Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-03-28

[CoHTIsUED.1

M. f0OD0n0o0-Wuu the S0uotOt NJ
low me to ask him if there was q single
day in the last Congress when the Re-
pubicans had majority in this Senate
to the very last moment Of itl
Mr.. Douglas-1 repeat, they knew
Mr.. Fesscnden-That / do not dis
pute; am not raising n question on
that; but the Senator said we had the
power to do it. ask him whether there
was day during the last session Of
Congress when the Republicans were in
the majority in this bodyl
Mr.. Douglas understand the qoes-
ton, and l choose to answer it in my
own way. ! say they knew they had
the power to pass these measures in both
Houses Of Congress. They consulted
and conversed about some OF these meas
ures; approached this side Of the Cham
Der. They knew that they had the pow
er to pass the bills, if they brought them
in. But, sir, l believe they had even q
majority tor a considerable portion OF
the time, in consequence Of the absence
of Mr.. Pugh, Mr.. Salisbury, and per-
haps other Senators on this side. But |
am not going to allow the gentleman to
evade this well-known truth by any such
question. In addition to the absence Of
Mr.. Pugh and Mr.. Salisbury, it was
well known that the two Senators from
Texas would not vote against such
measures.
Mr.. Collamer-That was more than
we knew.
Mr.. Douglas Not more than you
knew, because one OF them certainly, II
not both, told us so from his scat in the
Senate.
But, Mr.. President, let US look at this,
if the excuse is going to be the want OF
power. They got up force bill in the
House, and had the power to pass it
any moment there, but postponed 1t
from time to time until the President
elect got here, and then it WAS put to
sleep at once, strangled, and never al
lowed to see the light or breathe the
breath of life. Why SO! What is the
inference Why did they not pass it
in the House, and send it up here
They sent to us bill to authorize the
Post Master General to suspend the
mails. There was no difficultyn passing
it here. They talked about passing a
law authorizing the abolition Of the port.
of entry? There was no difficulty in
the passage of it. Why not propose
them! The only inference is, that they
did not want them. Did they not know
that they had no such authority Did
not the chairman OF the Committee OF
Ways and Means know that be could
not collect revenue anywhere except at
the port? VIII the Senators upon that
side OF the Chamber tell us that they
were ignortant of the state Of the laws
OH these great questions VIII the
| chairman Of the Committee on Military
Affairs, with all his experience, ability
and vigilance, tell US that he did not
know Of this absence Of authority
Will the chairman of the Naval Com
mittee, one OF the oldest members Of the
| body, Who has served here for twelve OF
fifteen years On the committee, tell us
that he did not know the President had
no power to blockade ports Of the Uui.
ted States without the authority Of Con.
! rrcss 1t viii not do for that side OF
the Cha nber, distinguished AS it justly is
for It's great ability and learning,to plead
that they did not know anything about
the Goycrnment they were about to take
possession o.. They did know it and
knowing it, shcy dld not put any bill on
it's passage, nor propose to do il.
But, sir, If it be their Iolicy to use the
war power to collect revenue, to block
ale the ports and recapture these forts,
and to execute the laws of the United
States III the Confederate States, why
not say so! II it be the policy Of Mr..
Lincoln to carry ont that lire Of con-
duct, why not allow him the opportunity
Of saying so They know that have
thrust myself in between the secession
| movement Of the South and the war con-
struction OF the Presidents message, to
allay the apprehensions of the Union
men of the Southern States. l have Ia
ken this position as a Union man, AS a
friend of peace, from the conscientious
conviction that | justly ard correctly in
terpret the Presidents inaugural. If l
10 not interpret it correctly, if l am CIV
INC it a meaning he did not intend. why
do they not allow this resolution to
pass, and obtain an answer which will
correct the error into which have been
lead by the inaugural, If it be an error
Senators have no right to leave me un-
der the conviction that interpret the
message correctly, and remain silent ii l
do not, and deprive me Of the means OF
getting at the truth by the proper in
qu'ry. Why this sensItivcncss on the
subject, if | do not interpret the Pres-
dent correctly No Republican has yet
ventured to deny the correctness of my
Interpretation. No one has venturcd to
assert that he means what is called the
coercive policy; and | appreheud that
no one Of them is authorized to say so.
No one beng authorized to contradict
me on these points and no one being
able to deny, from tho language Of the
inaugural, that | put the correct inter-
probation upon it, | find no other re-
spouse than silence. Why not lie, the
people know what the policy is y! The
country now is overwhelmed with doubt
and anxiety; business is suspended !;
public confidence, Is DESTROYED; CON-
merco is disturbed; bankruptcy is star
ing your best merchants in the face. On e
| unrN ira.,, ~. XNL.la Ill -. IN