Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-15


! the presence Of arrangement of business, and the
disturbance Of public well as private credit and
in the face of seditioas combinations to overthrow
the Union The alarm is appalling for the Union is
not more the body than liberty the soul OF the ma
ton. He avowed his adherence to the Union and
It's integrity in all its parts, with my friends, with
my party with my State. with my country. or with
out either as they may determine in every event
/ whether Of place or object of peace or war, with
every consequence Of honor or dishonor, of life
or death. After stating that the Union cannot be
saved by mutual determinations or the continuance of
debate on the constitutional power of Congress over
the subject OF slavery in the Territories, discus
SION on the right OF the Federal Government to CO.
cree seeding states into obedience, he says if this
Union is to go on, the latter question will give way
TO more practicable one, whether many seeding
States have right to coerce the residing mem
bers to acquiesce in the dissolution
Mr.. s. abhored civil war and did not know what
| the Union would be worth If saved by the sword
yet he did not with those who desire TO avoid
Che calamity or advise conventional or unopposed
| separation with view to what they call recon
| strueton of the Union. The Union can be dissolved
not by secession but by the voluntary consent Of
the people. The United States Congress ought not
to remain impassive; fought, if it can to redress
any real grievances to the offended States, and they
ought to supply the President with all means neces
cssary to maintain the Union in fun exhibition and
discreet exercise of its authority Beyond this,
with proper activity, the part of the Executive
the responsibility of saving the Union belongs to the
| people, and they abundantly competent te dis
! charge it. Seward argued at length on the advan-
tages Of Union of effects Of disunion from all points
of view and proceeded: What is the ground of dis
content? 1t is. that the Dsunonists did not accept
as conclusive the argument urged in behalf of the
successful candidate in the late canvass; their own
/ arguments against him were more satisfactory to
his supporters He said the Constitution did re-
qure the arguments of the party to be satisfae
tory to another and said the constitutional remedy
for this dissatisfaction is in renewed debate and ul
innate rehearing in subsequent election.
| Mr.. S. denied that Republicans perverted power
for the purpose OF oppression, for they never held
the power. After further remarks, he said he
agreed that, as concerns the bondman, the laws Of
| the State in which man is property supreme,
and that on his escape 10 another the Constitution
regarded him bondman, who shall be delivered,
claim, to the party to whom his services are due.
While thinking acts of Congress the subject should
be modified to protect freemen from being carried
into slavery, he agreed that ell the laws of States,
free slave, relating to this class of persons
| travening the Constitution of the United States,
ought to be repealed and he was willing to vote
for an amendment to the Constitution that Congress
should never have the power to abolish or interfere
with slavery within the States. If Kansas was adj
mitted under the Wyandotte Constitution. and the
organic laws could be repealed, he could vote to
| authorize the admission of two new States which
should include them, reserving the right to alter
the subdivisions whenever it might become neces-
sarv into several convenient States But s. did not
find that such reservations could be constutionally
made without them. The Interior embarrassments
! would outweigh all the immediate advantages of
| such measure.
Iprefer that when the angry excitement of the
House shall have subsidized, one, two, or three
| years hence q convention of the people to decide
| whether any what amount of the original law
| ought to be made. He was ready to vote for any
properly guaranteed laws to prevent mutual inva-
sons of the States by citizens of other States. lie
| was in favor of the Pacific Railroad. Mr.. Seward
concluded by saying, shall cheerfully support the
! Government in whatever prudent and energetic
efforts it shall mako to produce public peace, and
preserve the Union, advising only moderation, for
beaFance and Cancellation, and BY expressing the
conviction that the hour has not yet come for this
great Union to fall. Woe, wee to the man who mad
~ lifts his hand against it, 1t shall continue and
endure and men in aftertimes shall declare that the
generation which saved the Union from sudden and
unlocked for danger, surpassed in magnifcence
even that one which laid its foundations on the eter
nal principles of liberty, justice and humanity.
Bigler presented memorials from citizens of Phil
adephia and the town of York. praying for the
adoption of the compromise measures of CrItten-
den
Pugh presented a petition for the postponemeut
of the Pacific Railroad bill. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Hunter reported back the House bin to sup
ply deficiencies, with amendments. striking out
$4,000 600" IN the clause for the suppression of the
slave trade and inserting "S500O00;' also that fix
ing compensation and mileage Of Senators at 3d.
