The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-08
The Debate in the Senate on Printing the
Inaugural.

Mr.. CliDgman said IN voting for the reselu-
ton he did not wish to be understood as en-
dorsing the positions of the Inaugural. If he
unders TODD correctly, for all in it was dark.
the purpose which seemed to stand out clearly
and directly if carried out, would lead TO a
war against the Confederate States The
policy Indicated was therefore unwise, and
should be avoided The President expressly
declares that he intends TO treat the States as
If they were all in the Union, and he regards
the acts of secession as utilities. Certain
States claim to be independent, and if the
President ac is as he enUnciates there can be.
no result except collision between them and
the Federal Government 1t is plain and un-
mis- u akable that he intends to hold and occupy
and possess the forts, arsenals, etc, in these
seeded States, when we Know this can he
done only by dispossessIng the State authori-
ties.
The collection of the reyenue therein must
also lead to collision of arms. After we de-
clared our independence of Great Britain no.
body supposed the Colonies would pay taxes.
In fact. they refused 10 pay before the Declara-
ton Of Independence. He repeated, that if
the Presidents policy would be carried out
there must inevitably be war.
Mr.. Douglas said he could not consent that
the Senator's remarks should go out unan-
swered lie had read the Inaugural careful
ly, with view of understanding what the
policy of the Administration is to be, as there
in indicated. 1t is characterize by great abil-
ity and with great distluctness on certain
rive at the true construction. He had par
TALLY made an anal ysiS and had come to the
conc usion that it was a peace rather than n
war message. He had examined it candidy
aGd critically, and he thought there was no
foundation for different opinion. On the
contrary, there is distinct pledge that the
policy of the Administration shall be con-
due ted exclusively with reference to q peace
fui solution of our national difficulties. 1t is
true the President indicates a certain line of
policy, to be Conduc ted as to lead to peace
tul luton, but ii was not explicit as lie
tMr. Douglass desired. He then quoted from
the inaugural i'll support of his positions,
saying that unless the means be furnished the
President cannot execute the laws. He thought
| the President in his remarks on the subject
| was referring to future action of Congress
| giving power TO enforce obedience to them
| The President must have been aware that
| in 1882 a law was passed 10 enable Gen Jack.
son to enforce the revenue laws i'll the port OF
Charleston. The act expired iii two wears -
Was it to be supposed that Mr. Lincoln
| thought he had more power without than
| Gen. Jackson had with the aid of legislation
| He repeated that when the President pledges
himself to collect the revenue and enforce the
| laws, unless Congress withhold the equisits
| means, is he not to he understood that his
| act is dependent on the further course of Con
| gress q?
| He thought that was the proper const true
| ton of the Inaugural, for the President says
| he shall perform his duty so far as pract tica
| BILE, unless his rightful ma sters, the America
| people, shall withhold the requisite means
| or in some au thoritatiVe manner direct to tht
| contrary"
! The President further says
| "The power confided to me will be used /,
| hold and occupy, and possess the property
| and places belonging to the Government, ant
| TO collect the duties on imports, but beyon(
| what may be necessary for these obiec Is
| there Will be no invasion, no using of fore,
against or among the people anywhere -
The President does not say he will take anc
hold, occupy and possess them. This wa
| equivocal language, but he did not condemn
| necessary for these biects, there will be Ii,
irritation, no using of force among the peopl
anywhere. 1t is the duty of the President t.
| enforce the revenue laws. 1t is his duty t.
fled that the revenue laws be enforced and al
other laws which afford protection a com
| pensat ation for taxes shall not be enforced.
He thought that there We're two forms il
which they could find n solution Of thes
doubts. The President says: rWhere hos
tIiity to the United States in any interior 10
cality, shall be so great and so universal as &
prevent com pc tent res ident citizens from hold
ing the Federal offices, there Will hp TO at
tempt to force obnoxious strangers among th
people, for that object" The President dra "
a dis tin ction between the exterior and liz u
| rior. If he has power in one case, he Ina
| power in the other. If ii is his duty in on
| case TO enforce the laws, il is his duty in III
| other. There was no provision of law Whic
| authorizes 4 distinction in this respect betWee
places in the interior and on the seaboard.
| This brought him to the construction
another clause-the most important of all an
the key TO the entire policy; but he was ri
| joiced when he read it. He invited attentio
to it, as showing conclusively that the Pres
dent is pledged to a policy which looks TO
| peaceful solution of our difficulties, an
, against all others. He says: The course hei
indicated will be followed, unless curref
events and experience shall show Il modific;
ton or change TO be proper, and in every cai
and exigency my best discretion will be exel
cised according to cireums tances actually e.
listing, and with the view and the hope OF
peaceful solution of the national troubles, an
the restoration of fraternal sympathies an
affections" In other words, the Preeidel
says if the collection of the revenue viii lea
, to Il peaceful solution, then it will be collec
ed. If the abandonment of the collection wi
have that effect, then it Will be abandoned.
SO of the forts and arsenals in the secediI
States He will recapture or not recaptu
them, and Will reinforce or not reinforce For
Sumter and PicIiens. He is .pledged in eth
case to a peaceful policy and to acting wit
this view. II this is not the true cOnstru
ton, why was there not inserted a pledge
use coercion, retake the forts, recapture II
arSenals, collect the revenue and enforce Il
| laws, unless there was attached TO each one
| condition on which the pledge was to be ca
| ried out? But the pledge is only to do ii
| order to a peaceful solution, and for no 9th
; | cause
2 Without disposng of the question, the Sc
f ate went into Executive session, and, after
short time spent therein, adjourned till I
| morrow.