Smyrna times., 1860-12-13
D0iDgS in CONGRESS,

DoiDgs in Congress.
The doings in Congress we're, perhaps, never
more closely scanned than at the present time.
The eyes of the whole country are turned 10
them IN hope that they may devise Gome meas.
ure OF relief, to save the country from the i'm.
pending dangers. Since our last issue nothing
OF special Importance transp:red till Thurs.
day, when they adjourned until Monday, save
the passage of the Homestead Bill, (reouirinp
each actual settler to pay ten dollars for IGO
asres,) and the appointment; of a Committee OF
one from each State of the Union to take into
consideration the thrcatning condition Of the
country. Corwin, of Ohio, and Millson, of Va
are the leading n&mos.
In the Senate, Monday, resolution in favor
of an overland daily mail to California was
carried. A bill for the relief of the sufferers in
Kansas was REFERRED and the Homestead bill
passed first reading. Mr.. Poweil's resolu-
ton for the appointment of a committee TO
consider the existing condition of Federal AT
fairs was called up, and that gentleman ex-
pressed fear that if the events now growing
upon US were not promptly met, there would
be dissolution of the government. Dir. king
said he did not despair. Mr.. Green, of Mis-
souri,, said that efforts must be brought TO hear
on the public sentiment, or the alternative will
be TO arm the Federal government with physi-
cal power to enforce the Constitution every.
where. Mr.. Latham said that California would
remain with the Union; her greut want was
Pacific railroad.
In the House, the motion to excuse MIR.
Hawkins, OF Florida, from serving on the Sc.
lect committee appointed 10 take into corsid
GRAFTON the perilous condition of the country.
having been called up, that gentleman explain
ed that he could not serve, as Florida had ini- |
tated measures for a State convention, to meet
on the Sd OF January, and will take such steps
as will DC compatible with her dignity. FIori- |
da cannot be forced to remain in the Union if
she wishes to 60 out. Such an attempt would
be resisted by troops ten times as numerous as
those Ct the Federal government. The SOUTH |
ern States are pledged to aid her. Florida
would settle matters her own way, without
trusting Congressional compromises, which |
have never produced harmony. The Commit
tee ives badly constituted. No democratic
member from the northwest was admitted
The Republicans would yield nothing. MIR.
Lincoln would oppose slavery. lie would tell
the north that Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
Georgia end South Carolina were sure to se.
cede, and Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas were
sure to follow. Mr.. Valandigham, of Ohio,
would vote to excuse Mr.. Hawkins. 1t was
idle to attempt to coerce a gentleman to serve
on this committee, who asserted such reasons
for his refusal. He had hoped that MIR. Cor.
win, the Chairman of the Committee, would
have taken the initiative in the great work of
reconciliation. committee of thirty-6ve
would never agree on the great question, and
It's labors would end in nothing. There was
not solitary member of the democratic party
on the committee from the sixteen free States
OF the Union east of the Rocky Mountains
The speaker referred to the great west, as ca.
pable OF forming an empire equal to the whole
OF Russia, and yet the people of this vast en-
pre- Qhe west) were utterly ignored and ex-
cluded from the committee. The debate was
further continued by Mr.. McClernand, of ILL.,,
and Mr.. Sickes, of New York. The latter
said that, if the Union be dissolved, New York
city, having no sympathy with the State,
would seperate from it,, declare her indepen.
dence, and open her free port to the conmerce
Of the world.