Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-05
Tblrtv.sixth CONGRESSIONAL Session
THURSDAY, JANUARY 81, 1861.
q.

SENAlE.
Mr., Seward presented memorial from IS, 600 citl-
zens OF the State otNew York, and SAID tn't al'us
the Senate chamber the lurgest Legislative Gii'
Der ovcr erected since the beginning OF tnc "o.u,
cept the House of representatives, ti!s ine'io H.;
would cover 4 space thirty times US large rs ti'i'
chamber He had already presented n similar mem
orial with 5000 names, all urging conei!ialion.
committee who brought this memorial were tiG ~
representatives. OF the largest commercsm the "or," -
Il commerce which in any other country "o"iu - =;
paramount 10 all other interests. Happily mere i
was not So -.
He had been requested to support the views OF TINS
memorial and regretted that ne had seen no dSPosl
ton on tho part OF the seeding States AID lhe't
friends to meet any practicable effort ~ compromise
on tue part OF the adhering States. He, however,
held himself open 10 such propositions, aud was re-
jniced at the frnterna feeling manifested by the peo-
pie OF his State in those neuiorals lie did not lear
for the Union, nor did he believe the difficulties
would ccrluInly DC settled in thirty, sixty or ninety
days; but nevertheless lie believed they would be set
tied. AL platforms men that stood in the WAY ol
the preservation OF the Union would DC swept away.
The question OF slavery or freedom III the Terrific
rics had been greatest III 1880 The admission oI
KANSAS, California and Oregon had reduced the qnes
ton to very narrow eornpnss. In that part which
remained, all being slave territory, over which II
sluve code extended, there were but twen'y-i"1r
slavcs-but one for every 1900 square miles.
| lie did not fear slave aggression which had only
carried slaves all that territory. WHY,
| then should he despair oi the Union: Why, could
he believe tha; thirty millions OF people would
uce themselves To the scorn Of mankind by the dis
solution Of this Union for this question! This WAS
| Il confederation, not al imperial government SUB
nit the question to q convention 10 be called accord
inn 70 tn. of the Constitution, and the world
would how ,hiry-iour States could peacefully adj
Just this difficulty lie urged a. last resort, other
! means iucd. the calling OF = national convention ac-
eordiur 10 the constitutional forms. lie concluded hr
saving that he had advised the gentlemen composing
the committee who had brought on tue memorial 10
20 home and speak for tile Union, vote tor the lnion
! 10 contribute THUR money 70 preserve the unInm-
and, when all other eXpedent, failed, TO light for the
! Union.
| Mr. Mason moved that the memorial lie printed
| He understood it to be memorial praying Tor Tie
adoption Of the Crtteuden amendments lie did not
think that this time, when six Slatra had sccedrd
and others were ur:ng, the premier OF the new ad-
ADMINISTRATION had PROPOSED any practical measures
All knew by his votes his opinion on the Grittendcn
| amendments, and by his vote for Clark ) resolution
that the Constitution needed no amendments, but
that the Constitution aud laws should be cniorcc't.-
He MIR. Seward had urged his constituents 10 CO..
tribute money 10 the Union. lie would like 10 know
| the nIcaliing OF that. :,
advance 10 the Union funds by which tho credit OF
| the government should NOW be Sustained.
Mr. Mason said that lie had hot done hin the i'll
Justice suppose that lie meant the money TO 'GosI-
| L!ize or drIllrraze any portion VI the South lie
| meant to ya" the army 20 conduct the tight.
Mr. Seward said lie lneant to ADVISE that NJ after
ali Congressional compromises. the assembling ui
convention of all the people OF The United States had
failed then for nil 10 stand, le should 10 hiulsei,
III the breach Tor the Union.
Mr. Mason said hc nov understood the Senatur.-
lie meant if negotiations failed. ~ Use war AMI
i,lvoi-L.I 70 preserve tile Union. The Union w"s
gone and no attempt Al suugat!" could RESTORE i.
lie wanted his pr"p lr, wh3 were ihe'!iatils 10 re-
store Il broken Cnou. H. understand these things
Mr. Seward said he meant nVtr. that Wis ntIr-
hutrd 10 him by the Senator tr":t rru!a. lie ia
not believe that hloodshcd woGIL be necessary lie
believed the people would settle it. The luIvn was
not zone for the Senator WIS here 10 sustain L..
