New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-24

fire by the jefe potico himself, who then made an
earnest and eloquent speech on the dangers of the
passion for gambling. You know the proYerbial
enthusiasm of the Spanards, but you cannot con-
ceIve the aceamations and the braves which
greeted the conversion Of this private individual.
The whole town seemed to be celebrating
holiday. IBoston Traveller.
Thirty-sixth Congress---second Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II. Senate Mr.. Cark's
resolution of inquiry requesting the President to
inform the Senate what number of men are sta
toned at Forts Moultrie and Sumpter and whether
in his Judgment the number was sufficient to de-
fend those forts against any attack or domestic
violence whether additional men had been or
dered to either of said forts or any steps taken to
put them in condition to resist any attack; in
whose custody the arsenal at Charleston is placed
what arms and property are there kept, or if re-
moved, by whom; why said arms are not put in
possession of officers of the United States upon
requistion, or if this has ever been refused and
further, what instructions have been given to the
officers OF said forts in case of demand to sur
render them by any person in authority made
upon them; also the copies of any correspondence
between the Commander rin Chief Of the American
army, relative to the necessity Of supplying the
officers of said forts with protection was taken up.
Mr. Brown objected to its consideration, and it
was laid over.
At1 o'clock Mr.. Powell's resolution was taken
up.
Mr.. Wade said he had very little faith in argu-
ment under the circumstances now existing. He
did not understand that anything growing out of
the recent election was any cause for the present
condition Of the country. If the papers are to be
credited, there is a reign of terror in the South
equal to that of Paris. He did not blame the
South, for they had been led to believe that the
Republican party will trampie on all their rights,
and by our avowed enemies at the North. He
would be the last man to advocate laws derogatory
to the interests of any other State These person
al liberty bills were not made to degrade the
South, but to protect the free States from unlawful
seizures. Where the South has lost one man, we
have lost ten by unlawful mobs. The South own
the Senate and the President and he did not see
what they had to complain Of. He then went on
to argue that the Republican party were now the
same as it had ever been; that it stood where
Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Clay stood it
holds to the doctrine that slavery shall not exist in
the Territories.
He then asked if the South had anything to com.
plain Of in the character habits or principles of
Mr.. Lincoln and the Vice-Presdent, and said the
day of compromises is at end-after the expert
ence we have had in Congress, it is absolutely rdi
culous 10 talk about them. The moment the Amer
can people cut loose from the sheetanchor of lib
erty, that moment the Republic is at an end; we
must submit to the unmistakable verdict OF the
people.
He said he would yield to no compromise; we
had won the victory as others had, and there were
no compromises to make. The controversy must
be met alone by the Constitution, and when we go
astray from that we shall get into difficulty. The
South claims the constitutional right to secede
never had any government South Carolina is q
small State, and we shall not miss her much if
swallowed up by an earthquake tomorrow. For
himself he would allow her to go, but as member
ton, he could not do SO. A State has no Constitu-
tonal right to go out; they can revolutionize-f
they conquer they are rights if they are conquered
they are rebels. No new State shall be admitted
into the Union without the consent of twothirds of
all the members of both branches of Congress. and
the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays which
shall be entered on the Journals and every bill
for such purpose shall be subjected to the approval
rejection of the President of the United States
as in other cases, excepting when returned it shall
require threefourths of both houses to pass it.
Mr.. Wade did not see cause to apprehend that
war wonld be made on seeding States, but as
serted the right to do SO if they saw fit. He ex-
planned the duties of the President under his obli-
cations to the whole country, and said that even
after secession, which fact the President was not
slow to recognize, every federal right would be
exercised among which is the collection of the
revenue. The Chief Magistrate must collect the
revenue precisely the same in every other State;
no State can be released from that obligation, for
the Constitution demands it. What follows il the
seeding State shuts up the ports of entry SO that
ships cannot discharge their cargoes? Then ships
will cease to go there, or il the government block
AIDES her ports to collect revenue then she will not
have gained her independence by secession II
she will feel contented to live under this equivocal
state of things all will be wel but she cannot do
| so. What will she do? She must take the initia-
tive, and declare war upon the United States; then
force must be met by force, and she must show
out her independence by violence and war. The
act of levying war is treason against the United
States. That is the result, and we may as well
look the matter in the face. The Senator from
Texas says the South will force an ignominious
treaty from us at Faneuil Hall. To this we would
answer, well, you may; we know your power,
we know your bravery; we do not want to fight
with you, but nevertheless if you drive us to the
necessity we will use all our powers to maintain
iKrfn
are overthrown the government will be subyerted
as thousands of other governments have been. If
you are the weakest, then you must go to the wall
that is all there is about it. that is the condition in
which we now stand, and can see no power in the
Constitution that will release the Senator from this
position.
Mr.. Wade continued at considerable length, con.
tending that the present troubles were mainly at
trbutable to the misrepresentation of the Repub-
lican party and its objects.
Mr., Johnson, of Tennessee got the floor.
The Senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL -House.-John Coehrane
offered preamble setting forth that conflict of
opinion threatening the peace and harmony of the
Union, has arisen concerning the true intent and
meaning of that part of the Constitution relating
to slavery within the United States, and that the
opinion of the majority of the Supreme Court of
the United States, as delivered by Chief Justice
Taney, recognizing slaves as property, should be
received as the settlement of the question. He
proposed an amendment to the Constitution, that
ments for any territory. and the people therein,
having adopted State Constitution, may be ad.
mitted into the Union, and that neither Congress
nor the people, during their territorial condition
should pass law to annul or impair the right of
property therein. Referred to the Select Com
mittee.
Mr.. Adrian offered the following:
Whereas, The Court of the United States is the
supreme law of land, and its ready and faithful
obedience is duty of good and law-abiding cit-
zens therefore,
Resolued, That we deprecate the spirit of dis.
obedience to the Constitution, wherever manifest
ed, and that we earnestly recommend the repeal
of all statutes by the State Legislatures in conflict
with and in violation of that sacred instrument and
the laws of Congress, passed in pursuance thereof
John Coehrane offered an amendment to include
in the recommendation the repeal of personal
liberty bills SO call. (Applause)
Mr.. Sherman wished Mr.. Adrain to accept an.
other amendment so as to include all the nuilifea.
tion laws.
Mr.. Adrian objected.
Mr. Loveioy said the previous question was or
defed on the resolution before Mr.. Gochrane's
amendment was accepted
Mr.. Adrian said he had ordered the previous
question on the resolution so amended.
Impatient cries of Question from the Demo.
cratic side.
The House proceeded to vote on ordering the
main question.
Mr. Barksdaie said the gentlemen having taken