The national Republican., 1860-12-14
THIRTY.sIXTH CONGRESS,
Second Session.
Thursday, December l3, 1860.
SENATE.

After the morning business given in our yes.
terday's report, the Treasury note bill was re.
ceived from the House, with amendments, to
which the Senate agreed.
The resolution on the state Of the Union was
again taken up.
Mr.. Wigfall then resumed his remarks from
yesterday. He opened by referring and dwell.
ing at some length on the first section Of the
fourth article Of the Constitution Of the United
States. He denied thatthe action Of the South
ern States was treason against the United
States. Although he well knew that treason
was defined to be levying war against the Uni.
Senate that before this day next week, one Of
the States will cease to be member of this
Union. Laughter in the galleries and among
Mr.. Wfgfall continued and said: Well, the
Senator from New York (alluding to Mr.. King)
may laugh on before this day next week,
have the assurance that South Carolina will re-
woke the ratification of the treaty which NAKED
her one of these United States. She will send
an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo
tentiarJ to appear at this court. Laughter.
Ahl Senators, Nero laughed whilst Rome was
burning. Laughter. You who have it in
your power to save your suffering people in the
dead of winter, when they need fuel and food,
should not laugh now.
South Carolina may become the grave Of
freemen, but never the habitation Of slaves.
Laughter, clapping and stamping in the gale.
ries, also bushes. When her minister visits
this court and presents his credentials, that
State will wait until the question Of enforcing
the laws Of the present Government has been
acted upon, and not until her right to secede is
denied will she resist the Federal troops. From
l775 until 1905, South Carolina was the sole
possessor of all the soil and forts erected with
in her limits. In 1905 she ceded these forts,
without money and without price, to the Uni.
ted States, only on the condition that they
should be kept in repair and garrisoned by the
Federal Government.
The Government had not money to repair
her forts, and the citizens of South Carolina
then voluntarily raised the necessary money
in order to complete their repairs. When she
gave these forts to the General Government, it
was as a voluntary gift for Federal purposes
When she ceases to be of this Union, the pur
poses for which they were given cease. The
land and forts she ceded will be taken back
again. 1t will be no dishonor or indignity to
the State. Should the forts resist, they will be
taken if it costs the life of every man in that
State.
Mr.. Wade, of Ohio then took the floor, sta
ting that he desired to make a few remarks on
the resolution, and would now proceed, if it
pleased the Senate.
On motion of Mr.. Doolittle, Mr.. Wade gave
way to motion to adjourn, and the Senate ad-
journed to Monday.
HOUSE.
After the business given in our yesterdays
report, the House proceeded to the considera-
ton of the bill granting lands for the construc.
ton of the railroads in Kansas. By its pro-
visions, the Territory is only to locate the line
of the road, reserving the disposal of the land
to the action of the State Government when
formed.
The bill was finally referred to the Commit
tee on Public Lands.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, introduced the follow.
ing bill, which was read and referred:
BILL to provide for and facilitate the organization o
the House of Representatives of the United States on the
assembling OF each Congress.
House Of Representatives Of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That from
and after the passage of this act it shall be the
duty of the Governors of the several States to
transmit to the Secretary of the Interior dupli
cate certificates Of the election of Representa-
tives in Congress from said States; and it il
hereby made the duty of the Secretary Of the
Interior to make or cause to be made q list o
the members of the House of Representative,
elect, as shall appear from the certificates trans
mitted to him from the Governor of each State
and deliver said list to the Clerk of the las
House of Representatives or his deputy, q
least three days before the assembling Of any
session Of Congress; and no persons excep
those whose names appear upon said list shal
be permitted to vote or take any part in tn,
proceedings of organizing the House. Provi
ded, thatif, by any oversight, neglect, or refusa
Of the Secretary Of the Interior, or any othe
person, any name has been omitted from sait
list, and it shall appear to the satisfaction o
the House that such person holds certificate
duly authenticated as Representative in Con
gress from the Governor of any State, he may
if a majority of the duly-certi6ed members 81
elect be admitted to his seat at any time.
Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That a
the meeting of the members elect of the Hous
Of ofRepresentatives in the manner and at the tim
now prescribed by law or at any extra session
of Congress called in pursuance of law, tn
Clerk Of the HOUSE of Representatives of tn
preceding Congress, or, in case of his death
resignation, or inability to be present, any on
of his deputies, shall Immediately from the lis
transmitted by the Secretary Of the Interio
call the roll of said members elect, and if
sufficient number of said members elect to cor
stitute quorum are found to be present, sal
members elect shall Immediately proceed t
vote pipa poce for temporary presiding Officer
and the person having the highest number 9
votes shall be the presiding officer pro tempor,
and the rules of the preceding House of Rel
resentatives shall govern the proceedings of th
House, and be enforced by the said presidin
officer pro tempore, until otherwise ordered
except so far as they may conflict with the pre-
visions Of this act.
Sec. 3. And be ii further enacted, That tn
standing order Of business shall be to procee
to vote rira poce for Speaker or other officers a
the case may be, in the order as arranged i
the third section of this act, and no debate @
motion shall be in order except for call of tn
House and to adjourn.