Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-19
coNeRrss1orAL PROCEEDINGS.

The homestead Dill, as II came from the House,
was taken up and passed on first reading. In
the course of the debate on Mr.. POwell's reso-
luton, Mr.. Latham said California will remain
with the Union, no matter what occnrs-the
Pacific railroad is the great desideratum Of her
people. In the House, the question of exeu-
sing Mr.. Hawkins, of Florida, from the Union
committee, being under consideration, Mr..
Sickles made the startling announcement that
New York city, in the event of dissolution
OF the Union, would secede, become an inde-
pendent State, and open her port to free trade.
Mr.. Sherman reported bill for the relief of
the Treasury. 1t authorizes the President to
issue treasury notes, to an amount not exceed
ing $40 ,000, 900, and of denominations not less
than $50, bearing per cent. interest.
Dec. 1l.-Mr. BIGLER, having obtained the
floor in the Senate, said it was too truly appa-
rent that we had fallen upon evil times. The
whole social, political and commercial system
is seriously disordered-commerce, trade and
finance are deranged-the banks have ceased
to redeem their notes in specie, and the trea-
sury of the United States is unable to meet its
current demands. A general gloom is spread
over the whole country. We hear of Legisla-
lures being assembled and conventions of peo-
pie being ordered to consider whether our re-
iations are to be continued or not. This is a
sad picture. 1t seems to me that it is the part
of patriotism and duty to look it fair in the
face. Ny own impressions at first were That
the less said the better. / have changed that
impression. / believe that the times require
the public men-the select men of the nation
here-shoud come up to the great question.
For one, he was prepared to separate himself
as far as possible from past prejudices and par
ty allegiance, and consider the condition of
the country in spirit of devotion to its inter-
ests. He heartily endorsed the position OF
the Senator from Connecticut, friend OF the
President elect, who had come forward boldly
or he ba nj he
of States, and Justice among the citizens of the
United States. The South had received his
cooperation long and cordially for her rights.
He had zealously contended that her cause
was our cause, and whose cause to some extent
has been embraced by million and half of
Northern men. A war upon their feelings,
we'll calculated to ALLEVIATE them, had been kept
up in Congress. Doctrines are held to some
extent Inconsistent with the equality of the
States. For example, the exclusion OF the
owners of slaves from the Territories. But is
Disunion remedy Is that the best and
wisest OF all alternatives left? No more fatal
step could be taken for the State he represent
ed. Let the South ask redress-if denied, let
two-thirds of the States call convention. 1t
is certainly worth an effort to see this Govern
ment maintain its dignity and influence in the
world. If you want permanent peace You
| must strike at the disease. Northern men
must pu. down the abolition feeling, and give
| the South her rights, while the South must act
just towards the North on the Tariff question.
Manufacturers and miners believed the Demo-
cratic party prejudicial to their protection, and
therefore had gone over to the Republicans
| N man is justified in saying that Pennsylva-
! MIA will adhere to the doctrines of the Repub-
| lican party. But because of party triumph,
| is the country to be torn by the violence of
| riots and mobs, and business to be deranged !?
! He would do all in his power to adjust these
i d. nlyyI arx%
| He predicted that tie Republican party will
| never gain another victory.
| Mr.. IvERsoN followed with an ultra Disunion
| speech, which he finished out by saying, you
may tinker the Constitution, you may propose
| concessions, you may suggest legislation, you
may present additional Constitutional guaran-
/ tees, you may attempt by all these means to
! stay the storm that now RACES, and to prevent
| the people from marching on to deliverance
and liberty; but, Sir, the words sstoo late, %
will ring out here to-day, and will be reitera-
| ted from mountain to valley, of all the South
| to the North, sounding the death-knell of the
| Confederacy. g. ssAa5 ,-a
After short running debate betweenMessrs.
| Iverson and Pugh, a4 Ga ff
| Mr.. DOUGLAS, of ILL.,, arose and said did
not propose to enter into this discussion at the
present time, further than to remark in response
| to the charge made against my section OF
| the country in regard to the non-execution of
the Fugitive Slave Law That law, like many
| others, is not always enforced in all cases.
suppose there never was statute law that was
not sometime violated with impunity, or not
enforced with as much fidelity as it ought to
/ be. | suppose the Fugitive Slave Law is en-
forced with as much fidelity as that in regard
to the African slave-trade. But, Sir, confess
/ it is not enforced faithfully as wish it was,
or as it ought to be. While make this dec
laratiou, am compelled to say that nine-tenths
/ of ha N.
ded. Where there is sectional strife ard ex-
! citement there seems to be a proneneSS on the
part of the newspaper press, in both sections,
| to collect and give every fact which would in
flame the passions and prejudices of one Sec
tion against the other. In that way, partial
and unfair statements of facts are given, which
make each section act under an apprehension
as to the other. Now, Sir, as far Illinois is
concerned, | am prepared to say that in nine
/ teen cases out OF twenty where a fugitive slave
1 enters Illinois, he is arrested and returned
without any judicial process whatever. Those
portions of the State which border on the
Kentucky and Missouri lines are in harm nony
with their neighbors on the other side, and 0
fugitive slave is returned as regularly as sto.
len horse. So in nineteen cases out of twen-
ty where the fugitive is returned the newspa.
pers do not notice the fact, and even the rec
ords of the court have no notice of it. In
cases where there is an arrest, as matter oi
COuTSe, NC is Tetufueu III lie turns out 10 ne
fugitive, and there is no excitement. But
perhaps, in the twentieth case, the country
where the public sentiment is more excited
and once in while rescue is made, then the
newspapers are filled with the horrors of thai
rescue. And the one case of the rescue is
paraded by the newspaper press of the whole
country, and although an exceptional case, il
is represented as evidence of the general char.
acter. recollect one instance Of that kind
occurred in my own State, and that instance