The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-01-03
CONGRESSIONAL.


There is but little news from Congress
this week.
SENATE-The galleries were crowded
and there was large crowd about the
doors. Ladies also were in the lobbies
and on the floor.
Mr. Crit'enden offered resolution that
portion of the gallery be set as do for
ladies.
Mr.. Crittenden asked that the Senate
would set apart some day for the consid'
era,ion Of tho joint resolution offered by
him.
The resolution was then made the spe-
cial order for Wednesday.
Mr.. wilson offered resolution, that the
Secretary OF War be requested TO inform
the Senate what disposition had been
made OF the arms made at National Armo-
rips-if any had been sold, il so at what
price, and TO whom; what number there
were in the arsenas, and how they were
protected. Objected TO aud laid over.
The bill to organic the government OF
Arizona was taken up,
Mr.. Trumbull spoke in favor OF the a.
mendment to the amendment 10 allow the
Mexican law abolish.Dg slavery to con-
llnue in force.
Mr.. Green said that Mr.. Browns a
mendmpnt did not change any law, bu,
only proposed 10 continue an existing law
lie WAS In favor Of leaving the people IL
choose their own laws.
The bill for the admission Of Kansas
WAS postponed till Monday next
Mr.. Benjamin Of La, arose to address
the Senate. He said he had supposed tIt
this We would have had official nforma
ton Of the position Of affairs in South Car
olina. but in the absence OF it. he should
prsume that he had such information.
The South, he sid, had repeatedly
warned the North that they were driving
them 10 a point that would result in sep
aration, and for this they had only been
sneered at and lnaIigned, lie (Ben.ami
wished to speak in no spirit OF recrimna'
Iion. to perform his duty. He would cal
attention to tho speech he made four year:
ago, predicting the result. lie did MOI
believe there could be pcaceable secession
He said that the words he had then utter
I'd had proved true to-day. He would t(
God the fears Of civil war then experience
I'd would prove ouly fears, but from wha
no had heard, ii almost seemed as if til,
other side of the Chamber desired 10 bring
about u civil war,
South Carolina had declared herself sep
ara cd from the Union. whio other States
stand ready to support her or else to Pu
her down. That is the real issue, anC
there is no use to disguise it, nor are We
permitted to ignore tho fact that the de
termination 10 sccede is not confined tC
South Carolina alone; for next week Mis-
slssppi, Alabama and Florida will Sepa
rate from the Uni 4. A week after, Geor
gia will follow; then little later louisa
IN will secede. and soon after her Arkan
sas Now, then, shall wo recognize Soutl
Carolina as II free and independent State
or shall we coolce by force? lilo argued
that South Carolina had right to declare
herself free. 1t was inherent. nalienable
South Carolina had by the voice of hel
people, when they met 10 convention IL
1860, repealed the ordinance made by hel
people when they met in Convention il
1857, Mr., Webster had said compac
broken by ono could DO broken by all.
kr. Benjamin also quoted from Mr.
Madison to sustain his position.
Mr., Benz ,min raid that no one coulC
: fud any article in the Constitution re
quiing force to bo used 10 coerce n State
lie referred to the old Confederation, ant
said that nine States seuedod from it 70
the express reason that the compact be
twseu them was not kept, AID finally al
the States seeded but Rhode Island ant
North Carolina, leaving them as ioreigI
States. lie claimed this as q preceden
IN the formation Of this Constitution I,
show the right ofa State to secede. VIII,
was to be the jGdgeY II the cnnlract wa
broken 10 = ptcunary matter, the Consti
tuition provided way TO settle the mat
ter; but Il il was broken politically, tn,
Constitution provided no way.
lie read from the debates Of the Conven
ton which formed the Constitution, t
show that the members of that Conven
.iOn refused to make the Ssnale the ludg
Of, or give the President the power to vet
the action Of a State; that they refused L
give Congress the power to negative Stat
legislation. and that they specially refus
ed 10 give any power to coerce States. ye
when the States came to ralify the Con