Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-11
Thirty-sixth Congressional Session.

ASdlN6ION, MONDAf. Lee.
The second session of the Both Congress was
opened very quietly at the capitol to-day, no cir
cumstanee transporting to indicate what the flu
tnre-whch all feel to be pregnant of vital re-
suits to the country-may bring forth. The pre-
siding officers of both Houses took their seats at
the hour of noon, and, quorum OF each being |
present, the usual committees were appointed to
wait on the President of the United States and
inform him of their readiness to receive the Gus
tomary communication relative to the state of
the country.
TUESDAY, Dec. 4th.-On the reading of the
Presidents Message in the Senate, Mr.. Cling
man lead off the debate in violent speech
He predicted dissolution within sixty days, and
said the wisest thing Congress could do would
be to divide the public property as fairly as
possible Mr.. Crittenden, with some words OF
calmness and moderation, rebuked the violence
of the North Carolina Senator and deprecated
angry debate. He held the Union to be worthy
of great sacrifices and concessions, and must
search for the means OF cancellations. Mr..
Clingman responded, approving of the desire to
preserve the Union, but avowing belief that
he would be sustained in what he had said by
a majority of the people of North Carolina
The usual motion to print the Message was then
adopted and the Senate adjourned.
In THE House. after the reading of the Mes
sage, Mr.. Sherman, Republican, moved to refer
it to the Committee of the Whole on the state OF
the Union. Mr.. Boteler, of Virginia, offered an
amendment referring so much of the Message as
related to the present perilous 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. number of Southern
members declined voting the ground that
their States had called Conventions to act upon
the questions involved. Mr. Boteler's amend
ment was adopted-yeas 145, nays 38. Mr..
Sherman's resolution with Mr.. Boteler's amend
ment was then agreed to. Mr.. Morris, of ILL.,,
attempted to introduce q resolution declaring
an unaterable attachment to the Union and
that the election of Mr.. Lincoln did not Justify
its dissolution, but objection made to its in
PRODUCTION, and motion to adjourn prevailed.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 5th.-Mr. Hale, of New
Hampshire, opened the debate in the Senate to-
day with motion to reconsider the vote to
print the Presidents Message. He thought the
contest between the States must be settled
at the ballot-box or by war, and whilst hoping
for peaceable settlement urged that the dam
ger should be looked straight in the face. Mr.
Iverson, of Ga, followed in a violent secession
speech, avowing that the withdrawing States
disclaimed all further allegiance and that they
intended to GO out of the Union before the 4th
ofMarch, 'peaceably if we can, forcibly if we
must" Mr.. Davis, of Miss, said that as long as
the States were in alliance threats were of no a.
vail. Mr.. Wigfall. of Texas, favored secession
and attacked the Presidents Message He gave
notice of an inquiry to ascertain whether any
order had gone from the War Department in re-
lation to holding possession of the United States
forts in South Carolina. 1t was necessary, he
said, to know what the President intended do
ing in order to understand the Message. Mr.
Salisbury, of Delaware, uttered some Union
sentiments that were warmly applauded by the
galleries. Delaware, he said, was the first to a.
dept the Federal Constitution and would be the
last to do any act countenancing separation o.
the States. The debate then terminated.
Mr.. Green, of Missouri gave notice of a reso
luton inquirng into the propriety of providing
for the establishment of al armed border police
to prevent the invasion of States and to aid il
the execution of the Fugitive Slave law.
THE HOUSE had quiet and dull session. Th.
Homestead bill was called up by Mr.. Grow, o
Pa, and passed-ayes 1872, nays rs. In Com
mittee of the whole the Pension and Military
Academy bills were agreed to, the various por
tons OF the Presidents Message referred to the
appropriate Committees, and the House adjourn
ed.
THURSDAY, DEC. 6-Both Houses had short
session to-day, and adjourned over until Monday
The adjournment, and the cutting off of prema
ture debate, is regarded triumph of the con
sentative sentiment which desires to prevent an
excited and angry discussion before any practi
cable mode of settlement has been devised. Ir
the Senate, Mr.. Powell, of KY, submitted res
olution referring that portion of the President
Message relating to the sectional disturbance
which atflict the country to special COMMITTEES
of Is. The resolution was laid over
In the House, the Speaker announced the Spe
cial Committee of one from each State: to which
that portion of the Presidents Message relating
to the sectional troubles is referred Mr.. Cor
win, of Ohio, is chairman of the Committee
Mr.. Hawkins, appointed on the Committee from
Florida, an avowed secessionist asked to be ex
cused from serving Mr. Cnchrane, of N. Y.
appealed to him to withdraw the request, ani
made strong Union appeal, which was loudly
applalded by the galleries. Without granting
the request of Mr.. Hawkins the House adjourn
ed. 1t was understood that if the request wa
granted similar applications would have beer
made by other Southern members of the Com
mttee