Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-07
in till Tomorrow, and he moved to adjourn;
which vas carried, and at half past one oclock
the House adjourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. X, 1860.
GIN ATE

'iiiN -
the House adjourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. i, 1860.
SENATE.
Mcssrs. Gwin, Harlan, Johnson, of Iennes-
see, Thompson and Wilkinson appeared III
their seats.
After PRAYER By the chaplain the Presidents
message was delivered by a. ). GlosSbren-
ner, the Presidents private secretary, and was
read.
The reading OF the Presidents message was
commenced ut ten minutes past twelve O'Clock,
| and was finished at seven minutes past two.
The attendance in the galleries was slim.
Mr.. Clingman moved that it be printed lie
thought it fell short Of an investigation Of the
crisis before the government. The President
elect was known to be Il dangerous man, be-
cause he avowcd the principle Of the ''irrelres-
siblc conflict party, with the view Of making
war upon my section. Though the present
position of parties in Congress held him pow
e~rlcss, his party would eventually control the
government, the Supreme Court included. y
sectional majority absolutely has control oil Inc
whole government, aud it might begin Il reVo'
luton.
He did not think any OF the Southern States
had acted prccipitately. If such occurrences
as have taken place in the last fifteen years
had been with Il foreign nation we would have
been ut war before this. In hhS judgment 4
number of the Southern States would seceue
wi,hin sixty DAYS. The South Carolina sub
mission party was small.
The wiscst thing that Congress could do
would bc 10 divide the public property as fairly
as possible after paying the public debts. My
pco,!c arc not trrriiied-wc have more terri
tory now than the colonies who begun the war
with Great Britain. We have four times their
population. Our imports last year amounted
10 $50, uU0, 900. Northern gentlemen say our
institutions are Il disgrace 10 the lamll!E, and
they want to have them removed. They say
il is a sin 10 hold slaves. If We separate their
conscirnccS will be clear.
He agreed with the Presidential there is no
| power in the government to force Il State tore
| main IN the Union. The most offensive agsreS-
sion would he to levy tribute, and il i separa-
ton takes place all the slave States would be
orjet and pcaceable. They were carrying ont
the poIicy of the fathers of the revolution.
MIR. Crittendcn replied that he had hoped
| they had come together rs 4 union oil friends.
lie hoped, for himself, that the Union he has SO
long lived under would be preserved. lie rose
for the purpose Of expressing Il hope that the
example of the gentleman from North Cnrollh"
would not be followed. Better not come mere
ut all than thus 10 act This Union was worthy
Of great sacrifices and concessions. lie looked
forward with lisnay ut the prospect OF dis
union-with fear and trembling. They must
search for the means Of reconciliation, and ell
Jeuyor to restore harmony. lie did hope there
would be no angry debates. North Carolina
Inns always carried. the olive branch Of peace.
Mr.. Ciingman approved the desire expressed
70 urcservc the Union. lie wouldbe sustained
in what he had said by Il majority Of the people
or his State. North Carolina WAS next to the
last 10 come into tho Union, and when the
I'piou ceases to protect her she will bid II good
bye.
Mr., Fitch moved that the usual number (ten
lhousand) Of copies Of the message be printed.
Mr.. Hale moved to al juurn, which was car
ricd.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met precisely at noon. The chap.
lain, Rev. Mr.. Stockton, implored Divine Grace
that Congress may wisely consider the prOpo-
sitions presented to them in the Presidents
! message, and deliberately act on them III all
righteousness and truth.
The standing committees Of last Year con-
linue the same. with the following exceptions ::
Committee Of ways and means, Mr.. Howard, al
Michigan, in place Of Mr.. Washburne, eXcIlS-
cd; committee OIL public buildings, Mr.. Nc
Ecnty, in the place Of Mr.. Mcpherson, en-
cuscd; committee on naval affairs, Mr.. Nc
Pherson, in place of Mr.. Swartzc, deceased;
committee OH public lands, Mr.. Barrett, in
place Of Mr.. Blair, who is not now Il member
Of the House.
The Speaker laid before the House the All
nual estimates of the Secretary Of the Urea.
sury: referred to the committee Of ways and
means.
Mr.. Morehcad, from the committee appoint
cd to wait on the President, reported that they
had performed that duty, and that the PTcSi-
dent requested them to say that TIC would COM
municlte his message in writing to day at noon.
Mr.. phcl1s-"That hour has already ar
rived"
After some uniinportant proceedings the
message was laid before the House, and read
by Col. Forney. the Speaker having first re.
uurStcd gentlemen to be silent.
The message having been read,
Mr.. Sherman moved that il he referred To the
committee of the whole on the state Of the
Union. Surprising that there was no desire to
debate today, he moved the previous question.
Mr.. John Cochrane said he had purpoScd 10
offer an amendment, but prcsuming that the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. ~liotclcr) had
risen for Il similar purpose, lie would give way.
Mr.. Botclcr expressed his thanks TO Mr..
Cochranc, and, Mr.. Sherman having withdrawn
his demand for the previous question, Mr..
Eotcler offered the following, trusting, he said,
that it would meet the appreciation Of the
House
Resolved, That so much of the Presidents
message as relates to the present perllous con-
dition of the col try be referred 10 4 special
committee Of one from each State, with leave
TO report ut any time.
Mr.. McClcrnand wished to movo an amend
merit, and amid repeated calls it was read as
follows:
'Rcsolved, That SO much Of the Presidents
annual message rs relates to matters Of griev-
ancc between the slaveholding States, and the
proposal by Congress of amendments to the
Constitution of the United States for the ratlti-
cation Of the several States, and to the question
of State secession from the Federal Union, be
referred 10 a select committee, to consist of one
from each State, to he appointed by the Speak
CT; and that such committee be instructed to
inquire into and report by bill, or 10y proposing
an amendment or amendments to the Constl-
tuition Of The United States, or otherwise, upon
such subjects; and particularly whether any
further legislation or amendment to the Con-
s~titution is necessary 10 give prompt, certain
and full effect to the last CLAUSE Of the second
section Of the fourth article Of the Constitution,
concerning the return Of l~usitivcs from service
or labor"
Mr.. Botelcr declined to accept Mr.. McCicr-
hands amendment
Mr.. Sherman proposed 10 Mr.. Botelcr that
instead of n select committee Of one from each
State, there should be 4 committee Of fifteen.
Cries of "oh, no."
Mr.. Bocock raised y question of order with
reference to the last part OF Mr.. Boteler's rcso-
lution. \ committee could not report at any
time without 4 suspension of the rules.
The Speaker decided that the question was
well taken.
NJ. Bocock. At the reuueSt Gf Seyeral lrIcnlS.