Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-20
Affairs at. Washington.

The House Select Committee of thirty
three met on the 18th, and took the follow
ing action on that portion Of the message
referring to the pending difficulties in re-
tieR to the South.
Mr. Rust, of Arkansas offered the fol-
lowing:
ResolUe9, That, in the opinion of this com
mttee, the existing discontents among the
Southern people, and the growing hostility
among them to the Federal Government, are
greatly to be regretted and that, whether
such discontents and hostility are without
just cause or not, any reasonable, proper, and
constitutional remedies and efectual guaran-
! tees of their peculiar interests, as recognized
/ by the Constitution, necessary to preserve the
/ peace of the country and the perpetuity OF
/ the Union, should be promptly and cheerfuliy
J granted.
Mr. Morrill,, Republican, submitted the
same resolution without the words "ahd
" effectual guaraptees Of their peculiar in
terests as recognized by the Constitu-
tion," as an amendment The Commit
tee rejected the amendment-ayes 9, nays
22--Messrs Campbell of Pennsylvania,
Dunn of Indiana, Stratton Of New jersey,
Kellcg of Illinois, Howard of Michigan,
Curtis of Iowa, Burch Of California,
Windham of Minnesota, and Stout Of Or
egon, voting with the South against the
amendment. Mr.. Ferry, of Connecticut,
then submitted a substitute, nearly the
same as Mr., MorrilPs, which was also re-
jected, and the original resolution submit
ted by Mr.. Rust adopted-ayes Il, nays s.
On the final vote Mr.. Corwin voted with
the majority. The adoption of this reso-
luton by so large vote was regarded as
forming good basis for an agreement up
on some satisfactory plan for the settlement
of the pending difficulties, but at the very
time when the whole committee was will
ling to make large concessions, a number
of southern traitors sent the following dis
patch to all parts of the South:
WASHINGTON, Dec. l3, 1860
To CUR CoNsTITUENTs-
The argument Is exhausted. All hope Of |
relief in the Union, through the agency of
committees, Congressional legislation, or con-
stitutional amendments is extinguished, and |
we trust the South will not be deceived by |
appearances or the pretence OF new guaran |
tees. The Republicans are resolute in the !
purpose to grant nothing that will or ought |
to satisfy the South. In our judgement, the |
honor, safety, and independence of South
hn IN
federacy-the inevitable result of separate |
State secession; that the sole and primary |
aim Of each slayeholding State ought to be
its speedy and absolute separation from an
unnatural and hostile Union.
Signed by j. L. Pugh, David Clopton,
Sydenham Moore, j. L. NJ. Curry, and j. "A.
Stallworth. of Alabama Alfred Iverson, j. |
w. IL. Underwood, L. j. Gartrell, and James
Jackson, tSenator Toombs is not here, but
would sign J John j. Jones and Martin j.
Crawford, of Georgia; George S. Hawkins of
Florida. 1t is understood Mr.. Yulee will
sign it. I. G. Hindman. of Arkansas
Both Senators will also sign it. A. c. Brown,
VIM. Barksdale, o. r. Singleton, and Reu
ben Davis of Mississippi; Barton Craige and
Thcs Rufin, of North Carolina j. P Ben
jamin and John VI. Landrum, Of Louisiana
Mr.. Slidell will also sign it. Senators Wig
fall and IIemphill. of Texas, will also sign it.
These facts inevitably point to the con-
clusion that those who lead the dlsunion
do not want settlement of the
alleged to exist, but are bent on
carrying out Yaneey's plan of precipita-
ting the Cotton States into revolution;
and to effect this we have no doubt rather
than see it fail they will commit some act
which will plunge the country into a civil
war.
The most ominous sign of disastrous
result is the withdrawal of Gen. Cass from
Buchanan's cabinet, because the latter re-
fused tosend troops and ammunition to Fort
Moultrie as demanded by Col. Anderson
who is in command there with only 90 .
men This demand was seconded by Gen.
Scott and Mr.. Cass, but Buchanan it seems
has more confidence in the traitors who |
assure him that they ,ciW not taLe the fort /
than in the advice of those veteran patri-
OTIS. 1t will thus fall an easy prey to the
southern tories, and render the collection
of revenue doubly difficult
EH~Buchanan and Cobb are said to have
parted in tearsl What scene for Presi