Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-22

1
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-SENArE-The President
announced the receipt of the report of A. D. Bache
Superintendent Of the Coast Survey from the Sec
| rotary Of the Treasury. Ordered 10 be printed.
Hunter. from the Committee ON Finance re-
pOrtel back the Tariff bill, with recommends.
ton that it be postponed till the 4th of March next
Laid on the table.
Clarke moved to take up his resolution Of in
quiry.
A message was received from the House that i
had passed bill to supply the deficiency in the pos
tai service for 1861.
Kennedy thought that the resolution would take
up too much time.
Trumbull said that there were nothing but sim
ply inquiries in the resolutions and there would be
no objection to taking them up
Hunter thought they must create discussion.
Salisbury hoped that the friends of the Onion
would not allow any such resolutions as those OF the
senators from New Hampshire and Oregon They
would only add to the excitement and destroy the
little harmony that was left.
Clark said that the rumors abroad did more to IN
crease the excitement than anything else lie thought
the best way was to find out the truth Of the whole
matter. He had no desire 10 increase the exclte-
ment.
Lane objected to taking Up the resolutions. He
Hunter wanted it postponed until we see whether
the Committee Of Thirty-Three do anything to alay
the excitement
Mason said that he supposed the object of the
mover was after he got the information, by another
resolution to require that troops be seut TO the
forts.
Davis eontended that the inquiries we're improper
to make of the President. The President could not
send troops now without bringing about collision
The special order-Johnson's resolution was
taken up.
Pugh spoke at length in reply to arguments of his
colleague, Mr.. Wade, denouncing the speech Of the
Senator as infammatory. He charged that the Re
publican party conducted themselves as TO inspire
alarm. The difficulty is that the South has read
and read too much Of that party. He did not regard
the Personal Liberty Bills of any practical value,
ouly their object to insult the Southern States
He referred to the decision of Gov Dennison. and
said he had done entirely wrong, and now when the
Senator from Kentucky came forward with A
fair lire Of partition, have not heard one voice
IN favor Of it from the Republican side. Why cOuld
not gentlemen come forward and meet it fairly \
There could be no objections to the proposition |
OF the Senator from Kentucky except to carry on
intestine strife. He did not design to offend the |
Senators Of that party, but to show the vast re-
sponslbllity HrestngSGn them They have the pow /
err. All opposing parties are shattered. His col /
league said that the day of compromise had pass
ed If 50 the day Of the Union was passed. for the
Union was founded compromises Then, let US 4
put this where il cannot be brOken-ntO the Constr
tuition of the United States He hoped so far az the
territorial question concerned that all parties
would unite the basis of tire resolutions of Crit
.enden. Thus the question which has distracted us
50 long, will be put at rest forever He called on
hose living in the distant states TO help avert civil
war, calamity which would fan on the border
states He would not debate the right Of secession.
he thought this was the path Of duty and wisdom.
lie believed that in the programme Of his colleague
We shall be driven to the verge of ruin Separate
jonfederaeies had no charm for him.
Nicholson got the floor aud the matter was post
,oned.
The Wee President announced the committee on
'Owells resolution, viz Messrs. Powell Hunter
Seward, Douglas, COllamer, Davis Big
er, Rice DOolitte and Grimes
Davis was excused By request, owing to the coudi-
ion in which his State stood.
After an executive session the Senate adjourned.