Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-02-06
CONGRESS

slave laws OF 1898 AID 1850. The cinair an.
nounced the withdrawal Of Mr.. ~Ivefson of
Georgia, from the Senate. la his commune
cation me stated that if Georgia was allowed
20 leave the Union IN peace, she would agree
10 IN equitable division Of federal assets; but
If var cnsued she would abolish both public
and private debts, If secession vas peacea,
bic there might be a econstruction of the
Confederdcy-if otherwise all hopes of such /
reconstruction was at an cab
The President nao,m tied the propositions
Of Virsinia, for a conference Of the States
In his message be urges upon the South,
the importance Of the subject, eulogiscs
tho action Of Virginia and appeals to Con-
rress ~ carry out her recommendation.
Mr. Mason urged the printing Of the prop
o.iticn. and saJd that the object of Nir-
pinia was first 10 secure peace, AMI secondly
10 scrurv the rights Of all the States and
,hus obtain a reconstruction Of the Uni II On
a nev basis,
The papers were ordered 90 lie printed
Mr.. Hemphill, of Texas, read Il speech ia
defence Of thr right of Secession, referring
particularly to Texas which he believed
would Secedc,
In the House on the 2Sth, Che mammoth
union and compromise memorials were pre-
qcnrcsi wrapped in the National Hag, which
wa. hailed with demonstrations Of applause.
Several amendments e. the constitution were
proposed and referred
Mr.. Hughes offered a resolution, which
was adopted looking TO the retrocc>sion of
The district of Columbia TO Maryland, eX-
vcpt tic City Of Washington.
The Presidents message, enclosing the
Virginia resolutions, was received, and its
consideration postponed until to-morrow.
The report Of the Committee of Thirty
three was taken up, and hr. Pryor made an
eloquent speech in deicuce of the South. He
assn. ed that the Union was already dis
solved, and that peace or war was now the
only issue before the country. BY their re-
fsal to acccdu and by their threats of co.
crcion. the Republicans would involve the
country ia war. In view Of this catastrophe,
the South was sustained 10y the conviction
that po,terity will acquit her Of ali respon-
Slbiiitics for consequences. The North alone
was accountable fur the calamities Of the
country. She has oycrthIoWn the Consti-
futon and established a government of des-
polic tyranny over the South by an irrespon-
sibIe majority. The South IS contending for
Constitutional freedom and the rights Of self
government. IN this sense the cause Of the
South is the cuusc Of civil Liberty. She
Ntuib "NAtI I fd'iSi"' l'IA SNNGlllltS, Odl luc
dominant party reject all oyertures, and are
preparing to enforce SUBMISSION to their
sway In view Of the diverse IDEAS and in
teresis Of the two sections, he inculcated
TIE policy Of pcacoabIe separation. In con-
clusion, lac said, thai instead of y1inly essay.
ing 10 couut.tact the designs Of nature, let
Us heed the voice oil reason Instead Of la
mcutiug tie iuptu G Of an artificial tie as in
yotyiug the uin Of all our hopes. let US lean
on the wisdom # Providence, under the per-
]suasiou that us tie had already distinguished
the epoch of Our Revolution as the most glo-
riouS in the annals of America, so lie intends
still farther 10 advance the cause Of Freedom
and Civilization by means Of another dissev-
cred nationality
On the 20tr, in the Senate, Mr.. King o.
NcN York introduced q resolution authorlz
ing the President TO a,cep, ,he services o
vOluntce S iOr the protection Of the public
property.
Mr.. Bingham presented a memorial for
the repeal of the fugitive slave law.
The + ellie railway bill came up. Anum
Der Of amendments were discussed. One
plovldiug for the Northern route was adop
ted. NJ. Mason moved IT, strike out all APP
pr pratt n, ~ofmoney IN aid of the road, his
object being to show that Virginia dIssented
from making THIS large debt, when probably
the whole public debt would shortly be APP
lortioued among the several States, and that
Virginia might not DC held chargcable with
any portion of the same.
The motion was lost, and the bill was re-
ported back to the Senate, and all the amend
ments but one cUnCurrcd in.
Pending the subject, the Senate adjourned.
The House resumed the consideration oil
the report Of the Committee ofThirty-Three.
Mr. Stevens, Of Pa, agreed with Mr.. Pry-
or, that 10 compromise can be effected, and
cited the news of yesterday from South Car
olua to show that it coulG not. The South
cru State all not be turned from their de.
ij1eratc purpose by soft words or tears. lie
opposed tie light Of secession.
Mr. limrus, Of Md denied the constitution.
alright Of secession, and expressed the belle
that not a coj poral's guard could be found il
Maryland in favor Of disunion. He said tina
faults had been committed on both sides
but tlat Southern politicians iostered dlsnn
ion o., new sphere for their defeated ambi
ton in the Umon. lie was in favor oil thu
trttcudcu resolutions.
NJ. " uslow, If y. c., defended Southern
rights and reviewed ,hc proceedings of tn,
committee. lie said that the North designed
ultimately the total obo itiOn Of slavery, ant
"iI"bt luItItl GUARANTEES I'll tbiS HN"u, l
could NOT be expected that the South woul
remain IN the tuion.
NJ. Van W Ok denounced secession bu
counscied conci,iaI ou. No action.
In the Scua Z on the 3Otu, the Pacific Ri
road bI WAS ~passcd-yeas 81, nays Ia
Nothing else OF importance done,
In the House, on the 3Oth, Mr.. Cobb,
AIahama, presented the ordinance Of the State
and withdrew, with the expression of his II
gryl Tor the necessity ior hus doing so. ii
eHh"lJcd the /, pub,icans to DO something
restore peace TO Il distracted country.
Mr.. .ynolds, Of y. y, from the Commit
OF Five, reported IL bill autno. ling the Pres
dent to call out tue militia III certain cases,
Mr.. Branch Of H.. g., presented Il coun''
report.
Nr. John Cochranc, of \. y, presented al
o'her report golust Secession, and also again
coercion. lie also reported a bill 10 the {
ieet, mat when Tie evenuc laws in any Sla
are INSTRUCTED, the President may issue h
Proclamation SuSlenaiug said laws in so
State, 70 te revived It She eturns TO the Unio
The rCpo { was recomnittcd.
The President sent a message informiI
the House that he had signcdthe Kansas \
mission Bin Martin i. Conway was subs
gucut y sworn in as the Representative
l1e State of Kansas, and took his seat accC
DINGHY.
Inc report e the Committee of Ehi,t
AHtte VAS taken w.
Mr. Conhiin, Of New lora, denounced /
sec ssionls ) as a. estates and rebels.
made Is seml-ahOii ion speech. lie YOU
"oNtFer. du Sumgthi q for the border Stat