The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-12
TUESDAY IN CONGRESS.

/ In the Senate, Mr.. Green attacked the doc
| trine ofsquatter sovereignty promulgated by Mr..
1 Douglas, and showed that the Democratic party
had always sanctioned the interference Of the
/ Federal authority in the Territories. He pro-
ceeded to read many extracts from the plat
forms and resolutions of the Democracy, proving
4 his position, and asserted that until lately Mr..
Douglas and Mr.. Pugh had acquiesced in those
platforms. He then commented on the princi-
: pie assumed by the Republican party, that
i Freedom is national and Slavery sectional.
The contrary was true. Slavery was national,
4 Freedom sectional. He then advocated the
protection of slave property in the Territories
I 1t was the bounden duty of Congress to afford
every protection to it under the bred Scott de-
cision, and there was power in the Federal
Government to prohibit its jurisdiction.
, Without concluding his remarks, Mr.. Green
yielded to a motion to go into Executive ses-
sion.
After some time spent therein, the Senate
adjourned.
In the House of Representatives, Mr.. Gar
trell, who was entitled to the floor, proceeded
to argue that the Republican party is essen.
-stially an Abolition party. He said that the
Southern people, or at least his constituents,
would not submit to the election of a Republi-
( can President, and that they would take such
: am election as a declaration of hostility.
: Mr.. Adrain interrupted the speaker with the
: csmark, that if the Southern Democracy ex-
1ected the cooperation of the Northern wing
IF the party, they must cease to threaten dis
.llution Of the Union. The Northern Democ-
1cy would never consent to dissolution on
uch an issue as the election of a President in
. constitutional way.
Mr.. Haskn desired to know if Mr.. Gartrell
would vote for the admission of Kansas into the
EUnion without her compliance with the requi-
sitions Of the English bill as to population.
Mr.. Gartrell refused to answer, and said that
be would answer that question when the proper
time arrived.
Mr.. Hickman explained his position. He
: taid that no party or class of men at the North
{ gould tolerate the idea of disunion. That the
Eorth has eighteen millions of free inhabitants,
and that they will not permit dissolution of the
Union. The North can manufacture more
. arms in ninety days than the South can buy,
sand more men would volunteer to prevent
sdisunion than the South could raise by con-
ecriptOn.
f. Mr.. Gartrell reiterated his threats of dis
union.
Mr.. Edwards, of New Hampshire, obtained
7 lie floor, and made conciliatory appeal to
T1be Democratic side of the House, in favor of
proceeding to an organization. In reply to an
feSaquiry, he said that he would not vote for any
7 nan who had been guilty of crime, or who en-
ertained sentiments at war with the peace of
ociety.
Mr.. Morris, of Pennsylvania, declared that
Ie would not vote for Mr. Sherman if he enter
aimed the views read from the Speakers desk,
extracts from the Helper book. Mr.. Sher-
!, an held them in adherence. He said that
il Mr.. Clark of Missouri would withdraw his
offensive and menacing resolution, that Mr..
Sherman was ready to state his position fully
n regard to that book.
Mr.. Wright, of Tennessee, obtained the floor,
nd replied to his colleague, Mr.. Stokes. He
,Jrofessed to be moderate Union man, and
sid that the South makes no extravagant de-
pands upon the Federal Government. He
tenounced those who deny that Slavery is en-
iAed TO Congressional protection in the Terri
ries.
/ Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, American, in reply to
+ sllusion, took similar ground.
Mr.. Leake, of Virginia, denounced the posi-
on recently taken by exGov. Wise, that he
,4ould fight the battles of the Union within the
Union. Virginia sentiment was represented
by the members on this floor, and not by ex-
Governor Wise. He claimed the right of NULL.
6cation and secession.
Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, obtained the
floor, but gave way to motion to adjourn.
No ballot was taken during the day.
GOVERNOR LETCHER's MEssAGE-A Ma
. TIoNAL CONVENTION PROPosED,-John Leteher,
, the new Governor of Virginia, has sent to the
Legislature message, proposing the call OF
a National Convention, to revise the Constitu-
, ton. He hopes that such Convention may
come to terms of agreement, and finally settle
I - -,
.be slava,- controversy; but if they fail to
agree, then peaceaDlo =
: discussed. If the Northern State reiuse Io
, accede to this call of Convention, tke tac'
will be conclusive of their determipstlor r.
: keep up agitation. He also recommends ina
s the State of Virginia send two delegates to
: : each of the States which have adopted persona
liberty bills whose duty it shall be to urge the
unconditional repeal of those laws.
J. The Governor says that the time has arrives
i when the Slavery agitation mast cease, if the
d Union is to be preserved. He wi4 do all ii
his power to preserve it; but, to be prepared
I. for the worst, he recommends thorough re
! organization of the militia.
o This is the old game of brag-nothing more
e Governor .Letcher is for keeping up the " Cri
d sis" and expects to strike a terror into tn
!, Northern heart by the dernier appeal to Con
. vention. He well knows that majority Of tn
4 States will not seriously entertain the idea c
a Convention; but he imagines that tn
:; proposition by the State of Virginia will i'm
r. press the country with the desperate resolution
Of the Southern people, and at least tend t
n unite the South in support of the Democ
IS racy."