The national Republican., 1861-02-21
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION
Wednesday, February 20, 1861.
SENATE.

Mr.. Doolittle of Wis, presented the creden.
tials Of Timothy o. Howe, Senator elect from
the State of Wisconsin.
After the third reading and passage Of sew.
eral private bills,
The joint resolution authorizing Commodore
Paulding to receive sword aud grant Of
land from the Republic of Nicaragua was
taken up and passed.
Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, called up the bill provi
ding for the discontinusuce Of mail service In
States where it is liable to be interfered with.
Mr.. Douglas moved to lay the bill on the ta
BILE; which was lost
Pending the subject,
Mr.. Pearce, from the Finance Committee
reported back the army bill, with amendments.
The consideration Of the postal suspension
bill being resumed,
Mr.. Green moved to amend, by directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to suspend the col
lection Of the revenue in such States.
Mr.. Douglas, thought that the measure Of
Mr.. Wade was peace measure. 1t would pre-
| vent an attempt to carry the mail by force.
withdrew it.
Mr.. Hemphill, Of Texas, introduced sub
stitute, that the Postmaster General be instruct.
ed to make arrangements for an inter-postal
treaty with the seeded States.
| Mr.. Clingman thought that the seeded States
were as foreign as Great Britain. He was not
willing to continue postal service in such
States, but he did not recognise any insurrec.
ton in such States, and would move to strike
out the word instruction
Mr.. Mason wished the Senate to consider
the subject we'll, ere they declared the Con-
federated States in insurrection. The enforce
ment of such declaration had cost Great
Britain seven years of long and bloody war.
.,n Ctatos x,ara onothor couptrv Whan Il
was determined 10 treat those States as in in
surrection, let it be done, not as an addenda
to Post Office bill, but as deliberate act, and
then, God defend the right.
The hour for the consideration Of the tariff
bill having arrived, the Senate took up that
bill.
The amendments agreed to in Committee
were read.
The amendments were then taken up serid
tim and discussed, the larger portion being
agreed to.
Mr.. Douglas, in the course of the debate,
thought that the subject should be postponed
until next session. He favored q liberal COM
mercial policy, and suggested that the German
ZoH Verein furnished an example of a CONNER.
cial union, in which several nations united in a
tariff, the proceeds of which were distributed
among the nations in proportion to theirpopula.
ton. He thought all the nations Of the North
American continent might be combined in SIM
liar rcommercialunion and that power over postal
, arrangements, lighthouses, coinage, &c, might
be held in common by such a union. This
would stop flibustering, 60 far to settle peace.
fully our present difficulties, and would give
, us all the advantages of the present Union,
while it would not join too closely people not
, homogeneous.
Amendments were agreed to, placing duty
| r a
made by Americans, and Of per cent. on cop.
per.
The duty on tea and coffee was reconsidered,
on motion of Mr.. Seward, and the section hav.
ing been amended, on motion Of Mr.. Simmons,
limiting the duties to two years, was adopted.
Mr.. Powell moved an amendment, abolishiug
the fishing bounties, which was lost-yeas ls,
nays u.
Mr. Bayard moved an amendment, provid.
ing that the duties, except on wines, brandies,
, &c, should not exceed 80 per cent. on the
foreign valuations which was lost-yeas l8
e nays 2s.
= Other amendments were agreed to, and the
bill, being read the third time, was passed.
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
: The House resumed the consideration Of the
s bill reported from the Military Committee au
I thorizng the President to accept the service.
of volunteers, for the purpose Of suppreRsine
: insurrection against the authority of the United
0 States.
s Mr.. Bocock said the passage of this bill wa.
foregone conclusion. He opposed it on &C
!. count of the features which appear on its face
he opposed it in consequence of the efec
u which its passage would have on the peace
70 and prosperity of the country; and he opposed
i. it above and more than all, in consequence o
| A. u. Il. l. - Il. - l.. =
b, the strongest degree initiate. He yesterday
and now reiterated the remark. 1t was no
d only declaration Of war, but more than that
D. it invested the President in a time of peace
8. with dictatorial powers-to call out the entire
. force of the country, to be-used, if Mr.. Lincolr
should see proper, against the seeded States
IL He proceeded to show that the bill was violatv,
:. of the Constitution. Whatever hope there exist
" of peaceful adjustment of our national diff
culties, could not fail to be dissipated dimin
ished by the passage of this bill. He allude'
" to the fact that, although the select commtte
TO have reported that no conspiracy exists to seiz
10 the capital, yet Federal forces are constant
n. being increased here.
Before he had concluded his remarks, tn,
morning hour expired.
The consideration Of the report of the com
T. mittee of thirty.three was resumed, when
'e Mr.. Vallandigham, Of Ohio, addressed tn
ut House at length, in an earnest speech in favo
8. of preserving the Union by peace, concilistion
70 and compromise. He also advocated his owl
y proposition-to give veto power in the Senat
and the Electoral College to the four prncipa
sections of the Union, so as to protect them
IN selves against aggression.
ID The House passed to the consideration of tn
,r Senate amendments to the navy bill.
The amendment appropriating $4,000
for the construction Of seven steam scre'
sloops of war, having been read, j.
Pi shall not be used for the execution of the Fec
d, eral laws, or aid the land or naval forces
Mt anu States claiming To be without the Eeder,