The national Republican., 1861-01-15
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
Monday, January Ia, 1861.
SENATE.

Mr.. Blgler, OF pennsylvania, introduced a
long bill providing for the holding of an elec.
ton throughout the United States, upon the
adoption of certain amendments to the Consti-
tuition Of the United States, similar in sub.
stance to the Crttenden compromise, but also
providing that the President shall be elected
for six years, and be Ineligible after one term.
Mr.. Wilson moved to refer it to the Comm
tee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Bigler hoped that disposition Of it would
not be made.
Mr.. Trumbull said It was a proposition to
change the Constitution in an unconstitutional
way.
Mr.. Wilson withdrew his motion of refer.
ence.
Mr.. Brown, of Miss, ON behalf of the Sena.
tors from Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi,
said, that although those Senators had received
no official notification of the secession Of their
States, they deemed it proper to announce that
they would not for the present take active part
in the business Of the Senate.
Mr.. Grimes introduced resolution Of inquiry,
as to whether there was any combination to
prevent the free navigation Of the Mississippi
river, &c. laid over.
Mr.. Fessenden introduced bill for con.
structing a city railway along Pennsylvania
avenue to Georgetown.
as to the recent occupation of Federal offices in
St. Louis by United States troops laid over.
Mr.. Wilson introduced resolution of inquiry
as to whether the appropriation for the Wash.
ington Aqueduct had been expended accord
ing to law; laid over.
Mr.. Slidell asked to be discharged from the
Committee of Claims which was agreed to.
Mr.. Mason called up his resolution of inquiry
as to the orders given to army officers in South
Carolina and as to plans submitted to the War
Department relative to the military occupancy
of Virginia.
The Kansas bill was postponed till Wednes-
day, at one p. NJ.
Mr.. Polk took the floor on Mr.. Hunters reso-
luton to withdraw the troops from the seeding
States.
He said the Presidential canvass was over,
anti slavery fansticism had triumphed, and
nothing was now left but astonishment and re-
gret. An unnatural animosity had sprung up
between sections separated by geographical
line. There was universal panic in the coun.
try, prostrating the public credit.
Here a communication was received from
the Executive.
Mr. Polk continued. Commerce was restrict.
ed, trade checked, and industry paralyzed.
Mr.. Polk maintained the right of secession,
AS to Missouri, while she did not desire that
the Union should be dissolved, he believed that
if a dissolution actually occurred, Missouri
would 20 with the South.
After Mr.. Polk had concluded, a long debate
arose as to priority of assignments of business.
Finally, Mr.. Crittenden's propositions were
made the order for tomorrow at half past
twelve, and the Senate ad journed.
HOUSE.
Among other business, Mr.. Garnett, of Vir.
ginia, introduced a joint resolution to suspend
the execution of the Federal laws within Ger.
tain States which was referred to the select
committee Of FIVE on the Presidents special
message.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, introduced bill to
revive the tariff act of 1876; which was re.
ferred to the Committee Of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Mexican, of New York; introduced a bill
to repeal so much of the act Of 1893 as relates
to the collection of duties on imports in the
State of South Carolina; which was referred
to the select committee of five.
Messrs. Adrain of New Jersey, and Moore
'of Kentucky, presented the proceedings of
meetings in their States, respectively, on the
present political affairs of the country, and of a
Union character. They were referred to the
select committee of thirty.three.
adopted, instructing the select committee of
five to consider and report on that part of the
Presidents special message recommending
that the questions at issue be submitted to q
vote of the people.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, (Democrat,) intro
duced resolution declaratory against seces-
sion, and looking to the use of the navy to ex.
ecute the laws, and to protect the public prop.
erty.
Mr.. English, of Indiana, also introduced a
resolution, with view Of obtaining an expires.
sion of opinion on the Crittenden compromise.
But neither proposition was voted on.
Mr.. Stanton, of Ohio, offered resolution,
that the bill recognizing and disciplning the
militia of the District of Columbia be made the
special order of the day for tomorrow, and
from day to day until it shall be disposed of.
Mr.. Boteler, of Virginia, inquired whether
this bill was preplred with view to any diff
Guilty now existing.
Mr.. Stanton replied it was not, but in accord
ance with plan decided on last year by g
board of army officers.
Mr.. Burnett remarked that, according to his
understanding, this bill proposed to raise @
standing army of six thousand men, to be mus
tered into the service by the President of tht
United States at his discretion, and, in case o
insurrection, to take possession even of thi
Capitol, if he should think proper to do SO.
Mr. Maynard said they could get along yer,
well without this bill. 1t was merely adding
fuel to the fire.
The House voted on the motion to suspend
the rules, and decided the question in the neg
ative-yeas Ill, nays 56-not two thirds
The House resolved itself into Committe,
of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr
Washburne of Illinois, in the chair and tool
up the army appropriation bill.
Mr.. McClernand of Illinois, Democrat,
made speech, denying the right of secession
and deprecating the consequences of any suct
assumed right, as measure Of revolution
embroil the country in sauguinary and waste