Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-27
37th Congress. First Session,
WASHINGTON, December 2s.

WASHINGTON, December 26.
SENATE.-0n motion of Mr.. Hale, ofNew
HampshiTe, it was agreed that when the
Senate adjourn to-day, it be to meet on Mon
day next, ard when he Senate meet on that
day, It sGjOUrn to meet next Thursday.
Mr.. Grlmesi0t Iowa, presented a petition
from citizens of Iowa for the introduction of
the homeopathic system of practice in the
amy. ..,.....
Nessrs. Sumner of Massachusetts and
Trumbul of Illinois presented petitions for
the emancipation of slaves under the war
power.
Several petitions were presented for the
location ofa national armory at Rock Island,
Illinois
Mr.. Hale offered a resolution that the Pres
idenJ be requested, if not incompatible with
public interest, to transmit copies of all dis
patches which have passed between this
Government and Great Britain, relating to
The seizure of Mason and Slidell; said dis
patches TO be communicated either in open
or Executive session, as may be deemed
proper.
Mr.. Sumner objected.
Mr. Hale said he bad understood from the
public press and those who hold more iuti.
mate relations with the Administration than
himseli-though the absence OF the intimacy
was not his fault, as he was willing to be as
confidential as any body-that for three or
four days past the Cabinet has had under
consideration a proposition fraught with
more evil to the cOuGtry than any thing that
had yet marked its history, and that was the
surrender of Mason and SiidelI to Great
Britain. By doing this, we would yield all
that we had gained in the war of the Reve-
luton, and be buuiliated to a second rate
power .a
No man would go farther than himself for
peace, but he would not submit to national
disgrace and 6ishoLOr TO obtain such peace.
He would favor the arbitration of another
poXer, but if a demand has been made by
Great Britain for the surrender of Mason and
Siidell, war should be declared against her
instantly. He would make all honorable
concessions fer peace but peace involving
such a surrender would be infinitely worse
than war His friend from Indiana (Laue)
bad remarked this morning that his State
had sixty thousand men in the field, and
would double that numberto maintain the
national honor. If this Senate should go
home after such surrender and humiliation,
It would be subject to the scorn aud indig.
nation of the country.
He regarded the arrogant demand of Eng
land as a pretext for war. She was deter
mined to humiliate us FIRST, aud fight us
afterward. Let our cities and villages be
plllhPeu ana burned, out let our national
honor be preserved. Francis the First said,
after the battle of Pavia, that all was lost but
honor, He (Hale) would pray that this Ad-
ministration might not sacrifice our national
honor. Thousands would yet come TO the
field to defend il. If this surrender was
made, the Administration would meet with
such a fire in the rear that it would be hurled
from power. five had a war with England,
il would be for the same cause that had sent
one king to the block, and another homeless
and houseless over the world, and sone thai
would sppeaftO men wherever the English
language was spoken. He believed, too, that
if Napoleon had one, desire more than any
other, it was 10 whip out the stain upon the
French arms at Waterloo .. r...a. ID.
All over Canada there were thousands OF
Irishmen who would rush TO arms 70 sustain
such cause ss ours. Our principles were
our great stIehRth, and if war must come, be
. would ssy, let it eQpe, and thRlk GVd w