The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-21
XXXN Congressional Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1860.

men are stationed at Forts MOultrle and
Sumpter, in Charleston harbor; whether in
the Presidents judgment there is number
sufficient to defend those forts against any
attack or domestic violence whether addi-
tional men had been ordered to either OF
said forts, or any steps taken to put them in
condition to resist any attack; in whose
custody the arsenal at Charleston is placed;
what arms and property are there kept, or if
removed by whom; why said arms are not
put in possession of officers of the United
States upon a requisition, or if this has
been refused and further what instructions
have been given to the officers of said forts
in case of demand to surrender them by
any person in authority; also the copies Of
any correspondence between the commander
in chief of the American army relative to
the necessity of supplying the officers of
said forts with additional force.
Mr.. Brown objected to its consideration
and it was laid over.
Fifteen thousand additional copies of the
Presidents message and accompanying
documents were ordered.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a joint resolution
for the repeal of the resolution of June Is,
for the relief of VIM. H. DeGroot, which
was referred to the committee on claims.
Mr.. Green moved that Wednesday and
Thursday of next week be set apart for
territorial business. Agreed to.
At one o'clock Mr.. PowelPs resolution
was taken up.
Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, said he had very
little faith in argument under the circum~
stances now existing in this country. He
did not understand that anything growing
out of the recent election was any cause for
the present condition of the country. If
the papers are to be credited, there is a
reign OF terror in the south equal to that in
Paris. He did not blame the south, for
they had been led to believe that the
party was trampling on all
their rights, by our avowed enemies at the
north. He would be the last man to advo>
cate laws derogatory to the interests of any
other state. These personal liberty bills
were not made to degrade the south, but to
protect the free states from unlawful sell
lures. Where the south has lost one man,
we have lost ten, by unlawful mobs. The
south own the Senate and President, and he
did not see what they had to complain of.
He went on to argue that the Republican
party was now the same it ever had BEEN
that it stood where Washington, Jefferson,
jackson and Clay stood. It holds to the
doctrine that slavery shall not exist in the
territories. He then asked if the South
had anything to complain of in the charac-
ter, habits, or principles of Mr.. Lincoln, Or
the Vice President, and said the day of
compromises is at an end. After the expe-
rience we have had in Congress, it is abso-
lutely ridiculous to talk about them. The
moment the American people cut loose
from the sheet anchor of liberty, that mos
ment the republic is at an end. We must
submit to the unmistakable verdict of the
people. He said he would yield to no
compromise. We had won the victory as
all Others had been won. We had no COM
promises to make. The controversy must
be settled alone by the Constitution, and
when we 60 astray from that we shall get
into difficulty.
The South claims the constitutional right
to secede from the Union. If that be so,
we have no rights, nor never had any gov
eminent. South Carolina is a small state,
we should not miss her much if swallowed
up by an earthquake tomorrow. For him
self be would allow her to 60, but as men,
Der of this Congress, and a supporter of the
Constitution be could not do SO. A state
has no constitutional right to 60 out. They
can revolutionize. If they conquer they are
right. 1t they are conquered they are
rebels.
HoUsE.--John Cochrane offered pre-.
amble setting forth that a conflict of opin-
ion threatening the peace of the Union has
arizen concerning the true sentiment and
meaning of that portion of the constitution
relating to African slavery within the ter
ritories of the U. S., and that the opinion of
the majority only of the Supreme Court of
the U. S., as determined by Chief Jus.
tice fancy, recognizing property in slaves,
&C., should be received as the settlement of
the question as therein discussed and decid-
ed. He also proposed as an amendment to
the constitution, that Congress should have
the power to establish Governments for any
Territory, and the people therein, having
adopted state constitution, may be admit
ted into the Union, and that Congress nor
the people, during their Territorial condi-
ton, shall pass law to annul or impair the
rights of property therein.
Referred to the select committee.
Mr.. Florence submitted the following:
RESOLVED, That the following amendments
be proposed to the Constitution of the United
States: 1.-THE right of property in slaves is
nothing shall be done to impair, obstruct or
prevent the full and free enjoyment and use of
such right in any Territory and other property
of the United States"
On motion of Mr.. Grow, Wednesday and
Thursday was set apart for the considera.
tion of territorial business.
The Speaker laid before the House let
ter from the Secretary of the Interior, ask
ing for an appropriation to supply the def
ciencies for the suppression Of the slave
trade for the fiscal years ending June, 1861
and 1862.
On motion of Mr.. Garter two weeks from
next Thursday was set apart tor the consid-
GRAFTON of business relating to the District
of Columbia.
Mr.. Adams, of Kentucky, introduced a
bill to more effectively protect the rights OF
citizens of the United States. 1t provided
punishment for obstruction to the execution
of the fugitive slave law, and damages for