Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-20
Proceedings of Congress.


and uneyentful sessions on Tuesday the ith
| The Senate debated Mr. Powel's resolution
for the reference of Federal affairs to Spe-
cial Committee of thixseen, without coa,illg
TO a vote. MIR. Bigter made an earnest I'm
ion address, and Mr.. Iyerson renewed his
protestations against all efforts at compro-
mise or conciliation. According to him, the
gulf States have determined ON secession and
will be satisfied with nothing else. Mr..
Pugh protested against such extreme views.
Mr.. CollameE, ofVermOnt, Republican, spoke
briefly in favor Of moderation and concilia-
tion. A conversational debate followed, on
the subject Of the Fugitive Slave law and it's
execution in the Northern States, in which
Senators Pugh, Douglas, Mason, Powell. and
others participated.
The House finally refused to excuse Mr..
Hawkins from serving on the Special Com
mittee on the state Of the Union. Mr.. Bovce.
of s. Carolina, also asked to be excused but
the House refused by tie vote to grant the
request. During the proceedings a casual
debate occurred, In which Mr.. Smith. Of Yir
ginia, indicated desire to secure the adop
ton of measures for the preservation of the
Union. The House resolved to refer all mat
ters relating to Federal Affairs to the Special
/ Committee and then adjourned.
In the Senate on the 18th, Mr.. Hunter,
!
back the House bill authorizing the issue of
treasury notes to the amount Of ten millions
of dollars, with several amendments to
the effect that the notes bear interest until
called in for redemption, that they be issued
in sums as low as $50, and that the proceeds
of the sale of pgblic lands be set aside for
their redemption. These amendments were
adopted, with further explanatory amend
ment submitted by Mr.. Wade, declaring that
the pledge Of the proceeds Of the public lands
shall not prevent Congress from making
grants of said lands or otherwise disposine
of them, and the bill finally passed
Mr. Wiglall, of Texas, continued the de-
bate on the resolution appointing Commit.
tee on Federal affairs. lie catechised Mr..
Douglas as to his intentions, and enumerated
the terms upon which the gulf States would
remain in the Union. These terms were sta
ted to be amendments of the Constitution,
ratified by majority of the free States. rec.
ognizlng slaves as property, providing for the
| return OF fugitive slaves, and the recognition
of the rights of the slavehoding States in
| the Territories. He also claimed that the
| North should abolish its abolition societies,
suppress its abolition papers, prevent the ma.
king Of abolition speeches, and in short put
an end to tine discussion or agitation of the
! slavery question in any form. The speech
was altogether extreme in its characteristics.
! placing every obstruction in the way Of com
| promises and openly exhibiting the speakers
strong prediction for a Southern Confeder-
acy. At the conclusion of the Texas Sena
tors speech the SeEate went into executive
session.
IN TIE House :; large number Of plans for
composing our present sectional difficulties
and prevent such causes of differences in the
I'M snly
the Special Committe. They propose various
modes of settlement 10 lie reached either by
Congressional action or the amenimeDd Of
the Constitution. The prominent feature.
are the election Of Presidential electors hy
the Congressional district system so as to
prevent the success of a sectional candidate;
the amendment of the Constitution so as to
recognize elaVes as property more distinctly
and to secure more certainly the equality of
the States the amendment of the fugitive
slave law, with provisions for its more effect
tual execution, and the enactment Of laws
recognizing the right of slave holders to car.
ry their slave az tTGH$i!,t through the free
States and to hold them there TEN porarily
and making the States pecuniarily re-
sponslble where fugitive slaves are violently
or illegally rescued. Other plans suggest the
enactment Of retaliatory laws against States
passing notification laws, such as declaring
said States out Of the Union, depriying them
OF their Congressional representatives, &c.
One plan proposes the substitution of an Ex
ecutiye Council of three for the Presidency
another the consent Of a majority Of Senators
and members Of Congress from each section; |
another the voluntary sub division of the |
slave States so as to retain an equal repres |
entaton in the Senate. The re establishment
OF the Missouri Compromise, under various |
forms, is also proposed. If il d .,nititude of |
counseers there is wisdom, in such multi |
tude Of plans three ought to te safety Mr. |
Grow, from the committee ON Territories |
gave notice OF bills for the organization of |
Dacotah and other Territories, and respond !
ed firmatvely to an inquiry whether thea acts
Of organization would be reported with a |
provision fJrbidding the existence of slavery |
IN the new Territories, adding that if the |
House thought proper 1t should reject that |
proposition. Without transactino anv fur !
ther business the House adjourned.
Both Houses of Congress on the 18th. af |
ter brief session, adjourned over till Mon
day. In the Senate Mr.. johnson, Of Tennes. |
see, read preamble and resolu tions embody- |
ing plan Tor the settlement of the sectional !
diiueuitles, which he proposed to submit to |
the Special Committee of thirteen when an
pointed. MIR. Wigfall tnen resumed and con
cluded his speech, in which he embodied a
sketch Of the course that would be adopted
by South Carolina after secession Mr..
Wade, Of Ohio obtained the floor, but gave
way to motion, coming from the Republi
can side, for al adjournment. The House
passed the treasury note bill with certain
amendments, which were coneurred in by the
Senate; the bill is now law.
In the Senate on Monday, Mr.. Clark, IN.
H. offered resolution of inquiry, request
ing the President to inform the Senate what
number of men are stationed at Forts MouI-
trle and Sumpter whether, in his opinion.