The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-15
The Closing Hours Of the Thirty
sixth Congress.

in session until IL P. NJ, when it adjourned
until Sunday the Sd, at 7 Pm. TIE night
sessions were very exciting On Saturday
evening, Messrs, JOHNSON, of Tennessee, and
LANE, made violent speeches in criticism of
each others course. The joint resolution of
MIR. CoRwIN, from the House, proposing an
amendment to the Constitution, was taken
up on motion of Mr.. DOUGLAS, by vote of
% to IL. 1t is noticeable that the extreme
men of both parties, such as MASON, LANE,
BINGHAM, WILSON, and others, voted
against taking it up. Mr.. WILKINSON OF
this State, made most violent and ultra
Abolition speech against the CoRw1N pro
position. 1t is thus geographically reported
in the New York papers,:
Mr.. Wilkinson said he should neither vote
for the amendment nor the original proposition,
He was opposed to all subterfuges and COM
promises. The people had risen and hurled
from power corrupt and debauched admins
tration, whose officers, to save themselves from
the indignation OF an outraged people, had
taken refuge under the black flag of treason.
He commended that the will of the people must
rule. He would never vote for compromise
nor surrender any principle. He had done
nothing wrong, and he had nothing 10 take
back. He referred to speech of Governor
Wise when he spoke of the new census as
further dwarfing the power of the southern
states. He (WikinsOn) said that was the true
reason of the trouble. But the increase of the
free states conld not be stopped. They were
mighty power. The northwest and his own
State were ready to perform all the obligations
that were due the Constitution, and nothing
more could be asked, and he would never SUBJ
init to the restrictions of the navigation of the
Mississippi river-never.
The Tribune applauds the speech to the
echo. Mr.: RICE expressed the opinion that
the people of the Northwest would never
permit the navigation of the great river to
be lmpeded by any thing except ice" and
low water" added W1GFALL. MIR. R. also
held that the people of the Northwest
would never vote one dollar for coercion.
On Sunday evening the Senate met at seven
O'Clock. Senator CRITTENDEN having the
floor for his farewell speech. The noise was
very great, the galleries being packed by
Republican partizans, who appeared deter
mined to prevent the Senator from being
heard. The following scene indicates the
excitement 4:
The order to clear the galleries was executed
slowly, scarcely any moving.
Mr.. Douglas asked if the sergeant alarms
had been directed to clear the galleries.
The President said he had.
MIR. Douglas asked why it was not done. He
said he should move to clear the galleries en-.
tirely. He was not to be controlled by mob.
The crowd still remaining in the galleries,
Mr.. Douglas said, if the sergeant.at arms don't
do his duty, will move to elect another one,
who will. I see him on the floor now, when
he ought to be in the gallery, doing his duty.
The President said the sergeant. alarms :e.
ported that it was impossible to clear the gal
leries.
Mr.. Douglas-Then move to elect sergeant
alarms who will not report it impossible to do
his duty.
Mr.. Douglas moved to clear all the galleries.
He said they were trying to get vote on the
amendments to the Constitution, but Objec.
tons were made on the other side, while there
was mob in the gallery, friends of those who
object
others.
Mr.. Douglas said he was stating facts.
The motion to clear the gallery was carried.
Messrs. TRUMBULL and BAKER followed
CR1TTENDEN, the latter in conciliatory
speech, after which the voting began. Mr..
Stewards proposition for National Con-
gress, was rejected-ayes IA, nays 25. The
Peace Conference proposition was lost by
81 to 8. The Senate then voted on the
amendment to the Constitution, which
passed the House, and approved it by the
following vote:
YEAs--Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bigler,
Grimes, Gwin, Harlan, Hunter, johnson of
Tennessee, Kennedy, Latham, Mason. Morrill,,
Nicholson, Polk. Pugh, Rice, Sebastian, Ten
Eyck and ThompsOn-24.
NAYs-Messrs. Bingham Chandler, Clark,
Doolttle, Durkee. Foot, King, Sumner Trum-
bull, Wade, WILKINSON and Wilson-l2.
The CR1TTENDEN resolutions were then
taken up, and rejected by the following
vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Bayard, Bigler, Bright, Crit
tenden, Douglas, Gwin, Hunter, johnson of
TENNESSEE, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Mason,
Nicholson, Polk, Pugh, Rice, Sebastian,
Thompson and Wigfall-l9.
NAYs-Messrs. Anthony, Bingham. Chandler,
Clark, Dixon, DoOlittle, Durkee, Fessenden,
Foote, Foster, Grimes Harlan, King, Morrill,,
Sumner. leu Eyck, Tumbull, Wade Wilkin-
son and WisOn-20.
These proceedings occupied the Senate
until nearly noon. At five minutes to twelve
o'clock Vice President BRECKENRIDGE and
Senator Foor, OF the Committee of Ar
engagements, entered the Senate Chamber,
escorting the Vice President elect, Hon.
HANNIBAL HAML1N, whom they conducted
to seat Immediately to the left of the Chair
of the President of the Senate. Twelve
o'clock having arrived, Vice President
BRECKENRIDGE called the Senate to order,
and said
SENAroRs--In taking final leave of this posi-.
tion, shall ask few moments in which to ten
der to you my grateful Acknowledgements for
the resolution declaring your approval of the