Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-03-04
Completely with Treason

BuehanHn's Completely with Treason
IRON the N. Y. POst.l
The special COMMITTEE of the House of
Representatives, appointed TO consider the
Presidents message in relation to the
South Carolina Commissioners made re-
portyesterday, through John H. Reynolds,
of New York, The report cites the cir
cIImstances of the reception of Messrs.
Baruwell, Adams and Orr, by the Prudent,
deuOuuces their demand for the surrender
of Et. Sumpter rs Tan extraordinary and
insolent" act; censures Mr.. Buchanan for
receiving such n communication and
awarding the dignity Of IN official reply,
on the ground that the act involved, to
some extent, the recognition of the ASSUME
ed position Of tho rebellious state; and de-
clares that the President seems to have
been in communication with those engRg-
ed in rebellion, and sort of understand
ing appears to have been had early in De.
cenber that no action should be taken hy
the government of the United States to re-
inforce the command charged with the dee
fence Of the forts in the Iarbor Of Chales-
ton.
The report goes on to charge the govern
ment with direct completely with the rebels,
We quote strong passage:
The committee Is not able to resist the
inference that in the beginning of the rev.
oluttOnary movement against the govern
ment of the United States. there were re-
lations of m extremely friendly character
between those who contemplated rebellion
and those whose duty it was TO suppress it.
We cannot hutregard itasa most extraortli-
nary fact that parties notoriously cohtem-
plating the disruption of the government
should beforehand stipnlate with it's exec
utive authority in respect to the most con-
venient and least dangerous mode tor ma
king the rebellion successful. While the
President has aVowed his determination to
execute the laws, he does not seem TO have
regarded treason to the Constitution of
the United States, contemplated and exist
ing, rs among the crimes condemned by
the laws of the land, and deserving pun
ishment.
"That crime, the highest known to the
laws of the world, appefs to our history
to have assumed a milder form, to be
treated with marked tenderness by the
authorities of the government against
which the crime is perpetrated. We do
not think the history Of any government
furnishes, in this respect, any parallel to
the policy of our own, and We cannot he
lieve that any government, however pow
ertul, can long survive the inauguration
ofnnd persistence in such policy. We
theFel re regard II our duty to condemn,
in the most emphatic terms, the course
pursued by the President in recognizing
or substantially holding diplomatic COM
munication' with the rebellious authorities
of the State of South Carolina. The dig
nifty of the government required ut least
that the President should ut once and with
tirmness decline all negotiations with
State in the attitude of rebellion, if the
obligations of his oath did not require him
10 hand over such of the rebels ne came
within his power to the civil authorities of
the United States, to be dealt with accord
Ing to the forms of law"
Tho report concludes:
"four committee insist upon maintain
ing the dignity aud exercising the powers
of the government against any who delib-
erateiY set about its destruction or invite
collision with its power or its laws"
In conclusion, the committee recon-
mend the adoption of the rollwing resUlu-
ton:
"Re'oErsd, That in the opinion of this
House the President had no constitutional
power to negotiate with the representa-
tives of the State of South! CaroIina for
the surrender efAny public property with.
in the limits of that State, aud chat II Ia
inexpediont for Congress to take any MR.
Their action in relation ttiereto.5
John Cochrane, of New York, presented
n minority report, defending the President.
II is said that Jefferson Davis recently