The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-12
THIRTY.SIyTH CONGRESS...SECNND SESSION
SENATE.


reading of the journal, the House bill to provide
for the payment of all outstanding treasury notes.
| and to authorize loan, ETC., received
Mr.. RICE objected to taking it up.-Mr. CAM
| ERON favored doing so, and the Senate voted to
| take it up-yeas 80, nays 27.-The House bill to
| authorize the issuing of Treasury notes was re-
| ceived.-Mr. RICE moved its reference to the
COMMITTEE of Finance and the Senate referred it.
The resolution providing for the reference of that
portion OF the Presidents Message relative to the
| affairs of the Confederacy was taken up.-Mr
| HALE offered resolution that the Committee on
Military affairs be instructed to inquire whether the
expenses of that branch of the public service cannot
be reduced without detriment to the public safety
and ii they can, that they be further instructed to
report to what extent, and what particular branch
| or branches can be dispened with reduced.
| Passed.-When the resolution relative to the
secession portion of the Presidents Message was
| taken up, Mr.. BIGLER took the floor from yester-
day, and said: 1t was my intention yesterday to in
dicate my own position on the great question which
has agtated the people of this country. This is my
only purpose this morning. / shall reserve for
some subsequent period, when propose to discuss
the question more fully. Sir it was truly remarked
by the Senator from Mississippi, who sat next to
me on yesterday, that evil times have fallen upon
US. 1t is too sadly apparent. This great Republic
OF ours is in imminent danger of dissolution. The
whole social, political and commercial system is Sc
riously disordered, and shows unmistakable evil
dence OF depression and distress. Commerce. trade
ard finances deranged The banks have ceased
to redeem their notes in specie, and the treasury of
the United States is unable to meet the current de-
mands A general gloom seems spread over the
entire country. Why is all this, sir? Have the
great elements of prosperity and progress suddenly
peen exhausted? No. sir. These were never more
abundant than now. What is it then, sir2 Why,
SIR disguise 1t as we may, this sad picture is the
result OF political panic l almost shrink from
enunciatng the precise cause, obvious to every
Senator and Intelligent man in the land. We hear
oil Legislatures being assembled, and conventions of
the people being ordered, to consider the great ques-
tlon whether relations to be continued or not
thus singular that have manifested deep
concern and distress? Sir, this is sad picture
1t seems to me that it is the part of patriotism and
duty to look it fair in the face. NJ own impress
slons at first were, that the less said the better.
have changed that impression-I believe that
the tunes require that the public men-the select
men of the nation here should come up to the great
question; let the people understand what view is
taken OF it here. For one | am prepared to sepa-
rate myself as far as possible from past preiudces
and party allegiance, and consider the condition
of the country in spirit of devotion to its interests
most heartily commend the position of the Sena.
tor from Connecticut, without understanding the
desires of the men of his own party; he has
told it here, regardless of the connection
of his party and prejudices, for | believe
he was a friend of the President elect He
has come forward boldly and taken his position
for the Constitution, and for the Union as made
by the Constitution for the equality of the States
and for justice among his fellow citizens of the
United States. A Convention of all the States can
be called only when twothirds of the States petit
tion Congress. Every way Congress must have
connection with this subject. We should enouire
calmly soberly and earnestly of each other what
can be done here. The South has received nv co
operation long and cordially. For her rights |
have Zealously contended long before on this floor
whose cause has been our cause and whose csuse
to some extent has been embraced by million and
half OF Northern men. | acknowledge
there has been kept up a war in Congress
upon their feelings well calculated to ALLEVIATE them
Doctrines are held to some extent inconsistent with
the pnnaItV Far Ill H.,
clusion of the owners of slaves from the Terrific
ries. But is dissolution a remedy? Is that the
best and wisest of all alternatives left? No more
fatal step be taken for the interest of the
State represent here. | remember Yesterday the
Senator from Mississippi said that war and even
death, was to be preferred to dishonor and that no
State could remain in the Unioa less than an equal
Let the South ask redress and if denied LET two-
thirds OF the States call Convention. | will re-
| sort to any honorable means to save the Union
L wish to see this Government maintain its digni-
ty and influence in the world. 1t is worth sacriti-
ces, 1t is yworth effort. Ifyou want perma-
| nent peace, you must strike the disease The
| hearts of men must be changed. The most potent
! influence to cause any Northern State to put down
! the abolition question, and give the South her
rights on that question, is the tariff Manufactur
ers and miners believed that the Democratic party
was prejudicial to protection, and therefore have
| gone over to the Republican. No man is warranted
| in saying that the State of Pennsylvania will ad-
| here to the doctrines of the Republican party
don't believe its issue of the irrepressb!e conflict
as generally interpreted in that State. What be-
cause of a party victory, is the country to be
torn by. violence, riots and mobs in your
| commercial cities, and to derange business?
