution whenever II
Mould come to the point that they should de-
are that STAKEHOLDER should not be Presl-
ent or Vice President OF the United States.
le Solth could no longer consent to remain
the Union where they should be compel
ID to take suoo dlnate position.
In reply to the objection tina, President
icree was the first President who had in +,
oduced discussions of slavery into his Mes
lge' Mr., Butler said that IN the times of
'ashlngton, Jefferson and Madison, there
ere no sectional ISSUES, and no occasion for
ich sectional appeals to the patriotic 10 /
cart, but VITO we're mlsled IN Judgment. 10 I,
turn TO the paths IN which the founders Of !
lr Government trod. The South never has /
ide secllonallsm, He proceeded to show r
lat The Slave States were hourishlng, and a
e Institution not so baneiu as the sentlmen- ,