Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-01-24
CONoRnssIONAI,.

than two to one. IL is reported that in this de-
bate Senator Crittenden said that the Union
must be preserved, and that furnishing rebellion
and treason is not coercing State, From ru-
NOR we also learn that Senator Johnson of Ten
nessee made the most scathing and bitter attack
upon secessionists yet administered to them,
and that his comments on Floyd partook more
of the castigation OF criminal at the bar of
justice than commentary upon an ex-minister
of the cabinet.
On Saturday, the bill for the admission of
Kansas into the Unon was taken up and con-
sidered. Messrs Green of Missouri, and Fitch
of Indiana, endeavored to embarrass the bill by
amendments, but they were voted down without
debate. The vote on the final question was
postponed until Monday.
In the House, last week, the state of the IN
ion was discussed by several members.
In the Senate, Monday, Mr. Hunter of Vir-
ginia, after reporting from the Committee on
Finance the Indian Appropriation bill, was ex-
cused from further service on the Committee, of
which he has been chairman for fifteen years.
Several petitions for the passage of the Critten-
den resolutions were prcsented-among them
one from Missouri, wrapped in an American
flag, the signatures Of which filed fifteen quires
of foolscap.
Messrs Yulee of Florida, Clay of Alabama
and Davis of Mississippi, announced the seces-
sion of their respective States from the Union
and their consequent Withdrawal from the SEN
ate.
The bill for the admission of Kansas was taxi
up, when Mr. Fitch renewed his amendment
which provided for making Petit, the present
chief justice of the Territory, District Judge,
thus keeping on the docket several cases now
on their way to the Supreme Court of the
United States, in which are involved points as
to the status Of slavery in the Territories under
the Constitution, points which were decided ex-
trajudcially in the bred Scott case,-which
amendment was agreed to:
YEAs-Messrs Bayard, Benjamin, Bigler Bragg,
Bright, Clngman, Fitch, Green, Gwin, Hemphiil,
Hunter, lversOn, johnson of Arkansas, johnson Of
Tennessee, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Mason, Nichol-
son, Pearce Polk, Powell Puch, Rice salisbury.
Sebastian, Side, Thompson, Wigfall-29.
NAYs-Messrs Anthony, Baker, Bingham, Came
ron, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Crttenden, Dixon,
Doolitte, Douglas, Durkee, Fesenden, Foot, Foster
Grimes, Hale, Harlan, King, Morrill,, Seward Sim
mons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbu, Wade, Wilkin-
son, Wilson-2s.
The bill was then read third time and pass
ed by the following vote
YEAs-Messrs Anthony, Baker, Bigler, Bingham,
| Bright, Cameron Chandler, Clark, Collamer Critten-
den, Dixon, Doottle, Douglas Durkee, Fessenden,
Fitch, Foot, Foster Grimes, Hale Harlan Johnson of
| Tennessee. King, Latham, Morrill, Pugh, Rice Sew
| Simmons. Sumner. Eyck IhomnsOn
bull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wson-3G
NAYs-Nlessrs Bayard, Benjamin, Clingman, Green,
liemphill Hunter lverson, johnson of Arkansas Ken
nedy Mason Nicholson Folk, Powell, Sebastian, Sill
dell Wigfall-16.
The Crittenden resolutions then occupied the
attention of the Senate until the adjournment,
and during the debate upon them the DISPOSE
ton to compromise exhibited on both sides was
greater than at any previous time during the
session.
In the House, Mr. Lovejoy of Illinois, asked
leave to present memorial from Methodist
clergymen of that State, asking for protection
from religious persecution. Mr. Lovejoy ex-
planned that clergyman had been hanged in
Texas for his religious opinions. Considerable
objection was made to its reception, but it was
finally received and laid on the table. Letters
were received from the Alabama and Florida
delegations announced their withdrawal. A
Il,
and was referred to the Post Office Committee,
which provides for the suspension of all the
postal laws in those States which have passed
ordinances of secession. on the ground that the
Federal laws cannot be enforced. Mr. English
of Indiana, introduced resolution nstructing
the Committee of Thirty-hree to take the nee
essary measures TO carry into effect the Critten-
den proposition. He moved a suspension of
the rules in order that the resolution might be
acted on Immediately, but the motion was lost.
The Judiciary Committee was instructed to in
quire into the proprety of amending the neu-
trallty laws so as to prevent the transportation
of men and arms into seeding State. Mr.
Vandever of Iowa, asked leave to offer resolu-
tons declaring against the power of the Fede-
raj Government to interfere with slavery in the
States, and that any amendment of the Consti-
tuition is unnecessary. The democratic men,
bers expressed a desire to vote on the resolu-
tons Immediately, but they were withdrawn to
make way fer the report of the Committee OF
Thrty-three, which Mr. Corwin of Ohio, the
chairman, accompanied with speech. He was
followed by Mr. Millson of Virginia, at the con-
clusion of whose remarks the House adjourned.
In the Senate, Tuesday, Mr. Fitch moved that
the Vice President be authorized to fill vacan-
cies in the committees. The journal of the
Senate not containing any record of absence Of
any Senators, the Vice President wished the
Senate to instruct him whether he should re-
cognise their absence. Mr. Douglas said that
they had been notified that certain Senators had
retired and did not intend to be here again this
session. Hence there are vacancies. Their
taking leave has nothing to do with the ques-
ton whether their Statates are out of the Union
or not Mr. Trumbu concurred. Mr. Wilson
considered the seeding Senators as members.
Mr. Fessenden contended that they had resigned.
Mr. Hunter thought the absentees still subject
to call of the Senate. The subject, on motion
of Mr. Seward, was tabled, 80 TO %; Gwin, La
than, Salisbury, Biger, and Johnson of Ten
nessee, voting in the affirmative with the repub-
licans. The Crittenden plan of compromise
was discussedi without taking any action there
on the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr. Colfax, from the post-ofIice
committee, reported back the bill to suspend
the mail service in the seeding States, and ad-
vocated its passage
Mr. Stevens of Penn, proposed substitute
empowering the President to suspend all laws
establishing ports of entries and collection dis
tricts in South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, and other seeding States. until they
return to their loyalty to the United States