The national Republican., 1861-01-23
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION
Tuesday, January 20, 1861.
SENATE

| cDrInH
| Mr.. Seward presented Q memorial from SOL
diers Of the war Of 1912, praying pensions. Re-
ferred.
Also, memorial of seven hundred and forty
six citizens Of New York, praying peace and
the maintenance of the Union; likewise, sim
liar memorial Of eighteen thousand citizens of
| New York city.
Mr.. Salisbury presented resolutions of the
Legislature Of Delaware, in favor of the Crit.
tenden amendment. Laid on the table, and or.
dered to be printed.
Mr.. Thomson, from the Committee on Pen.
sions, reported several bills granting pensions,
one of which-granting pension to Eliza
Reed-was read the third time, and passed.
The Vice President said that no minute of
the withdrawal of certain Senators from the
Senate appeared on the Journal, for the reason
that no paper in relation to the question had
been submitted to the Senate. He asked the
instructions Of the Senate in regard to the mat.
| ter.
Mr.. Fitch thought that it could occasion no
practical difficulty. The charmen of the com.
: mittees could report the absence Of those Sem
ators, and have their places filled as for va.
cancies.
Mr.. Douglas thought that the Senatots we're
no longer members of the Senate. Whatever
might be the right of State to secede the
right of Senators to withdraw was undoubted.
Mr.. Wilson thought that these gentlemen
were still members of the Senate.
Mr.. Benjamin said that the Journal Of the
Senate should be faithful transcript of its pro
ceedings. Certain proceedings in open session
sterday were not recorded on the Journal.
He moved, therefore, to correct the Journal in
that particular.
Mr.. Seward thought that the record of those
| (. L.. Il.
than in the observance" He hoped that their
seats would be left vacant, that they might re-
sumo them in their own good time.
Mr.. Fessenden thought the Senators had re.
signed.
Mr.. Hunter did not believe the Senators had
resigned they had withdrawn because they be.
leved they had no longer right to sit here.
Mr.. Douglas moved an amendment to Mr..
Benjamin's motion.
Mr.. Seward moved to lay on the table.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Mason,
Hunter Seward, and BENJAMIN.
The motion Of Mr.. Seward was agreed to
yeas 32. nays %.
Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, introduced a bill,
from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to carry
into effect certain treaty stipulations with New
Granada; which was laid on the table, and Or
dered to be printed.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of Mr. Crttendens resolutions.
Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, advocated at length
the adoption of the resolutions. He considered
the propositions submitted by Mr.. Crittenden
Seridtin,, and examined, approved, and illus
trated each of them in turn, urging that they
were necessary, proper, constitutional, and pol
itic. The South had many causes of complaint
against the North-causes which, had they have
been given to foreign nations, would have been
| ~f II, l,.1
lost property by reason of societies formed in
Ohio to steal their property.
Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, demanded the proof.
Mr.. Powell read letter from Hon. Mr.. Cox,
of Ohio, stating the fact. Mr. p, continuing,
opposed secession. He said that he did not ap.
prove of the secession of South Carolina but
the Northern States, derelict themselves in duty,
were in no condition to accuse her of unconsti.
tutional action. He declared that Kentucky
would be satisfied with nothing less than con-
stitutional guarantees of safety.
Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, corrected a statement in
relation to certain proceedings in the House of
Representatives of Ohio, with regard to personal
liberty bills.
After some discussion between Messrs. Wade
and Mason,
5 Mr.. Wade opposed any compromise in the
present condition of the country.
And after general discussion of the general
subject Of personal liberty bills, in which Messrs.
Douglas, Mason, and Wade, participated, the
Senate (at Alp o'clock) adjourned.
4 HOUSE.
!, Mr.. Whiteley, of Delaware, presented the res
olutions of the Legislature of that State, in
favor of the Crttenden compromise.
Mr.. Harris, of Maryland, presented memo.
: rals from seventeen thousand citizens of that
State, from all counties therein, in favor of the
f resolutions of the border State committee. He
gave notice of his intention to offer those reso.
:, lutions, as an amendment of the propositions
of the special committee of thirty-three.
Mr.. Co!fax, from the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, reported back the bill
. introduced by him yesterday, proposing that
the postal laws shall be suspended in the Sc.
ceding States. He stated that the bill was not
coercive but peace measure. At present,
there being no Federal courts in certain States,
, larceny of letters and failure to execute con-
tracts cannot be brought to legal investigation.
Mr.. Branch, of North Carolina, offered sub.
sttute for the bill-tkat all laws of the United
States be suspended until the lst of January,
1862, in and over those States which have
heretofore adopted, or may, previous to tina,
day, adopt ordinances of secession.
= Mr. Colfax declined to accept of the amend
4 ment.
q Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, also offered
4 an amendment, authorizing the Pre- ident to
suspend both the postal and revenue laws as tc
s seeding States, and empowering the Presden,
to use the army and the navy to enforce the
e laws.
e After further proceedings, the further con
sideration Of the bill was postponed until Thurs
, day week.
u The House proceeded to the consideration o
;, the report Of the select committee of thirty
three.
It Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, in the course of his
speech, said he stood here to deny that any State
= can rghtfully, by any appliance, separate one
portion of this country from another and seve
e The ties which bind the various parts of the