The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-29
THE SOUTHERN FORTS-TORTUGAS AND
KEY WEST

In the United States Senate Wednesday,
Mr.. Breckenridge moved to take up his resolu-
ton to advise the President to remove the troops
of The United States from the Confederate States
and called the yeas and nays on his motion. If
this motion should prevail he would accept the
substitute offered by the Senator from North Caro-
lima. The vote on this motion he should consider
to be test vote on this question. If Senators in
tend to express opinions against the proposal, or
desire to express no opinion, they will vote down
the proposition; if they do wish to express opin-
ions, or are in favor Of the views the resolution
they will support the motion.
Mr.. Rice (Democrat) would accept the resolu-
ton offered by the Senator from Kentucky, but
should hesitate as to the substitute of the Senator
from North Carolina. That was going a little too
far, He did not perceive what right the Senate
had to undertake to advise the President in refer
ence to the collection of the revenue under exist
ing laws.
Mr.. Wade hoped the resolution of the Senator
from Kentucky Mr.. Brecknridge) would be taken
up, ana that they should have square vote upon
it. For one, he was willing to give his opinion of
what the policy of the government ought to be-
He did not know what the policy of government is
or what it will be, but he could tell what it ought
to be, and would like an opportunity to do So
Mr.. Rice said that the Senator from Ohio had not
disappointed him. He knew that Senator to be a
brave, bold outspoken man. AS to the matter of
advising the President in respect to the collection
OF the revenue, he Mr.. R. felt it to be going be-
yond the proper province of Senator In a case
where the President is to act under the authority
OF law he should not undertake to interfere and he
regretted that the Senator from Kentucky (Mr
Breckinridge) had gone far as to indicate
readiness to accept the amendment of the Senator
from North Carolina.
Mr.. Cingman wished to get an expression of the
Senate on both points, viz: the removal of the
troops and collection of revenue. The President
under existing law, has no power to collect
revenue in seeding States, and ought not to make
the attempt.
Mr.. Rice did not think it proper for the Senate
to advise the resident IN regard to matters which
involve the execution Of existing laws. 1t is for
him to act in such for himself. Whilst I'D he
would inquire Of the Senator from Kentucky (Mr.
Breckinridge) if his resolution extends to the
islands to the south of the main land in the Gulf
States. If it includes those islands he (Mr r.
would never advise the withdrawal of the troops
from them. Key West and the Tortugas are not
within the limits of the Confederate States and in
no respect belong to them. They are the property
OF this Union, and will be kept and defended by
this Union at all hazards.
Mr.. Breckenridge said that his resolution SIM
ply asked for the withdrawal of the troops from
the limits of the Confederate States He supposed
that those limits include the Tortugas and Kew
W West, because Tortugas and Key West are in
Florida. But if any Senator chooses to amend the
resolutions be Mr. b. had offered, so as to ex-
ciude those places from its operation, that would
be subject for grave consideration and deliberate
discussion. He (Mr. b. did not consider the nclu.
sion OF those places in the objects of the resolution
as essential to the public peace at this time and
would be willing to see those forts excepted from
the scope of the resolution. He hoped vet to see
a reunion of all the States back again, but that
could not be until all the troops had been removed
from the seeded States. He hoped there would
be new Union founded on the old principles of the
Constitution. But if ultimate separation should
take place, he hoped the United States would not
copy the policy of Great Britain and hold places as
stragetic points-like Gibraltar, for instance He
would agree to except the forts at Kew West and
Tortugas.
Mr.. Rice was in favor of peace. If the seeded
States will insist on going he wished thew wonld
go in peace. He would give them the forts on
their immediate coast; be would divide the NAVY
with them; he would go further, and, if necessary
would relieve them from their share OF the public
debt. All this be would do to secure peace Rut
as to Key West and the Tortugas, the North will
always hold them, for they belong to it, He would
would not give up these forts under any circum-
stances.
Mr.. Douglas should vote to take up the resolu-
ton. He thought it would be wise in the Presi-
dent to withdraw the troops from Fort Sumter and
Fort Pickens, because they were the only points
where collision could arise. But the resolution of
the Senator from Kentucky goes for including the
lorts at hey West and Tortugas in the limits of the
Confederate States. This position he mir. d. de-
MED. The Confederate States are a revolutionary
Government, and can hold only what they have in
actual possession. They can take nothing by i'm
pllcaton. He wished the President to remove the
troops from Sumter and Pickens because those
forts are for local defence alone, and we can have
no object in holding them except with view to
making them the basis of future military operations
against the seeded States, which he did not sup
pose was policy intended. But he would not pass
resolution acknowledging that this revolutionary
Government of the Confederate States have right
to Key West and the Tortugas.
POISONED .DREssEs.-The foreign correspondent OF
the New York Evening Post says that three young
women employed by dressmaker at Movers were
poisoned recently by particles of ars2ncal dye
inhaled by them in making up a dress of green
tarletan. A workman in a manufactnrr of artiG