, 1861-01-01
sohfse ip giving certain acccptannccs to Russell,
n n3n}2ss M q Go, and inviting Investigation ipto

f11r,to ~ th NtIIss ~ - ~ g.
B5nt}s L.. nna ,9 ~ t1c inaian iTpot
49, =. III; t;t nososk s4a Mf' Gurtls could az
-;sn,. ;s 10 WINES oeloss tfs Committee, aud
osiehy. contended that the resolution sl6hld
sas.s ,as u!!sellon. as me secretary 81 War
~ nIs osen lnpneatcd 10 some extent
- = ~ ~ ~ LUG quesuon Delore thc tommlt:
T..
-ut. Iu1lss dehlcd thai ne hnd offered himself
ssa witness, and rcma1ked TINT the Secretary
1ao Maac Inc contract with Russell, altjoTB Il
~. Wtnonc author1tJ OF Law, ard 70 tho
PtS}uuIce o. otnef parties: :.
MT ufoW rnssed the point that the Secretary
y. Har nau no authority ~ law to conalnuni-
MI Mr boeock said the question catnc too late.
"hen q pnoiic officer believes himself falsely
Implicated in IN improper transaction, he has
the r1sht 10 come here and ask for an lnvesti
Eanon.
me Speaker said II did not appear to hiu.
l Lat while It IL mado the duty Of the Presi-
dr1t to trnnsmit communications, the heads
OF Departments could not do it.
NJ. clemens referred to the act Of 1893 to
secFatary Of War shall hare the right to make
commm1n1easions m1 IN regard to contracts
Air. Grow did not think that law was up,,li-
cable to the case,
The communication was referred to the Se-
lect Committee on the Abstraction Of the
Bonds:
Mr. Hooper, delegate from Utah, presented
a memorial from the people Of that ,Tcrrit1,rv
praying to be admitted into the Union as =
STATE. Referred ia thr Comm;t+cc M Tors
ritories,
Mr. Stevens of Pa., introduced resolution
requesting tha presi,}Int to ro1n,nnn;n,to3n -
the Housc. If not jnoonnnatih1a .r;th tnn r,,,1;o
interests. The contition NJ tbr f,rts anf or..'
nals and other property at Char|estnn. 1 Whcth,r
any nleasurcs faya heSn tntrn N ~,
put them In condition. sinn,. # es 1..o,,n,. ,uu
evident that South Carolina has Intended It
secedc. What fr,on. 1ve-n thora th'',' a,s,, ~,
now; whether any ordera have been given Ito to
reinforce Fort Afoultric since + hSs l,ecu
seized By the insurgents. and what orf,rrs
hive been given to the officers, and whether
any vesscls OF war hayo been ordered tLrr,.
since the seizure of the same by the rebels
Mr. Branch objected to the rrcention of th.
resolution, Us the rules require that such calls
on the President for information sh,JI liz ovcr
one day.
The Speaker said that .M1. Bronch,s nofnt
was well takan. 80:
Mr.. Stevens moved suspcnsion ef the
rule.
The Speaker replied that the motion was not
now in order; an hour must first elapsc.
Mr.. Pryor offered the following:
g. h<so{reti, That any attempt to prcscrye tho
Union between tho States Of the Couft13cracy
by force, would BE- impraetieablc and d.
structiye to- Republican liberty.
He demanded the previous question, which
was ordered.
MI. Stanton moved to lay the subject on the
table
hs. Hill move 70 adjourn. lWant to put
down this resolution making business" It dis.
TRACTS me country:
". C1aWlord-1 ASK my colleague to with,
draw MS motion,
M, o4elnlan-1 previous question has
already necn ordered:
;, Ut. Iull-t want ~ tAc resolutions toncll.
lns tne conultlon ol tho country to have tic
same reference.
hr. sfanton-lt the gentleman will permit
me 70 ouer substitute, will Withdraw my
MOTION to lay the subject on thu fable.
-nf. dlnd1nan-1 hope the issue Will be
met directly, as certain newspapers aud ORA
to!s naEe teen talking about coercion.
alr: LII insisted OIL bis motion to adjourn.
!. some words Of no eScitlng character passed
Det"ceh MessFsv Barksdalc and McEiernand
The only words heard amid the confusion
we're, "shlrs'ng the question" The breeze
WAS not serious, aiid soon blew ovar.
Mt bafksdalc exclaimed, " We are ready to
meet you
Ia Ihe motion TO adjourn was ncEatised.
The question WIS lattcfly OH the motion to
tablc the resolution, when the name Of Val
lanlinhn1n was called. lie said " As this in
wolves thu direct question Of coercion, vote
no. lne resolution Wa5 tab}ed--yla4 ",
nays IS.
1lt- 5leFens called up Ills resolution Ahoy0
noticed.
Air. Stanton proposed 4 substitute. that the
Committee on Military Afllirs INQUIRE and ~.
port how, To whom, and that price, arms have
been distributed etncc january, 1850; and also
into the condition Of the forts arsnuals; dock
yards, &c, Of the country; whetLer thcy urc
supplied with adequate garfisous, and whether
any further measures arc required to protect
the public proper 3; and that the Committee.
have power 70 send for persons and papers;
aud that the Committee have power to rapo,r
at any time
Ar. Stevens refused to accept the substitute,
He wanted the President to speak Tor himself:
Mr.. Stevens,s question to suspend the r7,1e.
for the reception Of tile resolution WAS disa-
greed TO-, u against G2--not tWo-thirds>
Mr.. Stanton's substitute w4a adopted rs Al,
independent resolution.
Mr. Davis Of Indiana asked leave to offer a
preamble reciting thu secession ordinance Of
South Carolina and concluding with u r.solu.
tion inst1ucting tho Committee on tho Judi
cia1y to inquire into the san1c aud rppurt At
amy time what legislation, If any, las become
necessary On the lsa5t OF Congress in conse-
slucnce Of the position South Carolina has th,is
assumed. -, ..
Messrs. Loyejoy and Barkslalc scyerally OBJ
jectcd.
s1>''A "A AAt aA1ta.
80. .iV4n'ti "'s!eu 70 ol1er substitute as