Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-22
Thlrss-sa1.A Oongro..--seoona session.
Wednesdays Proceedings.

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+ Wednesdays Proceedings
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-SENATE.--Mr johnson said
I The question is whether the other States vii
tolerate secession if South Carolina goes out of IN,
Union and Is about to form an alliance nimical L
the rest Of the States The Government has a RICH
TO CONQUER her and hold her a province. He re
ferred TO the expense of acquiring California Texas
and Louisiana. and admitted that these States wer,
not admitted for their only but -ar the benef
of all the States yet these States say ID dav that
they will go out on their own volitious. What an
illogical argument The compact was reciprocal
: They have no right to 90 out
Slidell said person in Louisiana wished to re-
. strict the free navigation Of the Mississippi
johnson resumed We do not know what change cir
eumstances may make if the States 90 out now. Do
lhey resume Territorial condition or ,lot9 Hasaid
the Ostend principle would apply to South Carolina
or louisiana. Ifthey secede the Government would
have the right 70 seize and hold them as provinces
lie referred to the statements that the army and
navy OF France and England could be brought here
to protect the State. He said this Government
would not tolerate such proceedings
johnson quoted Gov. Gist's message to show the
intention OF South Carolina 10 drag her sister States
IN common ruin. As far as Tennessee is concern
ed, she will not be dragged into Southern or anv
other Con- ederacy until she has time TO consider
lie would tell Northern friends that Tennessee was
| not to be drawn out of the COnfederacy either If
the abohnonsts wanted to abolish slavery the first
stcp Noulu Oe uiSunOn. Inc existence slavery
demands the preservation of the Union The bor-
der slave States would be unprotected in case of
a dissolution. de would rather see a consolidated
i Government than thirty-three petty wrsngling
powers. Il might occur to the border States to es-
tablish Central Republic forming friendly alliance
with NSethern border States. In this connection
what IS to be done with the capitol founded at
! Washington 1t couldn't be given exclusively to the
! North or the South.
johnson avOwed in his place that he would never
/ 81,
under which he liyed-no, never. never. He read
extracts from Georgia papers suggesting monarch
elal governments. He said the South ha better
= wear the Ills they have, than fly TO others they
know not Of" There might be some Louis Napo
leon to seize the reins of Government He intended
TO stand by the Constitution and demand the faith
ful performance Of its guarantees He would
not be driven out Of the house buit by his fathers
lie wanted to stay rash and precipitate action in
some portions Of the South, which runs TO red hot
madness. also to mad AbOlitionism of the North He
trusted IN God the Union would be preserved and
he intended to hold it the palladium of civil lib
erty as the shpwreeked mariner clings to the plank
to save himself. What grievances operates on |
South Cardinal Is it because she wants TO take /
slavery INTO the Territories Both of her Senators
at the last session said, No need of it now''-
Mr. Davis said they would vote to protect now |
and that they voted for the resolution to protect
Mr.. johnson asked If they voted to protect now
Mr.. Davis said that if the Senator proposed play
ing on the word NOW" he supposed they intended
to nail misereants who voted protection when I'M
necessary, and shrink from it when necessary.
Mr. Higfall said he corrected that statement the
other day.
4. Johnson said it was corrected wrong then
Wigfall said if the Senator choose to pervert facts
he couldn't help it.
johnson objected to further interruption Is it
reason for disuniOn because man was not elect
ed If Breckenridge was elected nobody wanted
to break the Union; but Lincoln is elected now they
say they will break the Union. He said no. What
was there to feaFl Lincoln was a minority Pres-
dent. Let South Carolina send her Senators back
and Lincoln can't even make Cabinet without the
consent of the Senate. Was he such a coward as /
to retract when it was evident they had the power?
Was he to be so cowardy as to desert the noble
band at the North who had stood by the South in
principles Yet for a temporary defeat turn their
backs on them and leave them to their fate. Moth
ing was necessary but to stand to your posts like
men. In four years time Lincoln and his party will
go out of power.
What reason then is there for deserving .he Govern
ment? He believed that they could easily obtain all
the needed guarantees and interested patriots u
come forward IN spirit of brothery love- aud stand
around the altar Of the common country. Lay the
Constitution on it. and swear the Constitution shall
be maintained and the Union preserved, though per
haps better preserve the Union to keep the North
to quarrel among themselves. He referred to a re- I
mark Of Mr.. hng relative to Mr.. Houston. as show
ing want OF harmony. He appealed to the South I
to pause AMI consider before rashly going too far
Citation and concessions This Congress has power
to day to arrest secession and save the Union. Will
you do that desert sinking shir for one would
stand up supporting the edice as long as human eff
BY the Constitution.
Pugh obtained the floor and yielded to Mr. Lane r
Lane said there one thing the Democracy !
would not DO They would not march under the
bloody banner of the Senator from Tennessee to II
rample South Carolina under foot, but they would
ind them ready to meet him there and repel his y
bloody band and say that they would not subiugate
gallant State struggling for its rights denied them
n the Union. Applause in the galleries.) Lincoln .
elected simply in consequence of his hate to the
south. Is it surprising that South Carolina ressts
he served notice on the North that It could carry
united North to involve gallant State fighting :
or its rights. He knew something of Northern PEG
lie; knew that they would not march with the SEN I
tor in his bloody march. He claimed that wash
ngtOn was seceder when he went to Philadelphia
md left the cOnfederacy. He said the whisky in
urgents was not to be compared with the action of
sovereign State. :
Mr.. L. would never draw his sword to eoerce
states that contemplate action. Read Lincoln's II
peeches; they show hatred of slavery and the h
'outh. Who is the man hardy enough to undertake
o collect revenues Of South Carolina when she is
ut o. the Union? Such man is the worst mad
nan in the would. and wrul1 drench the country in
Hood. lie would say to such coward "sir. you e
leet your humble servant and walk over his body
Applause, and cries of good" in the galleries o
lie argued that the doctrine of the equality of the
tates must prevail or dissolution was certain. TIE
arty at the North had inflicted ruin and distress on
he country, and when starving thousands marched
ne streets of Northern cities they would be respon
ble. He loved the country, and would lay his life
own if it would aver the trouble.
After an executive session the Senate adjourned
Thursdays Proceedings Ii
WAsHNGrox. Dec. 2O-SExArE-The President
the receipt Of the report of A. D. Bache,
superintendent Of the Coast Survey from the Sec
Of The l.. -