The national Republican., 1860-12-21
THIRTY.sIXTH CONGRESS,
Second Session,
Thursday, December 81, 1860.
SENATE.

Survey was received, and referred to the Com.
mittee on Printing.
Mr.. Hunter, from the Committee on Finance,
reported back the bill known as the "Morrill
tariff bill" with Recommendation that It be
postponed until the fourth Of March next On
his motion, the bill and recommendation were
tabled.
Mr.. Clark, of New Hampshire, called up his
resolutions of inquiry in regard to the condi.
tion Of Fort Moultrie, its garrison, the in.
structions Of its commander, &c.
Mr.. Lane hoped that, if the resolutions were
taken up, the substitute offered by him few
days since would be adopted.
Mr.. Trumbull said the resolutions were mere
ly of inquiry, and ought not to be objected to.
Mr.. Hunter said that the matter certainly
would lead to debate. The question was one
which involved the peace of the country.
Mr.. Salisbury hoped that all the friends of
the Union would vote against the resolution.
1t would open dangerous question, and give
rise to perilous excitement.
Mr.. Clark had no intention of stirring up ex.
citement. He wanted the information.
Mr.. Hunter said that the discussion of this
question might lead to the presentation Of facts
that would result in a conflict between the
troops Of the Federal Government and the peo.
pie Of South Carolina, and thus precipitate re.
|
Mr.. Mason said that it would be but few
days before events would take place which
would enable Congress to act in the face of
open facts. He thought action should be de.
layed until then.
Mr.. Davis opposed the resolution, alleging
that it was improper and dangerous.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Trum.
bull, Clark, and Mason.
The hour for the consideration of the special
order having arrived, the Chair was about to
call it up, pending which, Mr.. Slidell, rising to
a question Of privilege, said he was satisfied
that the dispatch, to which he had alluded on
yesterday, did not come from the agent Of the
Associated Press in Washington. But, as
agents were scattered about the various points
of the country, and the association was a unit,
he therefore introduced resolution to exclude
from the gallery all the reporters of the AS.
sociated Press, and said he would call it upin
few days.
The Senate then took up Mr.. Johnson's reso
lutions.
Mr.. Pugh, of Ohio, addressed the Senate
He alluded to the declaration of his colleague,
Mr.. Wade, that the day Of compromises was
past; that Senator had also declared that the
Republican party could not have aggrieved the
| South, because they had never held the majori
ty. Aud yet the Senator from New Hampshire
had charged all the Northern Democrats with
being traitors to their section as if it was
treason the defend the rights of people who did
not belong to that section. Was not this
clear evidence of the animus Of the Republican
party2 Did they not desire to monopolize all
the Territories OF the United States Did they
not nullify the fugitive slave law2 Did they
not grant suffrage to negroes until negro votes
controlled the great State of Ohio? And were
these no grievance? He .adverted to the fact
that no single Northern Senator had signi6ed
his approval of Mr.. Crittenden's proposition to
put the Missouri compromise into the Constitu
ton. If the two systems could not coexst,
why not divide the territory? If the Terrific.
ries were not sufficient to divide, why not &C.
quire more? II their hatred to slavery was
such that it would not allow slavery to exist
anywhere, when it had the power to exclude it,
what guaranty had the South, that, when the
Republicans obtained the control of three
fourths of the States, they would not amend
the Constitution, and abolish slavery in the
States? He quoted Mr.. Lincoln's record to
show that he looked to the extinction of slavery
in the States. He urged the Republican mem
bers to give peace to the country, by a con.
ciliatory proposition.
Mr.. Wade. You want security for good be-
haviour. Laughter
Mr.. Pugh. Those who intend to behave well
need not fear to give security. But his friend
had declared that the day of compromises was
past. Then the day of Union was past, for the
Constitution was compromise. He besought
the Republicans to adopt the compromise of
Mr.. Crittenden. The times were perilous. A
dispatch might at any moment inform us that
State had declared herself out of the Union,
and all knew that five States were making ready
to follow. AS to the present issue, it involved
question of the sovereignty of the States
which had been veled for eighty years, and
upon which rested all the Federal superstructure.
There was underneath that veil hidden giant,
which now showed signs of motion its voice
was storm and its movement earthquake. He
quoted from numerous political writers of emf.
nence to show that questions like these were
above the powers of any Government. His
friend from Tennessee, instead of looking to
the Constitution to find the power Of State to
secede, should have looked there to find q pro-
hibition of secession. He denied that the Uni
ted States Government was bound to coerce q
seeding State. 1t was q matter of discretion.
Men who were unwilling to face the RESPONSE.
bility were now striving to make it appear that
their oaths required them to coerce State for
Gods name was always called to vindicate an
atrocity. The moment war was waged upon a
State, Cancellation was at an end. He eloquently
depicted the horrors of civil war. If his col.
league truly representative sentiments of their
joint constituency, he would deem it glorious
privilege, that, when the flag on yonder dome
was raised to assemble in this Hall less than the
Representatives OF thirtythree States, he would
not be here. He concluded with touching
picture Of the invisible hand writing upon the
walls of the Capitol the words " Thou art
weighed in the balance and found wanting; thy
kingdom is divided" Loud applause.
A motion was made, that when the Senate
adjourn, it be to meet on Monday next.
Mr.. Cameron moved to amend by adjourn.
ing until the first Monday in January.
Mr.. Cameron favored the motion; which was
opposed by Messrs. Mason, Douglas, and others;
and the amendment having been rejected, the