The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-07
UNITED ST ATES SENATE---SPEClAL SESSION

| WAsHIS GToN, March 6.-The Senate met at nocp
-oD motion of Mr.. ANTHONY, two thousand
copies OF the tariff bill ordered to be printed for
the use of the Senate.-Mr. WILSON moved that
when the Senate adjourn, it be to Monday-Mr.
| HUNTER hoped the motion would not be carried,
as he and others were anxious to get home if pos
sibe, to start on Monday.-Mr. POLK acquiesced
in that view.-Mr. CLINGMAN said they would
go on regularly, but if business could not now be
presented, he proposed to adjourn to Monday
Mr.. WILSON said he made his motion the soli-
citation of Hi had idea that they
would be able to get through business.-Mr.
! DIXON offered resolution that the usual number
OF copies of the Presidents inaugural be printed
AIR. ULINGMAN, in voting for the resolution,
said he did not wish to be understood endorsing
the positions of the inaugural. If he understood it
correctly, for all in it was dark the purpose which
seemed to stand out clearly and directly if carried
out, would lead to against the Confederate
States. The policy indicated was, therefore, un-
| wise, and should be annulled. The President cx-
pressly declares that he intends to treat the States
as il they were all in the Union and he regards the
acts of secession nuties Certain States claim |
to be independent, and if the Presidents acts as
| he enunciates there can be no result except |
collision between them ana the Federal Government /
1t is plain and unmistakabe that he intends to hold
and occupy and possess the forts, arsenas, etc.. in
those seeded States, when we know this can be !
done only by dispossessing the State authorities.
The collection of the revenue therein must also |
lead to collision OF arms. After we declared our
independence of Great Britain, nobody supposed |
the Colonies would pay taxes. In fact, they refused
10 pay DeIOre IDelr declaration OF lnQepenQence.-
He repeated that if the Presidents policy would be
carried out, there must inevitably be war !
| Mr.. DOUGLAS said he could not consent that the |
Senator's remarks should go out unanswered. |
He had read the inaugural carefully with a view
of understanding what the policy OF the admins |
tration is to be, as therein indicated. 1t is charac
erized by great ability and with great distinctness
in certain points. critical ANALYSIS is necessary
| to arrive at the true construction. He had par
| TALLY made analysis, and had come TO the con-
cusion that it was peace rather than war mes
| sage. He had examined it candidy and critically,
and he thought there was no foundation for diff
ferent opinion. On the contrary, there distinct
pledge that the policy of the administration shall
be conducted exclusively with reference to
a peaceful solution of national difficult /
ties. 1t is true, the President indicates a /
certain line of policy, to be conducted |
as to cad to peaceful solution, but it not
explicit as he (Mr. Douglas) desired. He then |
| quoted from the inaugural in support of his posi- !
| tons, saying that unless the means BE- furnished |
the President cannot execute the law. He thought |
the President. in his remarks on the subject, was |
referring to future action of Congtess giving him
power to enforce obedience to them. The Presi- |
dent must have been aware that in 1882 law was !
passed to enable General Jackson to enforce the
revenue laws in the port of Charleston The act ex
pired in two years Was it to be supposed that Mr..
Lincoln thought he had more power without, than
General Jackson had with, the aid Of legislation?
He repeated, that when the President pledges him
self to collect the and enforce the laws,
unless Congress withhold the requisite means he
not to be understood that his act is dependent on
| the future course CT Congress? He thought
that was the proper construction of the in
| augural, for the President says he shall per-
| form his duty $50 far as practicable, unless his
rightful masters, the American people, shall
withhold the requisite means, in some
| authoritative manner, direct to the contrary"
The President further says: {" The power
contded to me will be used to hold and occupy and
possess the property and places belonging to the
Government and to collect the duties on imports
but beyond what may be necessary for these OBJ
fherp pill hn M pSip Of forna
| against or among the people anywhere" The
| President does not say he will take and hold,
occupy and possess them. This was equivocal
language, but he did not condemn the President
for it. "Beyond what NAV be necessary for
these objects, there will be no invason-no using
of force among the people anywhere If it is the
duty of the President to enforce the revenue laws,
it is his duty to enforce the other laws. 1t cannot
be justified that the revenue laws be enforced, and
all other laws which afford protection COM
pensaton for taxes shall not be enforced. He
thought that there were two forms in which they
could lind a solution of these doubts. The Presi-
dent says: ''Where hostility to the United States
in any interior locality, shall be so great and uni
versal as to prevent competent resident citizens
from holding the Federal offices, there will be no
attempts to force obnoxious strangers among the
people for that object" The President draws a
distinction between the exterior and interior. If
he has power in case he has power in the
other. III it his duty in one to enforce the
laws, it is his duty in the other. There was no
provision of law which authorizes distinction in
this respect between places in the interior and on
the seaboard. This brought him to the construction
of another clause, the most important of ALL and the
key to the entire policy, but he rejoced
when he read it. He invited attention to it as
showing conclusively that the President is pledged
to policy which looks to peaceful solution of
our difficulties, and against all others. He says
The course here indicated will be followed unless
current events and experience shall show modh-
cation or change to be proper, and in every case
and exigency, my best discretion will be exercised
according to circumstances actually existing, and
with view and hope of peaceful solution of
the national troubles and the restoration of frater
nal sympathies and affections" In other words
the President says, if the collection of the revenue
will lead to peaceful solution, then it will be COL
lected. If the abandonment of the collection
will have that effect, then it will be abandoned.
So of the forts and arsenals in the seeding States
He will recapture not recapture them, and will
reinforce not reinforce Forts Sumter and Pick
ems. He is pledged, in either case, to a peaceful
policy and to acting with this view. If this is not
the true construction, why there not inserted
pledge to coercion, retake the rts recapture
the. arsenas collect the revenue, and enforce the
laws, unless there attached to each one con-
ditlon on which the pledge was to be carried out?
But the pledge IS one to do it, in order to a peace
full solution, and for other cause.-Without
disposing OF the question, the Senate went into
Executive session; and after short time spent
therein, adjourned till tomorrow