| What, is a party triumph to cause misfortunes
worse than dissolution? ! shall do all in nv power
to adjust these unhappy differences. ! am despon-
dent entirely. cant bring my mind to contem-
template the separation of these States much less
contemplate the consequences which would follow
| MIR. lVERSON succeeded Mr.. Bigler, and said:
| am not willing to vote for the resolution offered
| tT X TtTHy Y fbA, fN.T
gresslcna legislation, nor amendments to the Con-
stitution. In whatever form it may come | have
no evidence for the accomplishment of ANYTHING
| good Look at the question from n common
| sense standpoint. Is it designed to frame
Congressional legislation to remedy the evils of the
! South? Is additional legislation necessary to pro.
tect the rights and equality of the Southern
States, more than is now presented in the Consti.
tuition and the laws? Ifso what is the COnrresson.
al legislation? As far as the fugitive slave law is
concerned what more can Congress do than has
peenS doneF II there was proper public senti-
ment prevailing in the Northern States, then the
| South would not compain-power is already
| given to the Judiciary and Executive to execute
| the laws OF the government. We don't complain
that the Executive has been derelictn the discharge
OF Its duties. Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan have
carried out the laws. Yet now we do fnd at times.
the greatest difficulty in Northern States to reclaim
tugltives, atteaded sometimes with loss of life II
Is not defect of the present laws; not the ire
pressbe conflict, but vtiated public sentiment in
the Northern States. In the conservative States
| Pennsylvania and New Jersey-the law is not eye
cuted, and so in every other free State Why is il
we are put to so much trouble to reclaim our prop
| erty there? 1t is not the defeat of the law but
| public sentiment, that is wrong. When fugitive
is able to escape to free State, the courts of ius
| tice may try the case, but mob law eventually
taxes Its place. 1t is proposed to have Congress
sional legislation and intervention in slave ter
tory. Is that the object of the resolution for the
! appointment of committee? No! The great
principle which stands at the very basis is that the
Black Republicans intend driving slavery from ev-
! cry inch of Territory. What They Weld to Com
gressional protection? No, sir. How many of the
Northern Democrats | would inquire will he
brought to our support? Sir, we know, so far as
| aportion of tae Northern men are concerned, that
| they are hostile to the principles we advocate
! AS to the resolutions, the means which thew set
forth will only add to the burthen of the States in
stead of giving blessing. desire to say word
| to Maryland and Virginia. The District of Coum-
bia, especially the people of the District seem to
be against They expect dissolution of the
| Union is going to destroy the capital, and that
| property here is to become valueless Sir. that
may or NAV not be. ltdepends very much on their
! conduct. Thattve States will 90 out before March
| 4th, and form confederacy, is an opinion admit
ting no earthly doubt, and that other slave States
will join on favorable OCCASION have little less
doubt will not undertake to discuss the reason
l have expressed it. If Maryland and Virginia
desire to have any influence in the formation of a
new government, to which they must finally owe
allegiance, they had better follow our example and
| go out OF the Union with us, laughter, / and so
help to form government. 1t may be that a gov
ernment will be formed and State enactments mt
in operation before they get time to take part in
it. he South will not open the African slave trade
| believe the great mass of Southern people are
opposed to it. | see no reason WHY WASHINGTON
should not be the capital OF the Southern Confedere
cy. Laughter. Believe me- it will be true, laugh
as much as they may. Continued laughter in the
galleries. Washington will answer Just as well as
though the capital was in the centre of Georgia
Laughter. For one, am in favor of making
Washington the seat of Government. Increased
laughter People may laugh, but they will not
do so when what say tells in brick and mortar
Mr.. PUGH said he hoped the Union would con-
tinue from the extraordinary speech they had lust
heard When the people of any State, organi.
zation or territory or community do not
desire to have the institution of slavery his right
should fall from its socket before he would
vote to force them to accept it. and Uice versa-
Mr. lVERSON said, referred you to a speech of
February 23 OF last year, when | was in the chair
ou did not say eyes then. Mr. Iverson referred
to the fugitive slave case of Burns. MIR PUGH
said, that's only one case.-Mr. IVERSON read
the Congressional Globe, to prove that Mr. Pugh did
not adhere to what he stated previous to this ses-
Slon.-Mr. PUGH said, let me read the rest
Laughter. | contradict that the fugitive slave
law was trampled under foot.-Mr. IVERSON
stated that 30 years ago elaborate report made
by order Of the Virginia Legislature, proved that
$780, 900 worth of slaves were lost from limits b
being fugitives. Mr.. Pugh don't believe that all
the slave States ever lost 100000 in this way
Mr.. .DOUGLAS.-Like many other laws the Fusi-
tive Slave Law is not enforced in every State
Mr.. IVERSON.-lf fugitive is found in house
one day, the next morning, perhaps, he is run off
MIR. TEN EYCK said a single instance like tn hat