Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-06
TmRrY.HrTH cOSGREss-ssgoua Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.
w ASH
SENATE.

UAshiAoiVNI DeS.
| hessrs. GWin, Harlan johnson, OF Tenn, Thompson
and Wilkinson appeared In their seats.
After prayer by the chaplain the Presidents message
was delivered by A j. Gossbrenner, the Presidents pr
vate secretary, and was read.
The reading of the Presidents message commenced
at minutes past IL o'clock, and flushed a.
minutes past two.
The attendance in the galleries slim.
Mr.. Clingman moved that il be printed. lie thought
it fell short Of investigation Of the crisis before the
government. The President elect known to be q
dangerous man. because he avowei h principle of the
irrepressibe conflict" party, with h aN Of making
upon my section Though the preseu. POSITION Of parties
in Congress held him poweress bis party would eVentu
ally control the government the Supreme Court incud
ed sectional majority absolutely has control OF the
whole government and it might begin a revolution.
He did not think any Of the Southern States had acted
preciptatey IL such occurrences as have taken place
in the last fifteen years had been with foreign nation
We would have been at before this In his judgment
Il number Of the Southern states would secede within
sixty days The South Carolina submission party vas
small
The Wiscst thing that Congress could do would be to
divide the public property fairly possible afer pay
ing the public debts Ny people not terri6ed-We
have territory than he colonies who begun
the war with Great Britain We have four times their
population Our imports last year amounted to 000
600 Northern gentlemen say our institutions dis
grace the family and they to have them removed
/ Iney STU 10 uOlu Slaves III VIC separate bnelr
cousciences will be clear
lie agreed With the President that there Is no power
| in the government TO force q State 10 remain 10 the
Union. The most offensive aggression would be to levy
tribute and separation takes place all the slave States
would be quiet and peaceable They carrying out
the policy of the fathers OF the revolution.
Mr. Chtenden replied that he had hope they had come
| together ~ q union Of friends. He hoped, for him
self that the Union he has longed lived under would be
preserved He rose for she purpose of expressing a
nope that the example of the gentleman from North
Carolina would not be followed. Better not come here
at all than thus act This Uuion worthy Of great
sacrifices and concessions He looked forward with dis
may the prospect Of dsunion-Wth fear and trembling
They search for the means Of reconciliation, and
endeAvor 70 harmony He did hope there would
be no angry dsbles North Carolina has always carried
the olive branch Of peace.
Mr. Clingman approved the desire expressed to pre-
serve the Union. He would be sustained in what he
had said by majority Of the people Of bis State
North Carolina next TO the last TO come into the
Union and when the Union TO protect her she
will bid her good bye.
Mr. Fitch moved that the usual number ten thousand)
Of copies of the message be printed.
Mr.. Hale moved to adjourn which was carried.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met precisely at The plain, Rev.
Mr.. Stockton impored Divine Grace that Congress may
wisely consider the propositions presented to them In
the Presidents message, and deliberately act them in
all righteousness and truth.
The standing committees Of last year continue the
same, with the following exceptions Committee ways
and means, Mr. Howard, Of Michigan, in place Of Nc.
Washburne excused; committee public buildings,
Mr.. McKenty in the place Of Mr. Mcpherson, excused;
committee naval affairs, Mr. AcPherson 10 place OF
Mr. SWartzs deceased; committee public lands, Mr..
Barrett in place Of Mr. Blair who is not now member
of the House.
The Speaker laid before the House the annual esti-
mates Of Secretary of the Treasury referred the
committee Of ways aud means.
Mr.. Morehead, from the committee appointed TO wait
the President reported that they bad performed that
duty, ard that the President requested them TO say that
he would communicate his message in writing to-day at
noon.
Mr.. Phelps-"That hour has already arrived"
After some unmportant proceedings the message was
laid before the House, and read by Col Forney, the
Speaker having first requested gentlemen to be silent
Tue message having been read,
Mr. Sherman moved that it be referred to the commit
tee of the whole the state Of the Union. Surprising
that there desire to debate to-day, he moved the
previous question
Mr. John Cochrane said he had proposed to Offer en-
amendment but presum ng that the gentleman fromVir-
gnia Nr Bottler had risen for similar purpose, he
would give way.
Mr. Bo,eler expressed his thanks to Mr. Cochrane,
and Mr. Sherman having Withdrawn his demand for the
previous question: Mr.. Boeler offered the following.
trusting be said that it would meet the appreciation OF
the House:
RssoiUed That so much of the Presidents message
rela,es the present peOus condition of the country
be referred TO a special committee Of one from each
State, with leave TO report at any time"
Mr. McClernand wished to move amendment, and
amid repeated calls it was read at follows:
"Res0iefd That SO much OF the Presidents annual
message as relates to mates of grievance between the
amendments the constitution OF the Uuied States for
the ra cation OF the several Sa,e and the question of
State secession from the Federal Union be referred TO
select committee TO consist OF from each State TO
10 hv fho md
be instructed to inquire into and report by bill or by
proposing amendment amendments TO the cOrstit
ton OF the United States otherwise upon such sub
ject and particularly whether any further legislation
amendment to the constitution is necessary to give
prompt certain and full effect to the last clause of the
of the All OF the constitution concerning the
return Of tugives from service or labor"
Mr. Boteer declined TO accept Mr.. McClernands amend
ment
Mr.. Sherman proposed to Mr.. Boeler that instead of
select committee Of from each State thu should be
committee Of Is. Cries Of "oh no
Mr. Bccock raised question OF order with reference
to the last part OF Mr. Boelers resolution commit.
tee could not report at any time without suspension Of
the rulos.
The Speaker decided that the question was well taken
Mr.. Bocock at the reques. OF several friends, with
drew his objection
Mr. StauntOn supposed that Mr. BOteler could accom-
ph bis object by emitting the last clause Of his resou
ton.
Mr. Boteler modified bis resolution by striking out the
words with leave to report at any time
Mr., Sherman wished to offer amendment, leaving
the House TO decide 10 the mode of organizing the
proposed committee.
Mr. Boteler replied that he had specially avoided saying
how the committee should be raised.
The Speaker said that the rules provided that the
Speaker shall appoint committees unless otherwise
dered
Mr. Norris of Illinois, wished to offer an amendment
which he read for information as follows:
"Resoivsd That we unaterably and mmovably at.
tached TO the Union Of the States that recognize in
the Union the primary of present greatness and
pro psrity as nation aud have yet nothing,
either in the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presi
dency from any her source justify its dissolution
aud that pledge to each other lives our fortunes
and our sacred honor TO maintain IT,
Objection made, Mr.. Botelers resolution being dis
tinctly before the House.
Mr. Burnett suggested that each committeeman be Sc
lected by the Stite delegations.
TCres Of mo" mo" That Is contrary To the rules
Mr. Kunke suggested that instead of the words 'peri
lous Of the country" that Mr. Boeler incorporate
10 bis resolution the language contained in Mr. hcCer
nauds proposition so that the House might specifically
know what is 10 be referred TO the committee.
The question was thea on agreeing to Mr.. Boteler's
resolution, amendment to Mr. ShermAn's motion.
Before the vote was announced Mr.. Singleton, of
Mississippi said he declined voting this question: be-
cause the Legislature of his State had called
ton TO consider the matter He believed that the people
would determine it for themselves
Mr. Jones, Of Georgia, remarked that his for
not voting that his State had also called convention
decide to her federal relations and did not want
Congress 10 decide for her.
Mr. Hawkins of Florida, said his State had appointed
day in January for State Convention take into
this The npOnle of Florida