Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-09
CONGRESS-.
Senate, Thursday, December

President.
Mr.. Siidell, Of Louisiana, gave notice Of
his intention to introduce, at IN early day, a
bill 10 make an appropriation to facilitate the
acquisition OF the Island Of Cuba
Mr.. Pugh. Of Ohio, moved that when the
Senate adjourn. il adjourn to meet on Mon
day next, which motion was agreed TO.
Mr. Clark, Of New Hampshire, gave no
tice Of his intention To Introduce Il bill 10
facilitate the construction Of Il Passenger
Railway along Pennsylvania avenue.
The Senate then took up the resolutions
Of enquiry into the invasion Of Harper
Ferry
Mr. Trumbull, of Illinois, addressed the
Senate a, length, i'll advocacy Of his amend
ment. He considered all the evidence which
the departments had furnished relative TO
the seizure Of the Arsenal at Liberty, and
contended that that information Was not tho
rough ami completes. He read the Kepubii-
can platform IA indicating its objects and
aims.
Mr.. Salisbury, OF Delaware, emquired Of
the Senator from Illinois. il Congress pos
sossed supreme power over the Territories rs
asserted III the Republican platform. did not
that supreme power have the right I" estab-
lish slavery in the Territories?
Mr.. Trmmbull replied that Congress had
supreme power over the Territories under the
Constitution. The Constitution was Con
sti,ution of freedom The word slave did
not occur In IT,
Mr.. iulee, Of Florida. declared that the
Black Republican platform aSowed doctrines
which made slavery illegal in all the States
Of this Union, admitted since the formation
of the Constitution. He demanded 10 know
OF the Republicans, ~ what practical mea-
sure Of legislation they proposed 10 give
effect to their principles. lie said that the
principles a>owed By the Republicans. intro
duced wooden horse into the concdcracy.
Mr.. Trumbull Thought that II Senators
could understand each other, the good old
times when man from the South was cit
izeu Of the North, and man from the North
was a citizen of the South would return
The difficulties grew ont oi miSappreiicii-
sions of the real state Of affairs.
Mr.. CLAY of Alabama, desired t. enquire
Of the Senator Of Illinois, who seemed can
did and communicative. how he could recon
cile tho personal integrity Of the trainers OF
the Declaration Of Independence and the
Constitution who held slaves, with his inter
pretation OF the language Of those ln,tru-
ments, asserting the equality "i the negro.
Mr.. Trumhull said that under some CIR
cunstances, slavery was nota crime.
Mr.. Clay. But YOU speak OF those twin
relics Of barbarism, polysamy, aud slavery.
Is not polysumy crime
Mr.. 1rumbuil did not know that poilygamy
WAS a crime under all circumstances. II was
not a crime i'll Turkey. Laughler.)
Mr.. Clay. Are there any circumstances
under which crime can be justified.
Mr.. Trumhnll would not quarrel about
terms. lie believed slavery 10 be wrong t"
the slave. but wrong better 10 he endured
than TO be righted hy the commission "i Il
greater wrong \ CRIME WAS Violation OF
| law; where there wus no law, there was u"
! crime.
Mr.. Clay.-Does the Senator hold right
and wrong IL be merely relative terms?
Mr.. Trumbull replied that no held crime
10 vary with law
Mr.. Clay wished to know if the uGjusliia,
bic taking OF life would not, under all cir
,ums,ances. he u crime. Ii 30, why ~ not
polygamy crime under all circumstances /.
Mr. Trumi,ul said the unlawful taking OF
life was crime in all civilized communities,
hut ho did not know that the taking 81 li!e
would be deemed a crime among salages.
He held slavery 10 lie II wrong. M EVIL, bus
not a crime. The Republican party did moi
hold slavery to he illegal in the District OF
Columbia.
Mr.. pugh, cf Ohir--Dne- III. gentleman
speak for himself alone, or for the Republi.
can party?
Mr.. Trunbul said that he spoke hir own
sentiments, in which he believed Republi
cans generally cuucurrei with him.
Mr.. Pugi, does the senator re""gnI",
Gov. Chase. Of Ohio, as III organ oi that
party:
Mr.. Trumhull holding outa book. Here
is tho only organ Of the Republican party
! No one man is entitled I" speak lts scnti-
| ments.
Mr.. Trumbrll continued ut length. lie
did not believe tho negro was the equal Of
the white man. The Almighty had placed
a mark upon the negro's face that separated
him from the white man. He did not believe
thut any man could devise Il plan BY which
the two races could be placed upon an
equality in the same community Abiding
10 the remark, Of the senator from South
Carolina. Mr. Chestnut he said that thai
gentleman had misunderstood the import ii
MIR. Stewards remarks. from which he quo
| ted.
Mr.. Chestnut, Of $ C., defended his inter
probation Of Mr.. Seward's speech. and de
sired "a know Of the Senator from Illinois, II
| he reropuiz.l Mr.. Seward n the leader of
the Republican party, and The exponent oi
! it's sentiments.
| Mr. Trumhull said that the Republican,
party was Democratic purity, and had no
leader. He hoped that the Republican
party would adopt ~ 4 portion Of It's plat
form the deportation To some region out Oh
the country and yet near At hand, ol all the
free negroes in the Union. and their pr",ec-
ton in that settlement by the Federal Gov-
eminent, until they grew able to protect
themselves.
Mr. Davis, Of Miss, followed ina srathing
review Of the statements of the S"uai"r from
Illinois. relative to tho seizure OF the Arsenal
at Liberty. Mo. Mr.. Davis alluded to re-
ports that the Governor Of Pcmns, lNana had
rendered aid 10 the Governor OF Virginia,
ard that the latter had declined il. lie was
pleased at the offer, and equally pleased Il,
the d.clination.
MIR. Mason, Of Va, said that the report
was Incorrect. No aid had been rendered.
aud Of course, none declined.