Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-05

ton, by substituting Mr.. Crittendep's proposi.
| ton with the provision relating to Territory tf
be hereafter acquired. Mr.. Seward ob;acted
that the amendment would change The wbols
character of the article, and if 40 alterad :,
would not be the recommendation of the peace
Congress. Mr.. Bigler, and subsequently, NJ
Crttenden also joined in Directing to any alter
atoms of the propositions as they came from this
p ace Conference. Mr. Hunter, supported by
the decision of the Chair, persisted in PRESSING
his amendment and spoke in its defence. Mr.
Mason declared that he would not vote for the
propositions, Mr.. Green, of Missouri, said be
would vote against them; aud Mr.. Lane stigma
tzed them So ''a cheat, humbug, and decep-
ton"
| No vote was taken, but after these manifesto
tons the fate of the propositions is no longer q
matter of any uncertainty. On motion of Sena.
/ tor Douglas the portions of the report of the
! Committee of Thirty three passed by the House
| of Representatives, embodying the declaratory
resolutions and the proposed amendment to the
Constitution, were made the special order for to-
morrow.
! In the House the remainder of the report Of
the Committee of Thirty-three not previously
acted on taken up. The act for the admis
sion of New Mexico was laid on the table, the
object undoubtedly being to await the action OF
the Senate on the other portions of the report
The amendments to the Fugitive Slave Law pro.
posed by the Committee were passed.
| SATURDAY, March 2d.-The United States Sen.
ate continued in session on Saturday up to mid
night, land then adjourned until Sunday night at 7
O'Clock. The day was spent in heated and acri-
monious debate on the Peace Conference propo.
sitions and on the House proposition (Corwin's 81
! for the amendment of the Constitution.
| The House agreed to the Senate's amendments
to the Post Route Bill. The resolution reported
from the Select Committee, censuring the Sec
rotary Of the Navy for accepting the resignation
of officers of the Navy who had engaged in hos
tilities against the Government passed. A
Message received from the President in re-
ply to resolution of inquiry in relation to the
| assembling of United States troops at Washing.
ton. The President justifes the measure as one
of prudence and necessary precaution. The
House adjourned until ten O'Clock Monday NOR
ming.
SUNDAY NIGHT, March 3d.-When the Senate
re-assembled Sunday night at seven O'Clock the
galleries were so densely packed with spectators
that much confusion was caused. Mr.. Critten-
den presented the credentials of his successor,
Mr.. j. G. Breckenridge, and proceeded to address
the Senate for the last time, the joint resolution
from the House proposing an amendment to the
Constitution being under consideration, Mr..
Crittenden declared that all that vas necessary
to preserve the Union was guarantee from the
Republicans that they would not use their power
to disfranchise the South of its rights in the Ter
ritories; that they would agree to leave New
Mexico as it is until that Territory shall have
sufficient population to be admitted as State
He regarded this as the vital point necessary to
retain those States now in the Union, if not to
bring back those that have gone. He declared
himself still for the Union and against secession,
and would say to Kentucky, ssstand by the u
MON until necessity forces you out of it, A
debate followed between Senators Trumbull and
Wigfall, which was still in progress at midnight.