Sir. Mason said TIL: Remarks OF :ho Senator in favor
Vi coercion would uuiccevc virginia. uni sli"" her
TINT nll this talk about compromise and CONCESSION
amounted to nothing. Money a!ld war was the thing
the North looked 10. He would speak without angry
emotion Men the eve OF measuring swords
should comport themselves a. gentlemen. lie trusted
that they might avoid the ultima rat'o and That tile
ndy.re OF tho Senator from New York would be re-
iec;ei II there 10 be confederation Of South
arn States lie trusted that they might he permitted
10 separate peace lie hoped that the good sense
humanity. civilization ind regard for unborn os-
trrity, would lead the people VI both sections 10 re-
punte the couuscls Of the Senator from New \ ork
The first Efforts OF those desiring peace should DC
10 prevent collision, which Was HOW imminent
The counsel OF the Senator from New ork was, that
tho coplu Ut the Nort. should SPEAK Tor the Cn!on
va; Tor the Onion. contribute their money Tor the
preservation Of the Cnioa ard fight Tor the ln!on
Now, for the first time 1t siadnwed forth That
the cry of the Republican leaders would DC iorcc
lorr. force :" He hoped this would open the eyes
of the South to what shu mi ht expect il the North
did not rcpmdnte these cOun6e!s, aud civil war ELL
sued after Years Of dcvastn,lon military dcspot!.
would hc the result.
Mr. Seward wns s,tvnishud n; the sclf-delusion Of
The Senator from Virginia, who had made ont OF
speech pacific and irat.rnn, declaration vi war
He wished the Union saved ly the pacific and COR
.,tutnnal action Of the people, and hnd spoken OF
orcc is the last resort, when every other cHpedient
tf. hal linz hos
and consider all propositions and was still willing 80
to DO New York stood ready 10 do likewise, and
settle The question peuccuh", without resort to the
sword When all efforts fie'l 10 satisfy the Intense
-eccss0nist-, i'll whose interests the Senator from
Virginia seemed tn SPEAK, lie would appeal 20 the
States say whether for twenty-lour negro SLAVES
this great government was to TO destroyed
Mr. Mason denied that he spoke for any other III
trrcst tlnn that Of Virginia. and there VIA no author
itv Tor the Senator's statement
Mr. Seward aFologized. He bad meant nothing
offensive.
SIR. Cameron asked VIVA, Maryland and virginia
wanted
Sir, Mason sud the demands Of Virginia were cx-
pressed III the resolutions Of her Legislature now
brtn.e the Senate. He made some nIiualon To dis
patches sent BY Mr. Dougla, to Wright saying that
4 settlement would be reached.
Mr Douglas said lie had only expressed his views
when asked by VirginianI. Everything dcpcndcd
on the action uf Virginia and the border States. X
Wa very clenr the Senator from virginia had one OBJ
cct in view and he another. He was for saving the
Union BY t,ir and honorable adjustment, hut had
seen nothing in the action Of the Senator from n
ginia ookin. tu such result. lie had repealed the
advances made bv the Senator from Pennsy lvaa md
had been nppuu,icd by the republicans for his dccar-
ation tina, the South wished no concession. The Sc
ceSsionts and republicans cnncdcd in their efforts TO
destroy the Government, and acted in concert.
Sir. Mason.-"Do You mean that we consult
Mr. Douglas -"Certnnly not lle then remarked
that by tho refusal OF Southern Senators to vote the
Clark substitute adopted i'll lieu Of the Crtten-
den resolutions.
Mr. johnson OF Arkansas, said he conll not per-
init that statement to 60 abroad without correcting IT,
As compromises not adopted by ma orliy Of both
parties in the Senatc would he USELESS following tho
action of the committee OF thirteen. certain Southern
Senators remained passive 10 what the either side
would do. They had nj, without solitary exception,
voted against the Crittrndcn resolves. That tine
fact and he did not wish the Senator 10 send the
icccptivc Statements abroad that Southern Senators
mad acted in wth tho republicans. tAppause
in the galleries.
Mr. Douglas. said he could not know the motives Of
individual Senators. lie only knew the refusal 9i
certain Of them vote caused the adoption OF Carks
substitute and, upon thai, dispatches were seut South
tina: there was no hope.
Mr.. JUhnson.-IEGrc WAS no deception IN That
there is 10 hole.
Mr. Douglas said he would never despair of tile
Union. War could only lead to disunion md hnai
dissolution. He saw no reason why tHv difficulty
could not be adjusted.
The Senator IRON New York had shown that tia
Government had been in the hands OF the South Tor
twelve yearS and yet in tina; Time had only planted
twenty -four slaves in all the territories. Tint showed
that slavery could be carried III opposition 10 ma
;urnl laws Why then seek to break up the Union
on al abstraction Of no practical vaIuet a simple
clause in the Constitution inrbiIng Congress 10 in
t-r-rn with slavery in the States or Territories ~o"d
close tho whole controversy.
Mr. Dousus oiierot mn amendment to the bill or
ganzinc the Territory OF Idaho, and It wHs order
ed TO be printed
On motion Of Mr. Latham the special order va,
postponed until Tomorrow, at one i. VI.
Mr. Tale expressed his surprise at the remarks Of
the Senator from Illinois, regard to the approLu
ton he manifested at tic remarks Of the Senator
of Virginia lie approved the sentiments of that
Senator because he said that the people OF Virginia
only wanted the Constitution, aud demanded no con-
cca-IVn.
Hr Mason said the South asked Tor no concession
That WAS the terru Used aud implied gratuity TO