The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-23
! CONGBKsMONAL. s

r. WASHINGTON. March 18.ASEN1Ts.-The ere
dentials of David Wilnot were presented and
be was afterwards sworn in and took his scat. 4
The joint, resolution of the, Legislature Of IN In
diana, requesting Congress to call Convention
4 for amendment to the Constitution, was laid on
the table and ordered 70 b. printed. asRi boa 20
Ar Douglas resolution wls taken mp and Mt
Il fBreckinridge spoke. He said in the present
anxious, distracted condition Of the country the
1 Senate should not adjourn without expressing an
opinion on tho existing state Of affairs and Civ
ing some advice tending 30 ssllay public appre.
1 tensions. Opinions seemed divided as to the
I measures Of the Inaugural. He was free to con-
Hess, and grati6ed to do SO, that its general ex-
IpreAsions are for harmony and the prevention Of
bloodshed, but the policy which the, President
says he deems his duty TO pursue must result in
bloodshed unless essentially modified.
The leading idea OF the Inaugural very clearly
put forth is, the President does not recognize in
any ssnse the existence of another Confederacy,
but that he regards all proceedings and acts in
the seeding States either insurrectionary or
revolutionary, and shat IL is his purpose, to the
extent of his power, to enforce the laws in all
the States, including those which have with
drawn, the inference was irresistible.
| To whatever extent force or invasion is neces
sary to collect duty on imports and to maintain
possession and occupy, the forts; force is TO be
employed by constituting it to be bis constitution
al duty. 1t is true the President has qualified
his declaration BY saying the course here indi.
Gated will be followed, unless current events and
experience shall show notifications or change to
| be proper, in every case and exigency. Ny
best discretion will be exercised according to
circumstances actually existing, and with view
to the peaceful solution Of our National difhcrl.
ties, the restoration Of fraternal sympathy and
affection. ts.{ 4; ;.,a.,s,.l...,.. ,f...,,, 49,, q,
He Breckinridge) took his qualification to
mean he will not undertake to execute the laws
or to hold the forts and other places within the
Withdrawing States, excepting when crcumstan,,
ces show his ability to do so, and that he will
not undertake to force those functions because
it would be irritating and make the hopes Of a
peaceful solution more doubtful, then the poll
cy would be that which would prevent irritation
and bloodshed. ....,a ,.r..i +,,..-- .t.,.,f.
The President conceives it his duty to hold,
possess and occupy the forts, and collect the
duties on imports to- be modified according to
the necessities Of the case which may surround
him, otherwise his policy would be simple and
! easy. Looking at Fort Sumter, what were the
reasons for the rumored evacuations No poll
tical, but military reasons. Not because III the
opinion of the Administration the Fort would
| irritate the public mind and render conciliation
and hormony doubtful, but because the military
I auu AoSoi pOWct uOce uOG CApSCG W pCuCtiutC
to that point unless the purpose of the President
was to use force so far as was necessary. q;
He would, if his object was purely conciliation
withdraw the troops for political and not mill
tary reasons; then he thought he was justi-
fed in constituting the inaugural to mean that the
President will hold the forts and other places
within the confederate states and collect the du-
ties on imports to the extent of his power, and
if there is any modification it will be because of
his inability and not because he would be willing
to withdraw the troops for the purpose of pro-
ducing conciliaton and peace in the public mind.
The character of the Cabinet was not such as
to induce the belief that force wouli not be
used. Every member, except one, ID understood
to favor coercion if it becomes necessary 10 re-
duce the South to subjugaton. The very organ.
ization of the Senate, and opinions cautiously
ex pressed by Republicans here, show their pur
pose is to maintain the authority of the Federal
government over the withdrawn States by force,
| if necessary, in the formation of the standing
committees. "
There was scarcely chairman of any one of
them whose known opinion was not in favor of
this policy. The country should not be deceiv-,
ed what was meant by peace and conciliation-
how was it to be maintained? He desired to
know it as sincerely, as he desired the union Of
be he'd seen no measure of practical policy
which tends to produce the result. We are in
constant danger Of collision and bloodshed. For
the sake of the political and material interests
of the country, the support Of the credit and the
general prosperity, let US establish some lead
ing principle.
If peace policy was not to prevail, let us
get ready for the conflict. he argued, if blood
be shed, the last Of preserving what is left of
the Union will be gone. His opinion was the
Federal ho or nrn-
served on the principles which brought the DOM
inant party into power. Ha Es
Mr.. Hale, in reply, said he had no advice to
give until called for; had not been in council
with the Administration. The President had
selected those competent to advise him, and re-
lying on their advice does not feel the necessity
OF relying on any one. -.,.,
Mr.. Wigfall made some remarks saying Texas
was State before admitted into the Union; was
now and would be always. s3l ,-gA,-- si. e..
Mr.. Hale replied, and said when the States of
Virginia and Kentucky came into the Conteder-
acy, the law of slavery was prohibited not
only by statute but compact irrepealable in every
inch of territory over which Federal jurisdiction
was exercised, and in 1889 the Federal flag did
not move over an inch of this broad earth out
side of the limits of any State where slavery was
| not prohibited by compact declared ire
pealable-then showed the wide expansion of
slavery over territory, and wished to know what
| more the South wanted, He was unable to un
! derstand the charge of Northern aggression, and
attributed all the clamor to the fact that outs
are now in, and ins are now out.
Executive session-adjourned,
WAsHlsGros, March ly-SrxArE-Mr. Doug
| las resolution was taken up.
Mr.. Clingman thought the policy of the Ad-
| mnstration was that of war, but if the policy is
peace why not announce it The silence of the
Administration was proof to him that it was its
settled policy to involve US soon in civil war
He had no doubt that orders had gone to the
Mediterranean and other distant stations recall
ing ships of war, and asked the reason Of collec
ton Of such armament at New York.
Mr.. Grimes said no vessels had been ordered
from the Mediterranean. ,r ,.-,r,s.rs..-sy
Mr.. Ciinsmau said there could be no doubt
that troops were being thrown into distant sta
| tions A number of ships were taking in sup
plies. He had received information that heavy
| guns and reinforcements were going South to
| take possession of the forts of North Carolina,
| Virginia, and elsewhere: If so, he regarded it
| as a purpose to make war. -
Mr.. Clark replied to ausion about silence of
the Republican,, that nobody knew anything
more than what appeared in the Inaugural, and
gentlemen on the other side could put their own
| Interpretation on it.
Mr. Oh1Siuah tnOuSnt IL extraordinary tina;
gentlemen occupying such positions should not
know what the Inaugural meant. The country
has the right to know what to expect. He could
not adopt the views of Douglas while the facts
pointed to war.
Mr. Hale said he knew no more What the ad
ministration intended to do than Mr.. Clingmun.
He (Hale) had not corresponded either verbally
nor in writing as to any step of public policy, OF
to single appointment.
/ Mr.. Clingman thought if Mr. Hale had moi
been consulted, the Administration showed 9
want of statesmanship, Et. IT,
Mr.. Hale agreed TO that [Laushter.l But
was here to represent his Stste--not the admin
istration, but he presumed he should sustain the
same relation to it that Clingman would, viz; tc
give his cordial support to all patriotic meas
ures which may commend themselves. He (Hale
would endeavor TO do the same, and thereby be
long ~ the same party. Laughter
II When the Administration takes course con
trary to the interests and honor Of the country
it should not have his support. He presumed
the President had judgement, prudence, and cour
| IL. IL IL CT