Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-12-16
Tuesdays Proceedings.

W AsHINGToN, Dec. G..
tSenate.-The resolution offered by Mr.. Mason of
Virginia yesterday to appoint committee TO inquire
into the Hlarpers Ferry invasion came up.
Mr. Trumo Gl of Illinois said that it would have
his cordial support wherever murder had been COM
mitted; and let us ascertain who guilty. and
hold them responsible. He hoped that the investi-
CATION would be thorough and complete, and believed
that it would do good by disabusing the public
mind, especially in the South, of the idea that such
a movement receives any countenance from any
considerable number Of the citizens of thE North.
No man who is not prepared to destroy the Consti-
tuition and to subvert the Government, and resolve
society into its original elements, could justify,
matter what the evils, either imaginary real that
may exist in the body potic,--no one individual,
or twenty out of twenty millions could be per-
mitted, in his own way and in defiance of the laws
of the land to undertake to correct them No gov
ernment on earth could be sustained if that was
allowed anarchy would he the consequence As
for the misguided man that led the insurgentst, he
had already expiated his error on the gallows and
gone before the final tribunal Let this investiga-
ion be impartial and thorough, and the effect the
country will be mos sautary. Had similar inves-
tigaton been instituted when similar transaction
occurred in 1855 ii would have been better for the
country. The arsenal at Liberty, Mo, was then
broken into and the public property taken away.
He briefly recapitulatcd the facts of that occurrence
as stated by Capt. Leonard in charge there. That
however, for the purpose of forcing slavery into
Kansas, while at Harpers Ferry the effort was to
abolish slavery. lie then offered an amendment
to the resolution extending the inquiry to the form
er case.
! Mason replied that he would not sland in the way
of the inquiry, and suggested that the very docu-
ments rend contained all the facts officially set forth
and that if the Senator wanted TO prevent the re-
curence of such transactions he would not stand in
! the way of applying the proper legislation to the
bill but that now, when four years have elapsed and
neither that Senator nor those that act with him
have asked an investigation it is little strange to
be so anxious TO couple the transactions; that the
committee could not examine both at once and that
therefore, both time and money would be lost by
adopting the amendment. He wanted To know
whence the resources were derived for the linrpers
Ferry invasion, and who supplied the money and
munitions of and for the pay of the prisoner
counsel. lie said Congress would not act on the
subject without official information and If il should
turn ont that Congress had no power 10 prevent
such transactions, it is then the duty, not of the
Southern States alone but of all the States to take
proper measures for their protection. lie alluded to
the remark of Mr.. Trumbel respecting the shrieks
from Kansas not having been heard in Virginia by
saying that no shreks would be heard from Vr-
gua, happen what may in their political relations.
lie did not know what a mans political education
could be to lead him to such expressions in rel.
erence to the recent events.
Mr.. Trumbe answered that nothing the Senator
might say could get him TO speak disrespectfuly o
Virginia any other State Of the Union lie said
that he spoke the word shriel as used in regard tC
the people of Kansas but not with the view of cast
ing rdcule on any portion of the country.
Mr.. Masons immpressiOn was that the expression
came from the political associates of Mr. Trumbull
Al first il was "shrieks for freedom
MIR. Hale followed dcnOuncing the Supreme
Court of the United States, and defined his position
generally in regard TO the slavery question.
Mr.. Hunter expressed surprise at the manner il
, which this resolution had been received said tina
it was proper in itself and made emnently necessa
y ~ by the circusances OF the recent occurrence
+, that the South was not so much startled by tn
foray of Brown and his few followers at the sym
pathy openly expressed in the North for him and a
the apparent indifference of the great mass at TN
North at such manifestations of sympathy. Tn
= senator from Illinois procssed TO turn The matte
into party issue; does he suppose that the Sout
o regards the peace and safety OF the community
G party matter! They are loIth to believe sucl
a things can be tolerated with indifference by thoS
bound to them by ties of common government bl
> if such is the case, il is time that they mad
u aware of il. ...
d Upon such an occasion as this, which has no pai
alle in the history Of this country the eyity dis
played by the Senator from NeN Hampshire IS lik
the laugh Of the inebriaIe Ht the bed Of DEATH
r The South take care of themselves if no RENE
l. dy can he found in the General GOyemmcnt; bl
let the SOuth know, 50 that they can take action
- the matter
70 Is this Unon To be used only to stay the arms
ii States tor eldeionsc and give 40 protection again
such ins,ureclion! II there be in Truth such alicl