Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-13
Proceedings of Congress.

in the Senate on Tuesday, Mr.. Clingman led
off the debate in a violent speech. lie pre-.
dicted dissolution within sixty days, and SAID
the wisest thing Congress could do gould be
to divide the public property as fairly as pos
sible. Mr. Crittenden, with some words OF
calmness and moderation, rebuked the vio-
lence of the North Carolina Senator and dep
recated angry debate. He held the Union to
be worthy of great sacrifices and concessions,
and must search for the means of conciliatlon.
Mr.. Clingman responded, approving of the
desire to preserve the Union, but ayowing
belief that he would be sustained in what he
said by majority of the people of North
| Carolina. The usual motion to print the
| Message was then adopted and the Senate ad
| journed.
! In the House after the reading of the Mes
sage, Mr.. Sherman, Republican, moved to re
! fer it to the Committee of the Whole on the
! State of the Union. Mr. Roteler, of Virgin
| la, offered an amendment referring so much
of the Message as related to the present per-
! ilous condition of the country to special
/ committee Of one from each State. Other
/ propositions and amendments were offered,
but finally the house voted on Mr.. Boteler's
amendment. A number of Southern mem
| bers declined voting on the ground that their
States had called Conventions to act upon the
questions involved. Mr.. Boteler's amend
ment was adopted-yeas l45, nays 38. Mr..
Morr s, of Illinois, attempted to introduce
resolution declaring an unalterable attach
ment to the Union and declaring that the
election of Mr. Lincoln did not Justify its
dissolution but objectio,. was made to its in
PRODUCTION, and a motion to adjourn prevail
ed.
Mr. Hale, of New Hampshire, opened the
debate in the Senate on Wednesday, with a
motion to reconsider the vote to print the
Presidents Message. He thought the contest
between the States must be settled at the bal
lot box or by war; and whilst hoping for q
peaceabe settlement urged that the danger
should be looked straight in the face. These
remarks of Mr. Hale were certainly not much
out of place, especially after Clingman's VIC.
lent speech the day before, yet we find the
whole locofoco press charging Mr.. Hale with
having introduced the slavery or disunion
question. Mr.. Iverson, of Georgia, follow
ed in a violent secession speech, avowiug that
the Withdrawing States disclaimed all further
allegiance, and they intended to 60 out of the
Union before the fourth Of March, "peaceably
if we can, forcibly if we must" Mr. Davis,
of Mississippi, said that as long as the States
were in alliance threats were of no avail. Mr..
Wigfal, of Texas, favored secession and at
tackled the Presidents Message. He gave
notice of an inquiry to ascertain whether any
order had gone from the War Department in
relation to holding possession Of the United
States fJrts in South Carolina. 1t was ne
cessary, he said, to know what the President
intends doing in order to understand the Mes
sage. Mr. Salisbury, of Delaware, uttered
some Union sentiments that were warmly ap-
plauded by the galleries. Delaware, he said,
was the first to adopt the Federal Constitu.
ton and would be the last to do any act
countenancing q separation of the States
The debate then terminated.
Mr. Green, of Missouri, gave notice Of a
resolution inquiring into the propriety of
providing for the establishment of an armed
border police to prevent the invasion of States
and to aid in the execution of the Fugitive
Slave Law.
The House had a quiet and dull session
| The Homestead bill was called up hy Mr..
Grow, of Pennsylvania, and passed--ayes
1872, nays 76. The bill requires a payment
of ten dollars from actual settlers for one hun
dred and sixty acres of land. In Committee
of the Whole the Pension and Military Acad-
emy bills were agreed to, the various portions
of the Presidents Message referred to the APP
propriate Standing Committees, and the
| House adj ourned
the Senate on Thursday. 4 memorial from
! California, asking for the establishment of a
| daily overland mail, waS presented by Mr..
! Latham. Mr.. Powell Of Kentucky, offered
! resolution referring that part of the Presi-
! dents message treating on the secession ques-
! to a special committee of thirteen, with in
| structions to enquire whether any addition
! al legislation than already within the sphere
! of the Federal authority and duty to be ne
| cessary for the protection and security Of the
property of the United States, and if so to
| report the bill and that said committee be al
so instruced to consider the report whether
it is deemed expedient to propose an amend
ment or amendments 10 the Constitution of
/ the United States, so as to ensure prompt and
full protection of the right and property Of
I the citizens of every State and Territory, and
insure the equality of the States aud equal
rights of their citizens under the Federal
! Constitution" The consideration of the res
olution was postponed, and the Senate ad-
iourned till Monday.
In the House of Representatives, Mr.. Nor
! ris. of Illinois, gave notice he would intro
duce, on Monday, his resolution on the Union.
A bill abolishing the franking privilege was
I renorted 4 bill to construe the meaning of
the words minimum of the price of public
lands" was passed. Itprovides that the word
minimum shall be construed according to
the land-graduation act, so as to apply to alter
nate and reserved sections of lands granted
for railroads and other internal improvements
and in favor of actual settlers, and not to
mean 81 25 per acre, as now officially con-
strued. The Speaker announced the special
committee on the Secession question, which
consists of the following members:
Mr.. Corwin of Ohio, Chairman.
Virginia-Mr. Wilson.
Massachusetts-M Adams.
North Carolina-Nr. Winslow.
New York-Mr. Humphrey.
South Carolina-Mr. Boyee.
Pennsylvania-Mr Campbell.
Ho.-;o Nv Tova