The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-11
THIRTY-SlyTH CONGRESS.-SRC0ND SESSION.

until to porrow at IL O'Clock
TElRTY-SlXTII C0NGRESS--SEC0ND SESSION.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Jan. lO'-After prayer by the Rev.
Mr.. Gurley, the journal was read and approved.
Mr.. SEWARD presented memorial from citi
Zerfs of New Y oTk, praying the adoption of wise,
just and equitable measures for the preservation
of the Union: laid on the table for the present.
Mr.. SUMNER presented a memorial from the
Synod of the Presbyterian Church, holding at
Pittsburg, Pa, asking Congress that provisions be
made to express acknowledgement of the beag and
authority of God. Secondlv--to acknowledge the
authority of God and Christ Thirdly re-
signaion Of firm obligation to Gods law
Fourth-That the principle of Christianity are
clearly adverse to slavery. -Referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary. RICE presented a
petition praving the postponement of the Pacific
Railroad bill, on the ground that it is udicious
to icrease the public debt Tabled for the present.
Mr.. BIGLER presented the memorial of citizens
of Ph;adephia, asking that pensions be granted
to soldiers, children and widows of the war of
1872. Also the memorial of citizens of New err
sey, praying the adoption of measures for the
States, calling General Convention to amend the
Constitution Tabled for the present. Mr.. Bigler
also presented memorial of the citizens Of Phila-
de,phia praying the adoption of the resolution of
the Senator from Kentucky, proposing amendments
to the Constitution. Tabled for the present.
Mr.. KENNEDY, of Maryland, presented memo |
rial signed by twelve thousand citizens of Balt |
city, praying that the plan of Mr.. Crttenden |
for restoring the peace and harmony of the coun-
try, be adopted. Tabled for the present.--Mr.
HALE presented the credentials of his colleage, !
Daniel Clarke, Senator for six years from
the 4th of March next. Received and read
Mr.. SLlDELL called up the resolution of yester-
day relative to the appointment by the President
of Secretary Of War. He said there had been
gross violation of the Constitution of the United
States in the matter. The President had not cted
right to appoint officer to office without the fact
being made known to the Senate, and without the
submitted tn he hat
of the Senate. The power was only intended to be
exercised when the Senate not in session.
The resolution was read, as follows:
Resolved That the President be requested to inform the
Senate whether John B. Floyd, whose appointment as
Secretary of War confirmed by the Senate the 9th
March, 1887 still continues to hold said Office and
whether how and by whom the duties of said Office
now discharged and if an appointment of acting pro-
visona Secretary of War has been made how when
by what authority it made and why the fact of
SAID appointment has not been to the Sen
ate.
Mr.. FESSENDEN thought that the words "f
not Incompatible with the public interest" should be
inserted.--Mr. SLlDELL said he could see
reason for inserting those words. He considered
that the President had committed gross violation
of the Constitution of the United States by the ap.
pointment of an acting Secretary OF War for twelve
! or fourteen days without communicating his nomi-
nation. He read from the Constitution of the Uni
ted States to show that this appointment must be
sent to the Senate, if it be in session. He
serted that the appointment of the present
Secretary OF War could never have OBJ
! tanned the appreciation of the Senate.--Mr. BIG
LERwas not convinced by theSenatGrs constitution
| al argument. The Senator aware that this APP
pointment was made during great difficulties. 1t was
an indispensable necessity that some member of
| tina Cabinet should take the position made vacant
! in the War Department.--Mr. GREEN would
vote for the resolution but by doing so, be would
not imply his censure the President or the Sec
rotary of Wharf.-The vote was taken and the res
oution agreed to-yeas SO, nays l6. The NAYS
were Messrs. Anthony, Bingham, Cameron, Chan
dler, Clark, Doolittle Grimes, Hale, King, Sim
mons, Sumner, Salisbury, Seward Trumbull,
| Wade, Wilson and Wkinson.--Mr. POWELL, in
voting in the affirmative said he believed that the
action of the present Secretary of War had been
greatly misrepresentation Crittenden's
olutions were taken up and postponed
til to morrow at 10. O'Clock -The
Presidents message was taken up
Mr.. DAVlSMr. President, when closed yester-
| day, intended to have made some argument upon
the questions of Constitutional rights which have
divided the country; but events, with a current
rolling around as it progresses, has borne past
the point when now it is needul for to speak
on those questions to-day. Therefore it is my pur-
! pose to deal with events Abstract arguments
| have become among the things that past. We
! have to deal now with facts. In order that we
meet these facts and apply them to the present
condition. it is well to nqui what is the state of
! the country? The Constitution provides that from
time to time the President shall communicate in
formation on the state of the country, to Con-
! gress. The Message before us, gives us very
| little beyond that which the world, and
indeed less than reading men knew before it was
communicated. What, Senators, to-day is the con-
dition of the country? From every quarter comes
| the wailing of patriotism pleading for the preser-
| walton of the great inheritance which derived
| from our fathers. Is there Senator who does not
daily receive letters appealing to him to use his
power to save the rich inheritance which faith
| ers gave us? The stern face of man is seen
| with tears trckling down his cheeks and those
who have bled for the flag of our country
! and are willing now to die for it, are pow
| hnc,.