00O and their miscellaneous expenses at 50, 0O0
| M
modore Pau'ding to accep. certain marks OF dis
tinction from the Nicaraguan government vote
of public thanks and sword.
Adjourned.
House-A letter signed by the Mississippi delega-
ton. stating that they had received official nforma-
ton that their State had passed ordinance thro
convention representing the sovereignty OF the
people by which the State has Withdrawn from the
Federal Government all powers heretofore delegated
it, ard that they thought it their duty to lay the
fact before the House, and withdraw themselves
from the further deliberations Of that body. While
they regret the necessity for this action they appro
bate ii and will retire.
The House went into Committee of the Whole on
the Navy Appropriation bill Mr. Cofax in the chair
| Mr. Barnett asked whether it would have been
in order TO make a speech showing that these appro-
priations should not be made He believed, from
the present movements of the army and navy. that
they are to be used against portion of the
States recently belonging to this Confederaey
Sherman said such remarks were not german
to the bill.
The Chair decided against general debate and
, was sustained by the House.
Pryor moved to strike out the appropriation OF
81 1873 500 for the pay of officers and men of the
navy so far as the navy engaged in protecting
, the interests of our commerce and charging the
bounds of discovery, He would sustain it, but he
, would not grant farthing. He would rather sink
the navy the abyss of the ocean than it should be
directed against any portion of the people Of
this country. TIE dread instruments of death
, and desolaton to be used in fratricidal strife
. deserved nations scorn. The most distress
ing aspect in our present unhappy position Il
I, the prevalence of a military temper in tht
councils of the Administration. An imbecile Exc
cutive has fallen under the guidance of an aspir
ing soldier the sword is cast into the balance. in
stead of messages iof Cancellation to discon
tented people The Government dispatches men ant
munitions of war to constraln them TO aoect OOe0l
ence.
Sherman rose to point order.
! Pryor said he would conclude in five minutes
+ and would conne himself vigorously to the pending
subject He was going to say that although no for
t egn foot treads the soil of America for hostil
purpose vet troops are distributed various point
for warlike purpose forts garisoned with thu
q avowed object of subjugating and OVerawing tn
people of the Southern States and even IN the DIS
! trict masses of mercenaries are accommodating
n inaugurate g President in blood-he characterize
|, the Administration rs detestabe-and in conclusion
said he avaed himself of the occasion to give warnln
to the people of Virginia of the matured plans an
| purposes to subject them to tyranny, by force
e arms and to implore them, by every consderatio
of safety and honor to concert measures for thei
d defense.
It Clemens of Virginia said that it would be unju;
If to himself and the people of Virginia to permit tn
inhammatory remarks of his colleague to pass will
out reply. standing as he did on terms of equalit
with him He appealed to him now.
t;arnett hastily rlslng called on the Char to eI
e force the rules of order on the member from Vii
giuia.
McKnight-Let's have fair play.
Garnett--We will not receive aid from any Blae
g Republican in this house.
IS much sensationl
Ii Pryor-If the House viii accord the courtesy
IS my colleague to speak, and allow me to reply to hin
b. 1 will be contented.
Is Garnett-I will agree to withdraw my objection
n on that condition.
d A Voice-Let that be the understanding
re Sherman would not consent that any such arTang
D. ment should be made -.
y Pryor appealed to Garnett to withdraw bis o.
ID lection
lie Hndnan insisted on the objection, if Pryor shoul
p be permitted to respond, however, ( Hindman)wou
u not insist on his point Of order.
ID Hill objected to any such understanding, he wa
ne actuated BY nothing but kind feelings, his purpos
V was to interpose against infammatory debate
e there were men on the other side willing to acce
~ the language HtlH $3.50
e. The question was then taken on Pryor's amen
J, ment, and it was rejected.
"a Branch suggested that the House adjourn, thel
"a is not a quorum, members were attracted to q
IL Senate.
40 Garnet and Hindman having Intellectually soug
az to amend the bill Garnett said everybody knew Il
OF present administration purposes to the army
n for fAa ,,itrnoaps of civil call il