Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-12
1871,
Union &InIRIClI
EXTRA A.
MR.. SCENARIOS SPEECH.
rhirtH.sixth Congress-second Session.

Thirty-Sixth Congress-Second Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-SENATE-The proceedings
of the Senate opened with prayer.
The diplomatic corps are in attendance Atleast
a thousand ladies aud twelve hundred gentlemen are
in tie galleries. and it is impossible for any more to
obtain admission.
Gwin moved that the Senate proceed to the spe-
cal order the consideration OF the President mes
sage.
Seward said Congress reassembed this winter in
the presence of arrangement Of business, and the
disturbance of public well as private credit and
in the face of sedtious combinations To overthrow
the Union The alarm is appalling for the Union is
not more the body than liberty the soul OF the ma
ton He avowed his adherence to the Union and
It's integrity in all its parts, with my friends, with
nv party with my State. with my country. with
cut either as they may determine in every event,
whether of place obj -ct, of peace or war, with
every consequence o. honor or dishonor, OF lite
or death After stating that the Union cannot be
saved by mutual recrimnatio1s or the continuance OF
debate on the constitutional power Of Congress over
the subject of slavery in the Territories or discus
sion on the right Of the Federal Government to CO.
cree seeding states into obedience, he says II this
Union is to go the latter question Will give way
to more practicable one, whether many seeding
States have right to coerce the residing men,
bers to acQuiesce in the dissolution.
Mr. S abhored civil war. and did not know what
the Union would be worth If saved by the sword |;
vet he did not with those who desire to avoid
the calamity or advise conventional or unoppCsed
separation with a view to what they call recon-
structOn of the Union The Union can be dissolved,
not by secession bat by the voluntary consent Of
the people. The United States Congress ought not
TO remain mpassye it ought, if it can, to redress
any real grievances the offended States, and they
ought to supply The President with all means neces-
cssary to maintain the Union in full exhibition and
discreet exercise OF its authority. Beyond this,
with proper activity. the part Of the Executive,
the responsibility of saving the Union belongs to the
people. and they abuudanuy competent to dis
charge IT, Seward argued at length on the advan-
tlces of Union Of effects Of dsunOn from all points
OF view and procelded: What is the ground Of dis
content? 1t is that the DisuniOuists did not accept
as conclusive the argument urged in behalf of the
successful candidate the late canvass; their own
arguments against him were more satisfactory to
his supporters. He said the Constitution did mt re-
quire the arguments Of the party to be satisac
tory to another and said the constitutional remedy
for this dissatisfaction Is in renewed debate and ul-
innate rehearng in a subsequent election.
Dir. S. denied that Republicans perverted power
for the purpose OF oppression for they never held
the power. After further remarks, he said he
agreed that, concerns The bOndman. the laws Of
the State in which is property are supreme,
and that his escape another, the Constitution
regarded him a b0a-man. who shall be delivered,
claim, to the parry 70 whom his services are due.
While thinking acts Of Congress on the subject should
be modified to pr ect treemen from being carried
into slavery, he agreed that al the laws of States,
free slave, relating to this class of persons con-
travening the Constitution of the United States,
ought TO be repealed and he vas willing to vote
for amendment to the Constitution that Congress
should never have the power 10 abolish or interfere
with slavery within the States. II Kansas was adj
mitted under the WyandJtte Constitution, and the
organic laws could b. repealed, he could vote to
authorize the admission OF Two new States which
should include them. reSeTving the right to alter
the subdivisions. whenever it might become neCes-
sary, into several convenient States. But s. did not
find that such reservations could be consutUtiOnally
made without them. The Interior embarTasSments
would outWeIzh- all the immediate advantages of
such measure.
prefer that when the angry excitement of the
House shall have subsided, one, two, or three
years hence. convention OF the people to decide
whether any or what amount OF the original law
ought to be made. lie was ready t. vote for any
prOpery-Guaraateed laws TO prevent mutual inva-
siOns of the States by citizens OF other -tates He
was in favor of the Pacific Railroad Mr. Seward
concluded by saying. shall CheeriUlly support the
Government in whatever prudent and energetic
efforts 1t shall make to produce public peace. and
preserve the Union. lvisIn only moderation. for
bearance and conciaton. and by expressing the
conviction that the hour mas vet come for this
great Union to fall Woe, woe to the man who mad
" lifts his hand against it. It sh'lI continue and
endure, and Ieh in attrrtimcs shall declare that tue
generation which saved the Union from sudden and
unlocked for danger. surpassed in magnlfcence
that which laid its foundations on the eter
nal principles of liberty, justice and humanity.
Bigier presented memorials from citizens OF Phil
adelphia and the town Of York. praying for the
adoption Of the compromise measures OF Critten-
den
Pugh presented petition for the postponement
of the Pacific Railroad bill. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Hunter reported back the House hill to sup
ply Deficiencies, with amendments. striking out
"S9000OO" the clause for the suppression of the
slave trade AMI inserting $500 00):' also that fix
ing compensation and mileage. Of Senator's at SI3,-
900. and their miscellaneous expenses At So 900.
Mr. DoolIte ufft. ed resolution authorizing Com
molore Pauiding to accep: certain marks of dis
tnctiOn from the Nicaraguan governments vote
Of public thanks and sword.
Adjourned