Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-14
CONGRESSIONAL.

their recent acts and arguments with series
of votes on the Brown resolutions in favor of
Congressional protection to slavery, given last
spring in the Senate, and utterly overwhelmed
them by his exposition. Joe Lane came out OF
the conflict with much the appearance of a man
run over by locomotive. A more complete
triumph has not been won by any senator.
on Monday the Senate resumed the consider
alton of the Naval appropriation bill in COM
mittee of the whole. Mr. Hale of n. H., Of
fered an amendment providing for the building
of seven steam sloops Of war. Mr. Hunter OPP
posed it as it looked like coercion. After some
discussion the amendment was agreed to, yeas
30; nays Is. The bill was then reported to
the Senate, and on the question Of agreeing to
Mr. Hale's amendment an interesting debate
arose.
Mn. MASON of Va, spoke against the amend
ment. He said he could not Shut his eyes to
the fact that seven States had seeded, and six
OF them had joined together and formed Gov
eminent and nationality, and by no vote of
his should there be any addition to the military
force of the Government, which was to cocrce
States
MIR. FEssENDEN of Me. said 1t was a prom
osition, that has been here for years from a
Democratic Presidents but now that it happens
to be brought forward, the appeal is made,
Why support this measure now? WHY is it
not necessary now? Why, according to the
Senator, (Mr Mason) because six States have
attempted to secede, and have seized the prop
erty of the Government, does this render it
less necessary 1t is almost impossible to re-
frain from asking, who does the Senator repre-
sent here? Is he q Senator of the United
States here on this floor, and does he stand up
here and say, after all these things have taken
place, that they render it unnecessary now to
increase the naval force of the country? |
recognize the fact, as was said Y the Senator
from Mississippi (Mr Dayis,) that, so long as
am here, am bound to perform my duty as a
Senator of the United States, without any ref
erence to what may be done outside of this
Chamber. SO long as stay here, and receive
the money of the Government, will look out
to the best Of my ability for the interests of the
Government. And if can no longer do that.
will leave my place here and return 10 my
State,and say am at its service. Now, Sir,
how do we stand as Senators-we who remain
whose States have not seeded We lock on
these facts, remarkable as they are, as taking
| place outside Of this Chamber, and we are not
bound to deal with them as negotiators. We
are to look on them as against the interest, the
welfare of the Government and the Constitu-
ton of the United States, under which we live
That is the point of view from which we
must look at them. But men seem to say to
themselves and the country, 81 standing here
as member of this Government, must look
out and keep my eyes open, not that this Gov
eminent has the advantage of my counsels, but
that those outside, who are wagng war agans,
1t are to have the benefit of my counsels and
my aid"
am acting yet as a Senator of the Unit ed
States, and will legislate for the United State.
and not for South Carolina, or any other seced
ing State. And as long as stay here, tax,
it that is my duty. Nor am going to be d
verted from it by talk about force and coercion
The time may come when it will be necessar,
for us to speak plain. | am willing to speak
plain now, and say, speaking for myself, thai
il the time ever does come when it will be nee
nssary to use force to execute the laws of the
United States, under the Constitution, am
perfectly ready to do it. But l trust | shall
have no such necessity. The measure of my
friend from Vermont is a measure of peace, and
the measure of constructing these additional
vessels is measure of peace. / do not sup.
pose anybody ever dreamed of making this APP
preparation for the purpose of making war up.
on these States. 1t may be war will come. Il
may be these difficulties will grow vastly great
er than they are now, and when that time comes
| trust we shall be ready to meet our response
bilities like men. But the question is now
what is necessary for us to do for the interest o
this country, in reference to its naval force p
Although the Senator will not vote for it, be
cause it may be that it will give additional fore,
to the Government which he represents here,
say to him this is no objection to my mind
am perfectly willing it should have that add
tional force, when am so well defended BY tn,
recommendation of Democratic President
year after year, and supported by Democrati
Senator.
Mr.. MASON. will not vote to increase tn
naval armament for that purpose; and if
have reason to believe that the purpose is t
strengthen the arm of the Government with
view to prospective war, am doing my duty a
Senator of the United States in doing what
can to prevent it. The honorable Senator ha
not favored us with his view of the reasonable
propriety of mourning this expenditure in tht
present condition of the Treasury, but has con
tented himself with the recommendation of
Democratic President. When Senators witt
are soon to become the domnent power vii
not say whether they are going TO war or no
but shadow it out darkly, will not vote dol
lar until there is settled policy, an established
and understood policy for the new state o
things. | want to know what is to be the poll
cy of this government; whether they are goin!
to make war on the seeding States, or wheihe
they will let them peacefully withdraw upol
terms to be settled by negotiation, or whethe
we are to remain here until the 4th of March
with these purposes darkly Swallowed forth, a
was done by the Senator from New York (Ml
seward) the other day, and as has been don
by the Senator from Maine to-day, that ther
may be state of things when It is necessary t.
coercc State. We have that policy shadows
out, but'not avowed. 1t is time to establish
policy. Let us know what is to be DONE
desire as a Senator Of the United States, I
know what is to be done. / DESIRE us u Sena
tor of the United States, to know how to shap
my vote in relation to their measures of publ
policy, and until we know whether civil war
to be waged or not, because of secession, wi
never vote a dollar to increase the navy.
Mr. KING of n. Y, met the issue boldly an
manfuly.
lie said This measure of increasing the nav
has been introduced every year since | hay
been member of the Senate, and think
have uniformly voted against it, for did no
believe it was necessary. But treason is abroa
h, in this land, and believe there is an occasio
! aud necessity of the increase of the armamen
e and the power of the country. But for the con
dtion of things in the country now, | woul
vote against it, but vote for it as a measure t
Al. 49, 4 Il.