The national Republican., 1861-03-01
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
Thursday, February 2s, 1861.
SECOND SESSION.
SEN ATE.

|
The Senate then took up and passed bill
for the relief of Thomas Cassell. Also, bill
for the relief of sundry Chippewa Indians.
The Senate then took up the Post Office ap.
preparation bill.
The bill and its amendments were read and
considered at some length.
Pending the subject
Mr.. Crittenden, from the select committee Of
five, reported back the propositions ofthat body,
with a recommendation that they be submitted
to the Legislatures of the several States.
Mr.. Seward said that he bad not agreed with
the committee, and as it had been decided that
a minority report could not be submitted, he
would submit, on his own responsibility, q joint
resolution which had the assent of the other
member in the minority of the committee, Mr..
| Trumbull.
The resolution provides, that whereas the
States of New Jersey, Kentucky, aud Illinois,
have requested Congress to call o Convention
of the States of the Union, therefore the atten-
ton of the several States be invited to that
subject.
Mr.. Doolittle submitted substitute for the
border.State propositions.
Mr.. Trumbull presented the credentials Of
Hon. H. s. Lane, Senator from the State of
Indiana.
Also, the report of the joint committee an
nouncing that Messrs. Lincoln and Hamln had
accepted the offices of President and Vice Pre-
sident of the United States.
The consideration of the postal appropria.
ton bill was then resumed and continued until
one o'clock.
The Chair said that the hour had arrived for
the consideration Of the propositions of the
Peace Congress.
Mr.. Hale thought that the rule which re.
&c ho1
| q day would prevent the consideration Of the
subject at this time.
Mr.. Bigler said that the rule did not apply
to the case.
Mr.. Crittenden thought this was an attempt
to stop the consideration Of the most important
matter now before the country.
Mr.. Fessenden was amazed that the Senator
from Kentucky wished to override the rules
merely because he deemed the measure impor.
tant.
Mr.. Crittenden did not intend to allow the
gentleman to characterize his action as pre-.
sumptious.
Mr.. Fessenden. did not do so.
Mr.. Crittenden. You did, sir.
Mr.. Fessenden said he had said all he could
and all he wished to say.
The question of order was further discussed
by Messrs. Mason and Bsyard, and the Senate
decided the proposition to be in order-yeas
26, nays %.
The resolutions having been read, were, after
debate, made the special order for tomorrow.
Mr.. Seward called up his resolution, which
was read the first time and laid over.
After the consideration Of some private bills,
Mr.. Bright moved to 60 into Executive session;
which was lost-yeas rs, nays 25.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
postal appropriation bill.
Amendments were debated by Messrs La
than, Gwin, Wilson, Hale, and others.
At 3 O'clock Mr.. Bright moved to 90 into
Executive session, which was carried, and the
doors being closed, the Senate considered ex.
eeutive business until adjournment.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Gilmer presented a petition signed by
ladies Of Maryland, the District of Columbia
North Carolina, and other States, asking Con.
gress to pass some measure for the restoration
Of peace.
The House proceeded to the consideration
Of the motion made yesterday by Mr.. Kilgore,
to reconsider the vote by which the House re.
fused to give the necessary twothirds vote TO
the following proposed amendment to the Con.
stitution, namely:
"No amendment shall be made to the Con.
stitution which will authorize or give to Con-
RTtSS tlt pOWcI W Ut luttTIeTe1 Wltnlu
any State with the domestic institutions there
of, including that of persons held to labor or
service by the laws of said State"
Mr.. Kilgore called the attention Of his Re.
publican friends to the Importance of the vote
they were called upon to give. A few days
ago they all declared, by voting for resolution
which was unanimously adopted, that they had
no intention or disposition to interfere with
slavery in the States where it exists. Why
then, would they not vote to give this guaran.
ty by constitutional amendment? If it was
their purpose to thus interfere, to disturb the
sovereign rights ofthe slaveholding States, then
he was no Republican. They should bear in
mind that they we're not the masters but the
mere servants of the people. Let the latter
pass upon this amendment Ifthey failed to do
this, on their heads be the responsibility.
Mr. Stanton said that the state of the coun.
try had changed since the Constitution was
framed Then there was but one free State
The slave States now in the Union were,
he contended, entitled to a guaranty. If the
States which had seeded should maintain
their position for one or two years, and nothing
but war of subjugation and conquest could
bring them back, then he would be disposed to
recognise their independence. He held that
the power to interfere with slavery in the States
where it exists should never be invested in
Congress. 1t was incumbent upon Congress
to at least submit the proposed action to the
people. He was in earnest when he said he
did not desire to interfere with slavery in the
States, and presumed his friends did not. IT,
he repeated, the border slave States have
right to demand this guaranty, so far as
he was concerned, they should have it, [Ap.
plause all over the Hall. His party friends,
he said, were making a mistake. He would
tell them public opinion in the free States will
not warrant this refusal. At all events, it was
ungenerous to refuse to give them an opportu.
nifty to express their opinion. In conclusion,
he demanded the previous question.
Mr.. Loveoy appealed to him to Withdraw