The national Republican., 1860-12-10
THIRTY.sIXTH CONGRESS-,
Second Session.
Monday, December 10, 1860.
SENATE,


regular standing committees be the same as
last session, vacancies to be filled by the Vice
President.
Mr.. Latham moved that the memorial which
he presented last Thursday be taken up and
referred to the proper committee agreed to.
Mr.. Sumner asked leave to introduce a me.
mortal in reference to Kansas relief bill, and
desired it referred to the Committee on Terri.
tories granted.
On motion, the resolutions of Mr.. Powell
we're taken, up.
Mr.. Powell said every Senator must see the
duty Of prompt action-the necessity of ex.
hsusting every means TO secure an amicable
adjustment. Our fathers went TO work when
they saw danger. We should follow their ex.
ample. We should go to work at once. He
hoped these resolutions would pass, and that
the most wise and able Senators from all Sec
tons be appointed. 1t will try all our caution
and wisdom to secure it.
Mr.. King. should prefer that It be referred
to the regular committee; he proposed some
verbal amendments, which he thought the
Senator from Kentucky would not object to.
Mr. Yulee inquired the purpose of the Sen.
ator Of New York in offering those amend.
ments.
Mr.. King explained, that It was for the
greater security Of person.
Mr.. Green. There is q commotion, an ex.
element. an embttered feeling; something
must be done.
This committee may fail. know there are
desponding hearts. hope all will pause and
think. / shall not say the fault is on one side
or the other; it will be time enough after the
committee has reported. Something must be
brought to bear, to regulate public opinion. No
change of Constitution would be worth straw
without change Of public opinion. The re-
peal of the laws at the North would not weigh
straw, unless it comes as the opinion of the
people. There are but two ways to maintain
Government, public opinion or force of arms
Mr.. Green is speaking as we go to press.
HOUSE.
The House met at the usual hour, and was
called to order by the Speaker.
Rev. Mr.. Jenkiu, Of Virginia, then offered
very solemn and impressive prayer, in which
allusion was made to the present state of the
country, and hope expressed that God, in his
infinite mercy, would avert the storm.
After the reading Of the Journal
Several communications were received from
the Secretary State, which were appropriately
referred.
Mr.. Vallandigham, of Ohio, then stated that
he desired the gentleman from Florida Mr..
Hawkins would withdraw his call for the pre-.
vious question on the motion to excuse that
gentleman from services on the committee.
Mr.. Hawkins observed that it was his inten.
ton, when he came here to-day, to have with
drawn his call for the previous question, as he
himself desired to submit some remarks on the
question before the House.
He then proceeded to deliver speech on his
motion to be excused from serving on the
committee. His views had been not only mis-
understood, but misrepresented. In the course
he had taken, he had only followed his own
ideas of right and wrong and had asked no
counsel. After he had marked out his own
course, he had held consultations with mem.
bers from the extreme South, and they had all,
with one or two exceptions, agreed to the posi-
ton he had taken. Florida would arrange some
definite point to act from in less than thirty
days. If he had agreed to take position on
the committee, he would have placed his State
in false position. His State had already ta
ken initial steps towards separating from the
Confederacy. She will, on the Sd Of January
next, take such step as will be compatible with
her honor and dignity.
Switzerland, as one of the sovereign Powers
of Europe, is entitled to the same political con-
sideration as Russia. Florida, for the same
reason, is the peer and equal of New York
Weak as she is, she cannot be forced to remain
in the Union. Whenever she chooses to 90 out
she will do it. An attempt at coercion would
be resisted by all portions of the Southern Con.
federacy. Virginia is pledged not to see her
Southern sisters coerced to remain in the
Union. Therefore, he hoped there would be no
more sneers at the course OF Florida.
Florida was determined to settle for herself,
and in her own way, the manner of redress.
She would take into consideration the action of
this committee.
While he had received no special instruc.
tons, he believed himself virtually instructed,
no matter how it came. The action already
taken in his own State found a ready response
in his own heart.
He had no confidence in constitutional com.
promises. They had always produced crim.
nation and Tecrimination, each party accusing
the other of bad faith in their execution.
The formation of the committee was unfor.
tunate and i'll advised. If the Speaker had
consulted his own judgment, he believed he
would have acted differently.
He regretted that no member of the Demo
cratic party of the Northwest had been ap
pointed thereon. A great majority of the COM
mittee did not represent the opinion of their
own States.
He then alluded to the appointment thereon
of Mr. II. Winter Davis, saying that he (Mr. D.1
had been repudiated by the Legislature of his
own State, and was not, therefore, true repre-
sentative of it's interests.
1t would be impossible to stop the agitation
of the slavery question; he had no hope of it.
Mr.. Lincoln ought to have issued at least few
words, defining his position. Mr.. Trumbul was
the only person who had yet spoken by author.
ity, yet he had given them no assurance.
Five States were certain to secede-South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Ala.
bama and he believed Louisiana, Arkansas,
and Texas, would follow.
Mr.. Vallandgham said he would not vote to
compel a member to serve on the committee
He believed the danger was imminent, and he
protested against the arrangement of the com.
mttee.
He was still speaking when our reporter left.
In Intliana an infant found m a door. .sten