The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-24
once, ON COlOma street.
SPEECH OF HON. s. A. DOUGLAS,
ON THE POWER or TUE GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT
REVENUE IN rnE sEcrDrxc STATES.

on THE POWER OF tue GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT
REVENUE IN rHR sEcEDrNG STATES.
Delivered In the Senate Of the United States, March Is 1851
FORTS IN THE sECEDISG STATES.
The Vice Presidential there be no
further resolutions the next business IN or.
der Is the resolutions on the table which
have heretofore been submitted.
Mr.. DouylaS--Lct the first one he read.
The Vice President-The following res.
olution is in order, which will be read by
the Secretary.
The Secretary read il, as follows:
Hesolrsd, That the Secretary Of War be re.
qurstcd to inform the Senate what forts ,arsen.
uls. havv.yards. and other public works, within
the limits Of the States Of South Carolina, Geor.
gia, Fhrida. Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana
aud Texas, are now within the actual possession
aud occupation Of the United States, and BY
what number If men each is garrlsoned and
held and whether rcinfnrcenenis are necessary
t0 retain the same und il S1, whether the Gov.
ernmcnt hHs the power and means. under exist
ing laws, To supply such reihtOrcements within
such time aS the exigencies and necessities Of
the case NAV demand and whether the defense
nnd protection Of the United States and their
UUlcitSlS UUuhe " HeCeSShIN uuu wise w Tetult
military possession Of such FORTS places and
other property. except at Key West and Tortu.
gas. and Ia recapture and reoccupy such others
nS the United States have been deprived Of bv
seizure or surrender for any other purpose. and
with vieW 10 anv other end than the subiuga.
tion and occupation of those States which have
assumed the right TO secede from the Union,
and within whose limits such forts aud other
public property nre situated and If such be
md hnIl
forts and other public property, what military
force, INCLUDING regulars and volunteers, would
lie necessary 10 enable the United States to re.
duce the States aforesaid, and such others aS are
supposed tn svmputhize with them. Ia snbjec-
tinn and obedience Ia the laws Of the Cniun,
and to protect the Federal capitol
Mr. pouglas-Mr. President
--Ms.-tiai WEI the Senator from Iii
noiS ALLOW me to move an amendment.
do not wish to take the floor from him,
but simply to show what shall propose
Mr. Douglas Yes, sir; | will allow the
Senator to move it now.
Mr. Clark move to strike out all Of
the resolution after the words "retain the
same" six or eight lines from the bcgih-
ming.
Mr.. DouslaS-Let so mitch Of the reso
luton As it is proposed to strike out, be
read.
The Secretary read it.
Mr.. Clark will modify my amend
ment, by moving to strike out all after the
words " United States" There may be a
reason why we should not tell how many
men garrison the forts.
Mr. DouglaS-let the Secretary read so
much as that will lcave in the resolution.
The Secretary read as follows:
R,~lrtd. That the Secretary of War be re.
Iues,rd to inform the Senate what forts, arsen
ais, navy yards, and other public works, within
the limits of the States of South Carolina, Geor.
gia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana.
and Texas, are now within the actual possess.
ion and occupation Of the United States.
Mr. Douglas. i cannot acccdr,o of course,
TO the amendment proposed by the Scna-
tor from New Hampshire; for its adoption
would defeat the entire object of the reSo
luton. 1t was not my purpose, when |
offered the resolution. to say anything up
on it until we should have received thcn-
formation sought to be obtained by the
inquiry. think the information which
it is proposed to elicit is very important to
the quiet and peace Of this country. The
public mind now is greatly disturbed by
apprehensions of civil wal. The inangu-
raj address Of the President is understood
by many in both sections Of the Union as
indicating n war policy. If we allow
these apprehensionS to iipen into con-
viction that the Administration does med.
itate a war policy to reduce to suhjectiOn
the seeded States by military force, ap-
prehend that We shall find terrific issue
prccipitated upon US in shorter time than
any of us imagine. ! do not Ot6elieve such
to be the policy Of the President. lido not
SO understand his inaugural. have al
ready stated to the Senate the construc.
ton that have placed uponit. The cor
rcctness of that construction is disputed
on this side of the House. The Republi-
can side Of the Chamber remains mute
and silent, neither asserting nor dissent
ing.
In this state of the case, for the purpose
of quieting the apprehensiOns Of the coun.
try, and demonstrating, first, thst the
President does not mediate war and, Sc
condly, that he has no means of prOSecu-
ting a warfare upon the seeding States,
even il he desired, bring in this resolu.
ton. Attempts arc made to prevent its
consideration. 1t is suggested that the
discussion of it at this time would be, if
not improper, at least injurious. What
bad effects can result from answering the
inquiries contained in the resolution? If
the policy Of the Administration be peace,
and if the answer be such as anticipate
it will be, it will quiet the country it will
relieve these apprehenSions il will restore
confidence; il will cause rejoicing through
out the length and breadth Of the land
II, on the contrary. the policy be war, it iS
due to the people of the United States
that the fact should be known, and that
We be informed whittier We are drifting,in
order that we may see whether We are
willing to be drawn into war irregularly,
without the sanction Of Congress or the
consent Of the country.
! believe that tho answer to this resolu-
ton will quiet the country, and restore
good will and good feeling among the peo-
pie Of the different sections. Irepeat the
conviction that Mr.. Lincoln does not med
itato war. Certain I am that, Stnder the
laos az they SoW erist, he cannot. OOnsist.
satly WitA kis oath, do any act that 'oiIL
prOdVcs collision 6essOeen the seeded Stats
and the Federal Government In the first
place, he has no power, under the existing
laws, to collectthe revenues On shipboard,
a. is suggested By the partisan press. By
the laws e ths land, che revenue must DO
collected at the poFtS Of entry, aud In The
custom houses designated by tho law, and