Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-01

fEsTERDAYs PROCEEpINGs IN cnNGRrSs

YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS-
WASHINGTON, Dec. Sl.-SfRd'e-hr. Powell from the
Committee Of Thirteen, reported tina, he had been d.
reeed 70 communicate TO the Senate that the committee
had been urabe 20 come to any agreement
Mr. Douglas said he desired 70 address the Senate on
the condition OF natioOal afiaiIs next Wednesday.
90 motion OF Mr. bigier 1t was agreed that when the
Ssnate adjourn, II aclOur, 20 Wednesday
The R-sOlut OF Mr. Crittenden were postnonel I'M
No1day next and made the order Of the day for o.
clock.
NJ. Wilson introduced resolutions Of inquiry relative
to ees OF deposit sales, &c, OF Government arms IL
was laid on the table
7 e bl Tor the admission of Kansas as A State was
ros.pOnei hll Monday
Benjamin addressed the Senate declaring that the
crisis nov upon The country had come without wlrn-
~ g yet the Republicans had scofed and disregarded
every admOnirOn. Now they saw the ,rutb Son,
Carolina had become independent MississnDi Florida
and Alabama would be independent next week Georgia
Louisiana, Texas and Ark lnsas would soon follow The
question now was whethe their Independence should be
recognized or civil war should begin. South Carolina
had only rep aled m lSdO what she had done in l7SS
She had right 70 do so, because the compact which
bouod her 10 che Union had been broken on one side
d was therefore broken al sides The present Union
bad been formed on the principle involved in the action
OF south Carolina by nine States seeding from the
cd Confederation. She quoted the debates in the Con
yenuon OF lSS 50 to shOw the truth Of this and sus
tigei the position by We l-cousideted arguments BE
toeS the ground that the States en- aggrieyed had
two Glasses of rem dies class against powers usurred
u the Ia;nc OF the Constitution, when the remedy
SECESSION and 'he other sgaius. abuses Of constitutional
power, when the remedy rer0LstioH.
BE denied thar secession was the exercise Of the rev.
oluucnety right He quoted the case of Mcleod to
show that an individual could not De hid responsible
when carving out the orders Of his government. ne
held that civil process mast preccde the employment C
military force aud that civil process could be cxecu-
tel lu cetg state He argued the sur iect AZ length
and, alter riiuution OF the wrongs that had been
dur-l BY the South exclaimed 'You may bring des-
CLIFTON upon Us t1t Won never can suhjngate New
err never never" The declauuOa was greeted with
tnnulu0us applu>e) The President ordered the "a.
l-ry 20 be cleared which done while the call Of the
ayes sud noes wa progressing.
The Senate tb.u adjourned.
HocSE-The Speaker presented communication from
eNSecIe,ary Fo,i, ext a;uiug the auIe character and
cause o. his uccep auces OF the drafts Of Russell Ma
jors ~ Co involved the late b Ill frauds He saws
these acceptance were OILY payable when service had
been performed
IN, communication was referred to the committee to
inveStiglt the matter.
Mr. stevens offered resolution OF inquiry in relation
20 the public property "a, Charleston the state OF the
harb ?, GAR syn, N The HOus geus. " suspend Il
rules by vote OF yl o ~.
Nj Stanton offered resolution which was adopted
that tae commit, on military Affairs be instructed 10
l.rc l,o and 0r concerning recent sales Of pu1-
lie arms 20 Safe. and also concerning the arsenal and
hlrbOr 90 Charleston.
NJ. Pryor offered r,soiuiou-wLich was tabled
tlat any attempt 20 preserve the Union by force would
hs imQ-acucable and destructive Of Republican liberty
The vote on laying Il on the table was qS to 55.
Pending resolution and substitute denying the light
OF secession AID uQIrog II the present laws are sui
cica TO PRO ect the public property, and 10 authoz the
EMPLOY Of th' Army and Navy for thar purpose 90
House adjourned tl "Wednesday.