The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-01

1uO OTcSUu w al OCot Dill was IdhCu w
and on motion of Mr.. Lane, committee of
conference was appointed on the amend
ment of the House.
The bill for the organization of the Ter
ritory of Colorado was taken up.
Mr.. Green moved that the Senate concur
in amendment of House.
Mr.. Douglas opposed the amendment of
House.
The House amendment was agreed to-
yeas 26, nays 10.
The bill to organize the Territorial Gov
eminent of Nevada was taken up and
passed.
The bill to organize the Territory of Da-
kata was taken up and passed
A committee of conference was appoint
ed on the disagreeing vote Of the two
Houses on amendment placing a duty on
tea and coffee.
The Post Route Bill was taken up.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.
HoUsE.-Mr. Kellogg of Illinois, rose to
present petition of 226 voters of Illinois
praying the adoption of a peace PROPOSE
tion heretofore submitted by himself
Mr.. Edgerton objected.
Mr.. Kellogg was surprised that any one
should be unwilling to have an expression
of the people while near being hurried into
the calamities of civil war and the destruc-
ton of the Government threatened.
Mr.. Edgerton replied-the gentleman
should present the petition under the rules.
Mr.. Davis of Indiana presented petition
from that state signed by men of all parties
in favor of the Crittenden proposition.
The Speaker presented the proceedings
and resolutions of the Pennsylvania Dem
ocratic Convention. Laid on the table.
The House took up volunteer bills.
Mr.. Howard of Michigan, resumed his re-
marks in favor of it, which he argued mere
ly gave construction to the laws already
in existence 1t was the duty of Congress
to put into the hands of the President the
means of performing his duty-to point out
the mode in which he should do it. They
could not be released from this obligation
He repeated that the President should have
the power to execute the constitution in all
its parts. The highest duty of government
which dates far anterior to all constitu-
lions is to preserve its existence.
Mr.. Pryor said it was the purpose of the
Republican party plainly manifested and
openly avowed, to drive through the bill by
the presence of an irrepressible rule, and as
this was forgone conclusion, he hoped it
would be passed at once, to the end that
the people of Virginia and the south may
be aroused to the perils which menace their
destruction. He defantly challenged them
n ho fu1o Of ifxy
ponding to their bloody designs. He knew
the Republican party are resolved never to
recognize the independence of the seeding
states, nor to surrender the control over the
captured forts. In short, they are resolved
to permit the south no other alternative but
submission or subjugation.
Mr.. Curtis said that Mr.. Pryor had in
obliged in strain of defamation and de-
nunciation, similar to that of his colleague,
Mr.. Bocock. The Republicans were accus.
ed of meditating coercion, when everything
they had done and said had no such bear,
ing. The gentleman expressed the hope
that the bill would speedily pass for the
purpose of arousing Virginia and the
South. He did not thus speak to reasonlon
the bill or to Congress, but to the Conven-
vention of Virginia and to the assemblies
of the South, who are taking action against
bis own mother country. The gentleman's
own statement that confederacy exists
within the United States which should
induce US to draw around ourselves all the
means ofpower and protection we can COM
mand. If we are nation, we ought to
show it. What are the pillars of govern
ment ? Goodne s, wisdom and power.
There can be no government without power
and no power without sanction-the omis-
sion OF which would make it nulity. The
bill now pending was for means of defence,
and for the sake of peace. He commended
that there was nothing unconstitutional in
the bill, which only extended the provisions
of existing laws.
Mr.. Burnett asked whether it was the
purpose of the Republicans under this bill
to reinforce the forts in the seeded states
now held by the federal government, and to
recapture the forts taken therein, unless
they shall be surrendered?
Mr.. Curtis replied that his purpose was
to support the Constitution as 1t is. until
some power shall be vested in him to do
otherwise. He had sworn to support the
Constitution, and must do so. It may not
be necessary to reinforce those forts in the
present exasperated state of the public
mind. He recognized rebellion and civil
war as existing in the South. He would
resort to all honorable means to avoid
conflict of arms. and did not believe it would
be necessary to move an army thither until
the people carry their hostilities against the
United States.
Mr.. Burnett, although not satisfied with
the explanation, said be must accept it. He
asked another question. In executing and
enforcing the laws, do you hold it necessary
in doing so to reinforce the southern forts
in possession of the federal government, and
to recapture the property?
Mr.. Curtis said he was not going to say
in open session and in public what it may
be the duty of bis country to do. He would
only speak of designs and measures in Sc.
cret session, if they were for hostile pur-
poses.
Mr.. Sims, in his seat, had heard Mr..
Curtis in the course of his reply that raid
l r.