Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-01
CONGRESS-.

On Monday last, Senator Douglas addressed the
Senate at length on his resolutions in reference to
the suppression of invasons of the slaveholding
States. The Senate was crowded to hear him. Mr..
Douglas took the ground that it was the duty of Con-
gress to pass laws giving the President power use
the naval and military forces of the government to
repel nvasions between different States and also to
make it criminal to into conspiracies or COM
binatons in any State or Territory, with intent to
invade State, moest or disturb It's government,
its peace its citizens its property its institutions
such offences to be punished by indictment in
the United States courts, and confinement in the
prisons penltentiarles of the State Territory
where the conspiraces might be formed He said
the Ilarpers Ferry crime was the natural logical in
evtable result of the doctrines and teachings of the
republican party, as explained and enforced in their
platform, partisan presses, their pamphlets and
books and especially in the speeches Of their leaders
in and out Of Congress.
Mr.. Fessenden replied to Mr.. Douglas, denying
that the Republican party were responsible for
Browns Virginia raid, and advocated legislation to
prevent similar occurrences. He said he thought
Mr.. Douglas Was influenced by ulterior motives in
making this speech at this timc when the subject
was in the hands of an able committee, appointed to
investigate the affair.
Mr. Douglas responded defending the institution
CT slavery, and denouncing the Republicans.
Mr. Toomhs obtained the floor, and the Senate
then adjourned.
In the House, on the same day, Mr. Barksdale,
Of Mississippi, spoke at length on the state of the
House and the country. He said the House pre-
sented to the people of the country scene which
has but one parallel in history The House had
been in session seven weeks and although ballot af
ter ballot had been taken, no Speaker had been
elected and organization effected, while the great
interests of the country had been totally neglected
The Democratic, South American and Anti-LeconY,-
ton parties all protesting to stand in attitude of
hostility to the Republicans should unite to defeat
the candidate Of the latter. The Democrats have
manifested every disposition to unite with the South
Americans and Anti -Lecomptontes on natona!
basis, until their spirit of conciliatlon has been
hausted. The South Americans had presented Mr..
Gilmer, who could never be acceptable to him. Mr..
Gilmer, if elected must he supported by some of
the Republicans and he would therefore vote for no
man who commended himself to the consideration
of that party. He did not doubt Mr.. Gilmer's 10y
atty to the South, but objected to his political
duct. Rather than the nominee of the Republican
party should be elected, man who had received no
vote from fifteen of the States Of this Unien rather
than his State and section should he dshonored by
the election of Mr. Sherman, he would repeat the
declaration Of Mr. Pugh, Of Alabama, let discord
reign here forever' He proceeded to give the his
tory, origin and progress of the present aspect of
the slavery question, which prevents the organza-
ton of the House.
Mr. Corwin, of Ohio, made discursive and
humorous speech, referring to the Scriptures, and
drawing therefrom the inference that all good cti
zens should obey the laws 1t was the advice Of
the Apostles not to overturn the existing govern
ment their mission was to search the hearts Of
wicked nen. He remarked that we are the happiest
people on the face Of the globe, and pointed to the
folly Of becoming unnecessarily excited among our
selves. He said in the course of his remarks that
Senator Seward had never said anything offensive
to the South as had George Washington, who ex-
pressed the hope that slavery would be abolished
throughout the United States.
e When he had concluded the House adjourned
2 In the Senate, OH Tuesday last Mr. Too,nbs Of
Georgia, spoke at length on the slavery question.
He charged that the black Republican party are
seeking to overturn the Constitution by the cleo
ton Of Republican President As it regards Sc
cession, he said that the South should not wait for
overt acts, but meet the enemy 1T the threshold,
and drive him back or tear down the pillars Of the
Temples Of Libestysand overwtelm ali nj one com.
mon ruia.