Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-06
Gtle9rapbu.
CONGRESSIONAL.

Military Affairs.
Mr.. Wilson INTRODUCED bill for the better or
ganizatiOn of the militia of the District of COum
bia. Referred 10 the Committee on Military AT
fairs.
Mr.. Poster offered resolution that Governors
and ex- Governors of States be admitted to the
floor of the Senate Laid over
Mr.. latham presented a petition of the people
of Western Utah for increased mail facilities
Referred to the Committee on Post Offices.
Mr.. Bingham presented four petitions for the
repeal of the fugitive slave law, believing it un
constitutional
The annual report of the Commissioner Of
Patents was received and ordered to be printed.
Private bills were considered till one o'clock
when the Pacific Railroad bill was taken up.
Mr. Chandler moved to amend so as to give
six sections Of land per mile instead of one
Adopted.
Mr.. Clark moved that the grants of lands and
bonds be made on the express condition that
we shall hereafter have power to amend the pro
visions of the act, but not to diminish the speci
fed amount of contribution Adopted.
Mr.. Wilkinson moved to amend by making the
amount paid to the central route fifty millions in
stead of sixty millions, and that the Southern
route twenty five millions instead of thirty five
millions; the design being to provide for the
Northern route by another amendment
The amendment was discussed at some length
end disagreed tO-yeas Is, nays "a.
Mr.. Wilkinson moved another amendment the
effect of which is to provide for the Western
route He said he did not see the propriety oil
voting thirty six millions to a State Just in the
act Of secession and not giving a road TO States
true and loyal to the Constitution
He characterized the bill from the House as a
bill of abomination- After discussion the amend
ment was agreed to, year %, nays l9.
Mr.. Wilson moved an amendment so as to give
$50 ZOO, 900 to the Central route SOS 000, 900 to
the Northern route. and that the Southern route,
instead Of going to San Francisco, 60 by the near
est route to the Pacific ocean.
Mr.. Gwin asked the Senator to withdraw for
the purpose of moving to strike out all except
the Central route.
Mr.. Gwin moved to amend the bill so as only
to provide for Central route. Disagreed to.
feas--Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Benjamin,
Chanden, Clark, Collamer, Durkee, Fessenden,
Foot. Foster, Grimes, Gwin, Harlan, King Nor
rll, Polk, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trum-
bull, Wade. Wilson.-22
Nays--Aessrs- Bigler, Briggs, Bright, Cling
man, Crittelden, Dixon, Douglas, Doolittle,
Green. Hemphill, Hunter, johnson, of Tennes-
see, Lane, Latham, Nicholson, Pearce. Powell,
Pugh. Rice, Salisbury Sebastian, Seward Thomp-
son, Wiefall and Wilkinson-25.
Mr. Wilson renewed his amendment, and il was
disagreed to.
Mr.. Mason moved to strike out the part making
any appropriation to these roads. He said he did
it as matter of protest OF the State of Virginia
against this new debt The time might come
when the States would be called on to assume a
portion of the debt, and he wanted protest en-
tered so that Virginia shall never be called on to
pay this debt
The amendment was rejected
No further amendments being offered, the bill
was reported to the Senate
discussion here ensued on agreeing to certain
amendments.
On motion of Mr.. Fessenden, the Senate adj
journed.
HOUSE-The House considered the Senate
Amendments to the post route bill without action.
The Speaker laid before the House the agricul-
tural portion Of the report of the Commissioner
Of Patents
The propriety of printing extra copies of said
report was debated.
Mr.. Adrain presented resolutions passed by the
Legislature of New Jersey expressive of firm at
tachment to the Union and the duty of every good
citizen to sustain it, and favorng the Crittenden
proposition of calling convention of the States,
&c Laid ON the table and ordered to be printed
The morning hour having expired, the special
order was resumed, being the report of the Com
mittee of Thirty three.
Mr. Stevens Of Pennsylvania, regretted that he
would now be mHde When six States are in
open and declare .e,e.i.O. l,v.I, seized the pub
he forts anu arselals, and robbed the people of
millions OF public property; when he saw our har-
bOrs blockaded and armies in array against the
flag of our country, which has been insulted, he
had no hope that concession, humiliation or COM
promise would have any good effect whatever
Rather than give concession to rebels he would
see the Government shattered in ten thousand
atoms.
Mr.. Harris of Maryland, spoke of the gIories
of the country, and said the disasters now pend
ing spring from the empty rivalries and parties
and the inability of boosted statesmen to solve
the problem of status of Territory in regard to
slavery-the verdict of impartial history will be
that there is no reason for secession and none for
disruption Of the Union
He believed that the responsibility of national
safety or perdition rested in the present repre-
sentatives of the people now assembled in Con-
gress The question now was, on whom shall
the terrible responsibility of the future rest? and
that will fall on the party or sect of men who will
not spurn the mere miserable party trammels and
come to the question how a great nation can be
saved Far too much of the present mischief
came from the section to which he belonged,
springng from the ambitious desires of politicians
at the South who want greater eminence than
they can command under our present system.
He repeated that secession was the unholv off
spring of Southern political ambition, and far too
much of the aggression which reused the resist
ance of the North. Both sections were responsible
for the troubles
The secession of six Southern States met with
no sympathy in MARYLAND
Mr.. Hughes denied that Mr. Harris spoke for
the part CT Maryland he represented.
Mr.. Harris-NOt more than a corporal's guard
in Maryland favor secession. [Applause
he denied the right ofsecession, he urged his
Northern friends to do something at once for pac-
ltication, there was smouldering fire under
Maryland which might break out and sweep her
into disunion, let them rise above prejudice and
party ana cement the Union more firmly than
ever. Let US have less eloquence in speech and
more pertinent eloquence in votes; give US the
Crttenden or similar proposition. He closed as
follows: Let me not, instead of our National
music, hear the Marseilaise which is not music TO
my ears flaunt not before nv eyes the flag of
divided nationality, exciting no emotion in nv
American heart. Let me and my people go to
our graves with our consecrated melodies ringing
IN our ears and over us float the flag of our Union
with all is consolidated stars. lApplause[
Mr.. Wnslow spoke Of Northern aggressions.
High sounding words, he said, would not save the
Union, nor could the piece Of bunting with the
stars and stripes.
He spoke in favor of the Crittenden proposition,
with nothing less than which the South could be
satisfied.
He was against coercion. BY this the Union
could not be held together. IL could be done
only by mutual justice and affection.
Mr. Fanwick, of New York. spoke at length.
Among other things he said: You ask us to CON-
promise What have we to concede? We have
done you no wrong, and purpose none. You
have proposed no compromise which does not
involve similar one on our part. You want the
Constitution amended. How would that avail
you If your present position Is correct-if one
State, however insignificant, can destroy the whole
fabric? You have violated the Constitution and
set the laws at defiance; you are demanding con
sttutional guarantees that will do neither. Do
you propose any concession to the North-any
security to liberty and life to Northern people in
Southern States of property in books--freedom
of speech that has always been secured by the
Constitution?
You say YOU concede to freedom the terri
tory north of SO deg. 80 min. We have a double
title to that already; first by purchase, then by
conquest We bought il when we took Missouri