The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-15
THIRTY-SlXTH CONGRESS-SECOND SESSION
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE galleries were very
ed a bill, the object of which is to provide for
amendments to the Constitution, and holding that,
as the requisite twothirds vote in Congress could
not be obtained there should be held an election of
the people Tuesday, the 18th of February, 1861,
to decide upon the adoption or rejection of the
amendments substantially the same as the PROPOSE
tion of Mr.. Crittenden, and making other import
ant provisions laid over.--Mr. WILSON NOV
ciary.--Mr. TRUMBULL thought that this bill
proposed to change the Constitution in
an unconstitutional manner.---Mr. PUGH
said the bill merely submitted certain
vote of the people. The yeas and nays were or
dered on the reference.-Mr. BROWN, of Mis-
sissippi, rose and said Mr.. Presdent-The record
which the Senate is about to make, will show the
absence of the Senators from Alabama Florida and
Mississippi. rise to say in a word why this is go.
These States have taken steps to withdraw from
this Union, of which not well inform
ed, officially, as to justify our final notice of
withdrawal from the Senate; but we feel
that our duty, most clearly so to ourselves,
no longer permits us to take active part
in the deliberations of this body either by
speaking or voting. My colleague (Mr Davis,)
is confined TO his room, but these remarks are
made at his request, and he concurs in what
have said.-Mr. WILSON said he would with
draw the motion to reter.-Mr. GREEN intro
duced resolution calling on the President to know
why troops were ordered to the defence of
United States property at ST. Louis, Mo-, and for
all correspondence in the matter; laid over-
Mr.. GRIMES offered resolution calling on the
Secretary of War to know if armed bodies of men
were obstructing the navigation of the Mississippi
river; laid over.-Mr. MASON, of Va, called up
the following resolution, and asked its immediate
consideration.
"Resolred That the Secretary of War be directed to
communicate to the Senate copies of all orders issued
from that department or from the of
q m n nd 0f fortinc
of the United States In the State of South Carolina
since the first day of November last and that he also
communicate to the Senate copies of any military plans
recommendations of the Commander chief of the
army of any officer thereof to the War Department
otherwise of the forts arsenals of the United States in
the State of Virginia. in any of the States bordering
on the Atantc orGuit OF Mexico, south of Virginia, in
the District of Columbia the navy yard Pensacola
and that he inform the Senate whether any such plans
recommendations have been adopted his department.
and what orders, if ary have been issued pursuant
thereto"
Mr.. CLARK moved to insert the words 'to call on
the President if not incompatible with the public
interest" in lieu of the words Secretary of War"
MIR. MASON saw no necessity for ths.--Be-
fore the vote taken the hour for the special or
der arrived-beug the bill for the admission of
Kansas into the Union.--Mr. GREEN moved to
postpone it to Wednesday next. 1t was not agreed
to.--Mr. BENJAMIN said the vote taken was an
insult to the Senator from Missouri, (Mr. Polk J
who had the floor, and utterly unworthy of the
Senate.--Messrs. TRUMBULL, FOOT and CRIT
TENDEN explained that they had understood that
the Senator from Missouri desired to speak on this
bill and intended no discourtesv by their VOTE
Mr.. LATHAM said he understood it that way
The bill was then postponed till Wednesday,
and Mr.. Hunters resolutions were taken up
MIR. POLK proceeded to address the Senate. He
reviewed the distracted condition of the country,
the sectionalism of the Republican party, the negro
equality assertions of the President elect, and ar
gued in favor of the right of secession, and a re.
construction of the government. He was opposed
to coercion in any form for the enforcement of Uni
ted States laws in the seeding States and thought
that if some compromise was not effected there
would be secession of all the Southern States.-
He should have preferred that South Carolina had
acted with her sister States in seeding from a
government which denied her equality. He thought
that the Federal Government bad offered an
insult to his State (Missouri) by order
ing troops to st. Louis for the alleged de-
fence of its property. In conclusion, he de-
precated civil war, with all of its horrors, and
trusted that God would save the country from such
calamity.-On his conclusion, Mr.. HUNTER
moved to postpone his resolutions until Thursday
| next, at M; which was agreed to.-Mr. CRIT
TENDEN called up his resolution.--Mr. WILL
SON moved that they be postponed until Thurs
day next, at which time he desired to address the
Senate.--Mr. CRITTENDEN hoped that they
an early, vote, on the bill.--Mr. HALE
moved that the Senate do now adjourn.
Not agreed to-yeas 10, nays 30.--The
question being taken the motion OF
NJ
day, it was not agreed to-yeas 10, nays 25.--
Mr.. CRITTENDEN moved that the resolutions be
postponed until tomorrow, to the exclusion of all
other business, but subsequently modified the ques
ton. Several points of order were here raised and
discussed.--Mr. DOUGLAS wanted an early vote
on these resolutions, as did the other friends OF
them, If there determination to postpone
these resolutions he desired that fact to appear on
| the record.--Mr. FESSENDEN said those on his
side of the chamber willing to vote on these
| resolutions. No desired to shirk a VOTE
| Mr.. DOUGLAS said that as the Senator had
| assumed to speak for that side, he hoped he
| would name day when these resolutions could be
voted on. He wanted an early vote, to see if the
Senate were going to adopt them. If no one would
object his side of the Chamber, the other side
could name day for vote. BE wanted some test
vote on them.-Mr. FESSENDEN said the Sena
tor knew he (Mr F. could not name day.
| Mr.. KENNEDY said he wanted some test vote or
these resolutions. He had refraned, as well as his
colleague, from saying anything, for he was in
| favor Of exhausting all measures for peace, with
| out consuming the time of the Senate. If they
| were to be rejected, all hope in Congress hao
| gone. He wanted to see il those on the
other side were willing to compromise or
| the resolutions Of the venerable Senator from
| Kentucky. If they failed, he should be prepared
to speak for his State, and he wanted the people
| Maryland to know it. He should be prepared tt
meet the issue in that event--The question wa
| then taken on the resolutions and they were post
poned until tomorrow at hafpast IL p. NJ, whel
| they are to be taken up, with the understanding
Il - 49, LII H. L. L. ~I,,..z