Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-07
The XXXV2th Congress.
WASHINGTON, Dec.

SENATE. --MessrS. Gwin, Harlan, johnson,
of Tennessee, Thompson and Wilkinson
.ppeared in their seats
Prayer was offered by the Chaplain
Mr.. Bigler, in behalf Of the Committee to
wait on the President, reported that it had
performed It's duty. The Presidents Message
was delivered by A. J. Glossbrenner, his
Private Secretary.
The Message was read.
HOUSE. Chaplain Stockton offered up a
prayer that Congress may wisely consider the
propositions presented IN the President S
Message, and deliberately act on them in all
righteousness and truth.
The Speaker laid before the House the
annual estimate Of the Secretary of the Treas
ury Referred to the Committee of WAYS
and Means.
Mr.. Morehead, from the Committee to wait
on the President, reported that they had per-
formed that duty, and that the President had
requested them to say that he would COM
municate his Message to the House in W.T. ting
to-day at noon.
Mr. Pheps-That hour has already arrived.
After some further proceedln g, the Message
was laid before the House and r, ad by Col
Forney, the Speaker having first requested
gentlemen to be Sllert.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.
SENATE.-The Senate assembled at noon
Prayer was offered up
Mr. PCgh appeared and took his seat
The journal was read,
Mr.. Hale moved that q number of volumes
be printed relative to the Pacific Railroad
for the use of the Senate.
Mr.. Powell moved the reference of the
Presidents message so far as it relates to
the present political tendenci of the coun-
try, to a special committee
HoUsE-Mr. Sherman, from the commit
tee of Ways and Means, reported bill ma
king appropriations for the paymen, of the
invalid and other pensions also, bill for
the support of the West Point Military
Academy. Referred to the Committee of
v hole on the State Of the Union.
synopsis Of the Presidents Message.
WASHINGTON, Dec 4.
The President reviews the history of the
anti-slavery movement, and says all that is
necessary to accomplish the object of peace is
for the slaveholding States to be let alone to
manage their own domestic institutions in
their own way. The mere election of any
one to Office is not just cause for dissolution
of the Union. The antecedents Of the Pres.
ident elect are calculated to excite fears in
South Carolina, but is the question of con-
tingent danger sufficient to justify the de-
struction of the Government He reviews
the acts Of different Northern States in the
passage of Personal Liberty Bills, and pro-
nounces them unconstitutional. lie saws that
e hn
the President elect will fail to enforce the
Fugitive Slave Law, as this would be unjust,
and contrary tc Christian character. Let US
wait for the overt al.
He then declares against the right of seces,
sion. He quotes the language of jackson and
Madison Secession is altogether founded on
an inference not in the Constitution. The
Union~ras designed to be perpetual He
then quotes the Constitution in support of
this view. Tie Trainers Of the Constitution
never intended to plant in is bosom seeds for
it's own destruction. They were not guilty
of the absurdity Of providing for its own dis
solution. The right OF resistance against
tyranny and oppression, however, cannot be
denied. This right is asserted in the Declar-
alton Of In ependence; but secession is not
either more n.r less than revolution
He speaks Of the affairs CT South Carolina
He does not apprehend that an attempt will
be made to seize the Fort, but, If in this
he is mistaken, the officers have orders to act
strictly on the defensive. Let the response
bility rest on the nncs4SS of those who provoke
the contest, He inyokes his countrynien to
pause before attempting t. destroy the Union
which has conferred so many benefits,
lie argues that Congress can do much
to restore peace by proposing and recon-
gending an amendment to the Constitution
for remedying the existing evils Tne
course he recommends is to nave an explain
tory clause or amendment of the slavery
luestion-lst, expressly recognizing the
right of property in slaves in States where
'lavery may now or hereafter exists; I'd,
he duty o protecting right in the com
non erritory Gntil the latter are admitted
Is States into the IJnio, '.