The national Republican., 1861-08-06

leader, then he would feel II TO De DIS duty 10
lead them and, when he did accept of the
leadership, then he would inform the Senate,
and resign his seat. -
yeas II, nays 2l.
The President pro tempore stated the bust.
ness before the Senate which was the resoiu-
ton offered by Mr.. Collamer.
Mr.. FESSENDEN moved to lay the resou'
ton on the table. Agreed to. -.
Mr.. WILSON introduced bill in relation
to the army and volunteer militia Of the Uui'
ted States.
Objections being made, the bill was laid
over. .---.-..
Mr.. WILSON moved to take up bill, in.
troduced by him, to increase the pay Of nom
commissioned officers, &c.
Mr.. COLLAMER moved to amend the bill
by striking out 81 and inserting 81. Agreed
Mr.. WILSON moved to amend by declaring
all the proclamations Of the President, in re.
lation to calling out troops for the suppression
| of rebellion, to be valid.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE said, the amendment
sounds q little like our joint resolution to rat.
| ify the acts of the President but he noticed
| that one of the features Of the resolution was
| left out in the bill.
The amendment was agreed to; and the bill
passed.
On motion of Mr.. HALE, the Senate went
into executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Gu motion of Mr.. D, the Hon.
John s. Phelps, Of Missouri, was sworn int his
being the 6rst day he has been in his seat
during the present session.
The SPEAKER laid before the House letter
e Il ~ 4. Il. L..
states that he had sent to Governor Lowe his
resignation as a representative from that State,
and that he was prompted to do this by the
duties of military character.
| Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM introduced q joint
resolution providing for convention of States
| to amend the Constitution. Referred.
The House passed the Senate bill organ.
izing metropolitan police system for the Dis.
trlct Of Columbia, aud substitute police there
| for.
Mr.. CALVERT offered preamble, setting
forth that while it is the duty of Congress by
proper legislation to strengthen the heads Of
the Government to maintain the supremacy Of
the laws it is no less their duty to inquire into
the original causes of the dissensions, but to
apply such remedy as will restore peace at the
conclusion Of which, be offered . resolution
appointing a committee, to consist Of nine mem
| to adopt and report amendments to the Con-
stitutiou. Laid on the table.
Mr.. MAY offered the following preamble and
resolutions;
| Whereas the Government of the United
States of America was created by its written
Constitution, and derives its Just powers alone
from the consent Of the people, as contained in
that instrument and it has no other powers
and force and arms can neither preserve nor
rightfully be permitted to violate it under any
authority whatever; and whereas Washington
and other great sages and patriots who founded
our General Government, solemnly warning
their countrymen, predicted its destruction,
from the establishment Of a sectional political
party, and also entreated spirit of compro.
mise whenever necessary to preserve the Union |;
and whereas civil war now exists among the
States which have been united, and which,
having already prostrated the peace, pros
perity, and happiness of the people, and de.
stroyed many valuable citizens, now threatens
their destruction in countlsss numbers, and by
its inevitable tendency, if not necessity, the
final overthrow of free constitutional govern.
ment: therefore,
Be ii resolved, lst. That the success of the
Republican party, founded as it is on sec.
tional, social, and political question, is justly
responsible for the origin flour present national
misiortunes.
I'd. That the uncompromising spirit hitherto
manifested by the representatives Of that party
has prevented a peaceful compromise and ad.
justment of our unhappy difficulties, when the
same was practicable.
Sd. That if the present war continues, the
only safety and refuge of constitutional gov.
vernment and civil liberty will be found in
the constitutions and sovereignty of the several
| States, and afterwards through them, the only
hope of future and more harmonious recon.
struction of the Union.
4th. That it is impossible by arms to subtu.
gate the people of the seeded States-united
as they now are in such numbers, so fully pre-.
pared ard resolved, and actuated by motives
which represent The just pride and dignity of
equals, Of trained freemen, Of American cti.
zens, and also believing, as they do to man,
that State, home, wife, children, property, all
and every society and benefit of government
is at stake, aud that the most cruel and mer
ciless means forced by the necessities of an
exhausting and desolating war are to be en-
ployed against them.
9Th. That in view Of all these public calami.
ties, and 10 avoid them, recognizing the neces
sites which control human affairs as our
fathers of the Revolution did, it becomes the
duty Of Congress, before it closes its present
session, to provide for the appointment Of com.
missioners to procure an srmislce between the
contending armies, aud to restore peace at all
eventsi and who shall be empowered to arrange
II compromise, to preserve the Union if possible /,
but if not, then peaceful separation OF the re.
spective States OF Union-as well such as now
claim to have seeded, as others which may,
by the sovereign will Of their citizens, also here
after ordain to secede; and that the said com.
missioners be solemnly enjoineG, so to conduct
their negotiations, AS to obtain, if dossible, in
the future, happy, harm' nious, and perpetual
reconstruction OF our Union Of States. OBJ
jec'ed to.
Mr.. MAY moved to suspend the rules. Not