The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-12-08
The Meeting Of Congress.

/ AT ~ O'Clock on Monday last, in the pres.
,, encc Of an eager tlirons Of visitors attracted
to the galleries Of both Houses by the unver.
| sal anticipation Of an exciting opening of',hc
session. both branches of Congress conven.ei
! Vice President Brock inlihge presiding in the
SENATE. and Speaker Pennington in the
! llorsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| In the liorsE before calling the roll. the
Eloquent Chaplain. Rev. Thos II. Stockton.
addressed the Throne Of Grace in n mos.
| beautiful. frrvent and impressive manner for
the promotion of the peace. happiness, pros.
peri,y and perpctuity Of the Union. After
the Usual torlnalitcs Of optrfng Mr.. Gtow,
of Pa, moved TO reconsider the vote by which
the Homestead bill was referred, at the last
Session. to the Committee Of the Whule Oh
h-State of the Union. and moved the pre-.
vious question, pending which the House ad.
journcd..
In the SENATE nothing Of importance
trsnspircd prior to the adjournment at little
past o'clock P. NJ. The South Carolina
Senators were not present.
TUESDAY.-In the SENATE. upon the
reading Of the Presidents Message, which
was the first business before the body, Mr.
Clingman Of n. g., lead off tho debate in
violent speech. predicting dissolution. and
advocating division of.hc public property.
Mr.. Critendcn. KY. replied calmly and
moderately. d.prccating angy debate. Mr.
Clingman responded alleging that his State
would sustain him in what he had SAID
After the usual motion to print the Message
the SENATE adjourutd.
In the llorsE after the reading Of the Mes.
sage. it was referred excepting that part re.
laling to the pcrllous condition of the conntrv
to the Commits of the Whole ON the State of
the Union. By an amendment to the
origina motion Of reference, offered BY Mr.
boteler, OF Va, the part excepted, as above,
was referred to Special Committee of one
from each State. On the question to r,f fer, as
amended by Mr. Botclcr. number of South
ern members refused 10 vote on the ground
that their States had called Conventions to
act upon the matter.
WEDNESDAY.-In the SENATE Mr.. Hale
o! n. H.. on motion made by him to re.
consider the vote to print the Message, led
otfln speech in which he said the contest
between the States must be settled at the
ballot box or by war; that while hoping for
peaceful settlement, danger should be look.
ed straight in the face. Mr.. Ilalc's speech
called up Messrs. Ivcrson. of Ga. and Wig.
fall. of Texas in violent secession speeches.
The latter gave notice of an inquiry as to
whether the War department had issued anv
orders in relation to holding the South Caro-.
lima Forts Mr.. Salisbury, Of Del. made q
short Union speech which vas warmly up.
plaudcd by the galleries. Mr.. Green, of
No., gave motto, Of resolution inquiiins
into the expcdency Of establishing
an armed border police to prevent the nva.
sion of States and aid in executing the rugi,lv.
slave law.
In the House the Homestead bill was pas.
scd by vote Of 80 to 76. According to the
bill. each actual settler is to nay ten dollars
for his quarter section of lGO acres. The
pension and military Academy bills were.
passed in Committee Of the Whole. After
reference o! the several portions Of the Mes.
sage to the appropriate standing Committees
the House adjourned.
THCRSDAY.-No,hing Of great import
ancc transpired in either branch of Congress
Speaker Pennington, announced the Commit.
tee under Mr. Bo,eler's amendment Corwin
of Ohio. and Alillson of Eva. are the leading
names. Winter Davis repr epresents Mary.
land on the Committee, Whitley represents
Delaware. l6 Republicans. IA Democrats
and J Americans constitute the Committee.