The national Republican., 1861-02-27
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION
Tuesday, February &c, 1861.
sEN ATE H

tuition was presented, and ordered to be printed.
The private bill for the relief of George
Fisher was taken up aud discussed, and re.
ierred.
The Senate then took up aud passed bill
for the relief of Catharne j. Russell.
The Senate then took up the Oregon war
debt BILL
Mr.. Lane supported the bill.
Mr. Lane moved that the Senate non.concur
in the amendments to said bill, aud ask com
mittee Of conference which was agreed to.
The Senate then took up the House amend.
ments to the Colorado territorial bill.
After debate by Messrs. Douglas, Green, and
Baker, the amendments were concurred in,
and the bill stands passed.
The Senate then took up the Nevada terri
tora bill.
Mr. Douglas offered substitute, giving the
people of the Territories all the powers of the
people of State, except admission into the
Union which was lost
The bill was then read the third time and
passed. .
The Senate then took up the Dacotah terri.
torial bill which was discussed, read o third
time, and passed.
The Senate then took up the post route bill.
Pending the subject, Mr.. Seward presented
the credentials Of Hon. Ira Harris, Senator
Of March next.
The Senate concurred in all the House
amendments to the post route bill, so that it
stands passed.
Mr.. Gwin introduced a supplementary post
route bill ; which was ordered TO be printed.
The army bill was then taken up.
Pending the subject Mr.. Fessenden, from
the conference on the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill, reported that such amend
ments Of the Senate be receded from; which was
agreed to; ; SO the bill stands passed.
The army bill was amended in several partcu.
lars, and discussed at length.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
the bill to authorize the President of the Uni
ted States to accept the services of volunteers.
Mr.. Howard, of Michigan, resumed his re.
marks from former day, contending that the
Government should be invested with power to
enforce the laws, and that the bill now pending
was in accordance with the Constitution.
Mr.. Pryor said it was a foregone conclusion
that this till is to be passed. As this was so,
he hoped it would be passed at once, to the end
that the people OF Virg ginia and Of the South
may be aroused to the danger which now men.
aces their destruction. He de6antly challenged
them to assume the attitude of hostility, cor
responding to their bloody designs In the
event of the South declining to capituate, CO.
ercion by arms was the purpose and policy of
the Republicans. He desired to proclaim to
the country that the policy Of the dominant
party and Of the incoming Administration is to
carry sword and slaughter into the bosom Of the
South, rather than recognise the existence of
the Southern Confederacy. The bill, lie con.
tended, was to enable the President to carry on
p;r hoo,;i,t;ao o0oipot tho Gouth
measure of fraternal strife and civil war.
Mr.. Curtis, of Iowa, said that Mr.. Pryor had
indulged in denunciation and defamation in a
strain similar to that of the gentlemen's col
league, Mr.. Bocock. The remarks of the
gentleman were not addressed to the reason of
the House, but to the Virginia Convention, and
TO the Southern assemblies now acting against
the Federal Government. twas charged that
the Republicans proposed to use coercion cf
arms against the South, Notwithstanding they
had done or said nothing to justify such
charge. Our Government should have the
means to protect ITSELF Without such power,
it was 10 Government at oil. This bill was in.
tended for the protection of our citizens every.
where, to protect the flag, and to maintain our
common Government.
Mr.. Burnett believed with Mr.. Pryor that the
passage Of this bill was ioregone conclusion.
He regarded it as a declaration of war, and
against the provisions Of the Constitution. 1t
conferred penary powers on the President of
the United States, without limitation or condi.
ton. Instead of threatening and involving
the country in civil war, would it not, he asked,
be better to recognise secession as an existing
fact, and to treat with the Southern Govern.
ment2 The revolution there was peaceful and
successful, and it snould be so regarded.
Mr.. Corwin moved to postpone the further
consideration Of the bill till Thursday at one
o'clock.
Mr.. Stanton said that such postponement
would be fatal to the BILL as it could not be |
acted upon by the Senate.
The motion Of Mr.. Corwin was agreed to-
yeas 100, nays "a.
Mr.. Grow moved to postpone the further
consideration Of the report of the committee of
thirtythree till tomorrow, in order that the |
House might take up Territorial business.
MIR. bingham moved to postpone till Sat
urday.
Mr.. Hickman moved that it be postponed till
Monday, eleven o'clock.
Before this was disposed Of Mr.. Sickles
called Mr.. Hickman to order, and q spirited
colloquy took place between them, causing
much excitement; amid which,
Mr.. John Cochrane humorously moved that
the galleries be cleared, in order, he said, "that
they shall not witness our disgraceful scenes"
Laughter.
Mr.. Hickmans motion was disagreed to-
yeas Sc, nays 1872.
Mr.. Bing hams motion to postpone the report
till Saturday was also negatived-yeas 56,
nays ll9.
And Mr.. Grows motion to postpone till to.
morrow was also negatived-yeas II, nays ll2.
The report of the select committee of thirty.
three now being before the Houee, Mr. Corwin
proposed that the vote be taken with regard to
the order Of the several propositions, so that if
the House should become weary of voting on
the vital propositions they could avoid the
comparatively imnateral ones.
Various poiuts Of order were raised as to the