down platform, and come what will-though
| ruin stares us in the face-consstency must be
adhered to- and the Government lost. In this state
OF the case, then we turn to ask what is the char
acter of the Administration What is the Exc
cutive Department doing? What assurances have
we for the peace of the country? We come back
| from the inquiry with the mOurnfu conviction that
feeble hands now hold the reins of the States that
driveers are taken in as councillors not provided
| for by the Constitution, and vacation is the law
| The policy of this great Government is changing
with every changeful rumor-nay, more, it is
changing with every causeu fear. 1t is this state
of the case, after complication had been introduced
after we were brought to the verge of civil war, after
nothing had been done to preserve the peace of the
land then we are told at this last hour that the ques
ton is thrown to the door of Congress, and with
you rests the responsibility. Had the garrison at
| Charleston been called back thirty or ten DAYS ago.
peace would have spread her pinions this land
and calm negotiations been the order of the day
| why is 1t not recalled? No reason has vet been
offered save that the Government is bound to pre-
| serve its property. AS look from North to
! South, from East to West, find few garrisons
where troops are kept except for special purposes,
not for the coercion of State; not to threaten a
| State, but merely for the purpose of discipline
| asked in this Senate weeks ago, what causes the
peril now at Fort Moultrie? Is it the weakness Of
| the garrison? l answered, no. Had an Orderly
| Sergeant represented the Federal Government
there; had there been no troops and no physical
| force to protect that fort, l would have
| pledged my life upon the issue that no
| have haao mod
Now We find, not only there but elsewhere
movements of troops still further to compIicate
this question and inevitably to precpitate us upon
the issue of civil war-hurried on bv this govern
ment reposng in the consent of the governed; this
government, strong in the affections of the people
this government is now furtvely sending troops |
to occupy positions lest mob should seize them.
When before was it that q mob have coerced the |
people? When wasit that the authorities had not
the power to quell mob? But now we find that |
under the cover of night, troops are detached from
one position to occupy another. Fort Washington |
standing in lonely grandeur overlooking the Poto-
mac, while the ashes of the father of his country
repose near by-to prevent armed ship coming |
up to attach the capital, is garrsoned by marines
sent secretly from the barracks at Washington.
tortMcHenry rendered sacred by our national song,
is garrisoned by detachment of marines sent from
this place under cover of night.--Senators, the
responsibility is thrown at the door of CONGRESS
Let take it. 1t is ours in this our last hour In
seize the pillars of our country and to uphold them
or to be crushed in the fall. Then, nv friends,
"hat Is our DUTY Are we to 60 on drifting into
war Are we to stand idly by and allow an officer
OF the army to make war? Are we to allow an
unconfrmed head of department to make war p
Are we to allow General of the army to make
war -? Are to allow a President to make
war p? No sir! Our fathers gave that power to
Congress, and to Congress alone belongs that
power, and to Congress even it gave no power to
make war on a State When, then, we see, and
the whole country sees, that we drifting into
war between the United States and a ingle State,
does it become the Senate to sit listess by and
discuss abstract questions of right and read patch
work opinions of men long since gone from the
earth? Are we not bound to meet events as they
come, and manfuy and patrioticall y struggle with
difficulties that now bear down upon U.s.
But in this message are told that this Dis
trct is in danger. In danger of what? From
whence comes the danger? Is there man here to
day who breads that the deliberations of this body
are to be interrupted by an armed force? Is there
man here who would not prefer to fall in the dig
nifty OF his station, as the representative of great
and peaceful country, rather than to be protected
by an armed band? And yet the rumor is-aud ru-
mors seem to be so true that we believe them at
hrst-that two companies of artillery are to be
CHARTERED in this city to preserve the peace
Mr.. Davis proceeded at some length to con-
slider the propositions to be made for peace,
and in the course OF his remarks intimated that
the troops should be withdrawn from Charles
ton harbor. He cited the late rebellion in |
Utah, where the federal government had iu-
risdlction, but where commissioners were sent |
to make peace before the army was dispa tched-
The government he cOntended conld art thus in