The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-13
IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
TIIRTY-sIXFH CONGRESS-.
SECOND s9sslON.


bkCOND bkSSlON.
Senate. -
WASHINGTON, Jan r. 1851.
The proceedings OF the Senate were opened with
prayer.
Mr. CaNERoS, (rep) OF Pa, asked whether yote
could be taken TO allow persons 10 the floor Of the Senate
Mr. TooNRs, (opp) Of Ca, objected.
The PRESIDENT decided that herule might be dispensed
with by unanimous consent.
Further objection being made, vast number Of ladies'
and gentlemen returned to the lobby rooms
The diplomatic corps were in attendance.
Al least thousand Indies and twelve hundred gentle
men are in the galleries, and it is impossible for any
more to obtain admission.
motion TO I'LL tho vacancy in the Board OF Regents Of
the Smithsonian Institute laid on The table,
Mr. GwIN opp) Of Cal, moved that tn, Senate proceed
TO the special ordor, the consideration the Presidents
Message. Agreed to-
MR.. SEWARD'S SPEECH.
Mr. SEWARD rep) of N. Y, took the fboor and said-
Mr. PREsInNyr-Congress adjourned last amid
auspices of national abundance contentment, tran
qullity and happiness. reassem5led this win
ter in the presence Of derangement OF business and
disturbance of public we'll private credit and in
the face of sedtious combinations to overthrow tho
Union. The alarm is appalling for Union is moro
the body than liberty is the soul Of the nation. The
American citizen has been accustomed to believe tho
public immortal lie shrnks from the sight OF convul
sons indicative Of its sudden death The report Of our
condition has gone the seas, and who have
long and with much compacency studied the endless lg
tations of society in the Old World believing ourselyea
exempt from such disturbances now bur turn, seem
bo falling into and disassrous rovolu-
tion. l know how difficult it is to decide, amid so
many and so different counsels what ought TO ba
and what be done. Certainly, however it is
time for every Senator TO declare himself l. therefore,
following the example Of the noble Senator from Tonnes
Ir. Johnson), my adherence to the Union in
its integrity with all its parts with my friends, with
my party, with my State with my country without
either they may determine, in every event. whether
peace Of war with every consequence Of honor
dishonor of lifeor death. Although lament the
son hail with cheerfuness the duty OF lifting up my
voice. among distracted debates, for my whole country
and its inosmable Union Hitherto the exhibitions OF
spirit and resolution hsrc elsewhere have been chief
ly made the side of disunon do not regret this
Dsunion is unexpected and unnatural that IL must
plainly reveal itself before its presence Can DO
| realized. like best, also, the courage that rses
slowly under the pressure Of severe nrovoestion.
If il be Christian duty TO forgive TO the stranger
seventy times offences, IL is the highest
patriotism TO endure without complaint the pas-
sionate vaywardness of political brethren long
think Is easy pfopounco what conduct
viii not the Union. agree with the honcra
Senator from. North Caron. OIr. Clngman) that
eulogiums will not save /. Yet think that prayer
br.ngs nearer 10 God, though 1t cannot move Him
toward u.s. there IL healing and saving virtue in every
word devotion TO tho Union that s spoken, md IN
1 every sigh that its Danger draws forth. know, At
loast that like virtue it derives strength from every
roverent that s committed and every blaspherlors
nrssc that Ia uttered against H. The Union c,naot bs
saved iy mutual ornIi atoms concerning respectvc
share Of responsibility for tho present evils Tic whose
conscience aequits him will naturally be slow 10 accuse
others whose cooperation he nocds. History snly IN
adjust tho great continuance Of the deoate
tho constitutional power OF Congress over the gab
ect Of slyory in the Territories will not tho
uBon Tho opinions OF parties and sections tia. lacs-
have become dogmatica and 1t is this circumstance
that has produced tho existing alienation truce at
least during tho debate the Union essential 10
Cancellation The Union cannot 30 saved by proving that
secession s Illegal unconstitutional Persons bent ON
ha. fearful step will not stand long enough forms Of
law TO be dsodged and loyal do not need such
ground to stani -pon. fear that little win be
gained from discussing The right Of the federal govern
mcnt to seeding States into obedience. II dis
union is TO go on, this question viii give place 10 the
practical one, whether many secedng States have
right to the remaining members TO scquesce
dissolution. dread, as In my nncrmost soul abhor,
civil war do not know what the Union would be worth
IL saved by the Of the sword Yet, for all this do
not agree with those who, with desire TO that
great calamity advise conventional unopposed sepa
ration with view TO what they call reconstruction
It Is enough for me- frat, that in this plan destruction
goes before reconstruction and secondly that tho
strength OF the which the hopes Of the nation
held consists chiefly s remaining unbroken Congress
slonal compromises not likely to save tho Union
know indeed that tradition favors this form Of remedy
But 1t Is essential to It's Success in any case, that there
oe found prcponderatng Of citizens so far neu-
trail on the which separates parties that they can
intervene, strike down cashlng weapons and compel On
accon notation Moderate concesso0s not cuetoma-
ry aed by force with guns in battery; are libe.
raj concessions apt be given by opposing force mot
leie confident in its own right and It's own strength.
think, also, that there prevailing conviction that
legislative compromises which sacrifice honestly cherish
cd principles while they anticipate future exigencies
| even il they do not extra constitutional
rouers arc less sure TO avert imminent evils thar
they are certain to produce ultimately even greater
dangers. Indeed, Mr.. President, ] think IL win b
! wlso to discard two prevalent ideas or prcjudices
| nsneiy First, that the Union y be saved oy
somebody in particular; and secondly, that IL is 70 bs
saved by cunning and insncerc compact of pacncs
aere 90 long ago as 1870 AMI afterwards IN lisa lbs
present danger dcloscs itself in this form. Dsconen
citizens have CHAINED political power Ia certain statct
and they arc using this authority TO overthrow 10.
federal government. They doade themselves wsn b..
lief that the state power they lave acquired enabcs
them 70 discharge themselves Of allegiance to tho whole
r.s.1blic. The honorable senator from Illinois (lr.
Dsugas sayg wc have right 10 = State, but w9
cannot The Prt.snt says that no State mas light to
sercac bnt wo have no constitutional power 70 make
| aminsl 4 state Ito dile-uma results from IN az
sumption that tbose who, IN such , csse, act
| SO. slhoueb manifsgtIy they have perverted
the power Of the siac Unconstitutional purpose
class Of politicians r. New ,snu ~ o ss up 'nis theory
Pr,tap nr Jefferson DID not hesitate to say that States
must bo kept within ther constitutional sphere by i'm
prlslop II they could not be held there by attraction
Secession then held TO be iradmsibe 10 tho facs of
public enemy But u it's untenable In one case, il d
necessarily so IN all others fully admit the
the sovereignty and the Independence OF tho seversI
States within their sphere Tit hold the federal gov,
ernment 70 be equally original sovereign and ndeIen.
State abclve tho people rcsiiue glthrn n.