New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-10
XXXVITH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
SFNATE. .WAsnIsnrnr. Lan. Q. l9Gl.

| Convention TO form new Constitution and providing
for new fIeeldent and Congressnen, the assumption
OF National and state debts, acknowledging the rights
Of property Of the South, and acknowledging re-
auCe as nation in the Amight power for the perpe-
tity of the Union, and the prosperity peace, and hap
T. inees az a people.
NJ. SEWARD rep, N. Y.)presented the memorial
NJ the New-York Chamber of Commerce, asking the
e-tablishme.lt Of gse.m postal service between San
FIanci-co anG China Referred 10 the Committee on
Post OfIces and Poet Roads.
Mr. SEWARD also presented a memorial signed by
TIE moot prominent citxens in New-York City, con
corning the present state and future happiness OF the
Mon.
tie Presidents message.
Mr.. HUNTER Dem, Va asked that the resolu-
tons offered by him be made the special order for FIN
day. Agreed TO.
tie present difficulties between the States, which was
ordered 10 be printed.
Mr.. SLIDEIL Dem, La presented resolution of
inauiry-tlat the President Inform the Senate whether
John B. Floyd al present fills the Office Of Secretary Of
War if not who fill the Office and If the appoint
ment of actingor provisional Secretary has been made
and when and 10y what authority 1t was made, ana
Gated 10 the Senate Laid over.
Mr.. CLARK rep, n. H. presented the following
resolutions which he said he should offer as an amend
ent TO the resolutions of the Senator from kentucky
MIR. Crittenden), when it came up
Rored That the provisions Of the Constitution are ample for
Of the country that needs to be oeeed Ishef
than amended and eKiicscn from our present dlcues
pbc prcTery enforce the laws rather than in
for particular int rests or COMPROMISED OF CONCESSIONS TO
Reoed Thsi attempts dissolve the Union overthrow
@ SrIos and jusorS and in the opinion Of the
is prsccabe and therefore, 20 the
Of The IL % SSn snS Constitution should be directed ' n'
Tie resolutions were ordered TO be printed
MIR. BIGLER Dem, Pal presented slAty-fve me-
noriaIs OF citizens of Pennsy lyia asking that the
Cr,tenden resolutions be submitted 10 the people.
Mr.. SEWARD called for the reading of the Pres
ident's message, and 1t was read as follows:
10 tie Senate end Home 81 Repyeserf1href
AT the opening Of your preeent session, ] called
your attention the dangers which threatened the eX-
itence of the Union. | expressed my opinion freely
concerning the original OF these dangers, and
recommended such measures ar believed would have
The effect Of tranqUziDg the country, saving 1t from
tie peril in which il had been necdessy and most I'M
fortunately THROWN
1hoee opinions and recommendations do not pro-
poe now to repeat. My own convictions upon the
whole subject remain unchanged. The fact that n
great calamity was impending over the nation was
even al that time cknOw lodged hy every intelligent
citizen Ii lad already itself felt throughout the
lei 9Th and breadth Of the land. The necessary conse-
quences Of the alarm thus produced were most deplor-
ible. The imports fell OIL with rapidly never known
before except in the time Of war III the history oil
our foreign commerce. The Treasury was unexPeci-
eds lcft without means which It hal reasonably
counted upon 10 meet it, public engagements. Trade
was Iaralyzed, manufactures We're Stopped the
bet pnbic securities suddenly sunk IN
tie market, every species Of property depre-
ciaed more less, and tbousands Of poor men
who PENDED upon their daily labor for their daily
bread ere turned out Of employment. | deeply re-
pIet that Am able to give You information upon
the state Of the Union wi ch j. satisfactory than
what ] Wa then OBLIGED 10 communicate. On the con-
tIary, matters It'll worc At present Than they then
were. When Congress met a strong hope peryLded
tie whole public IaGd that auicable adjustment
Of the subject would bc spoo ily made by the Repre-
sebtativcs Of the States which might restore peace be
tween the conf citing sections Of the country. That
hOIe has been duini he'd by every hour OF delay, and
IN ibe prospect OF bloOdess settlement fades away,
the public diiress becomes and more aggravated
As an evidence OF tEis only necessary 10 say that
the Trcas ury uotes authorized BY the act OF the 1h Of
December last were advertised according 20 law, and
thai 40 responsible bidder offered 10 take any oOnsii-
cradle sun al par at lower ratio OF interest than IL
ptr cent From tle-e faots IL appean that IN Gov
errmeut organized lite ourf domestic strife, even
wellgTonnded fear Of civil hcstihles Il desiruc-
live public and private interests than the most orIni-
dable foreign war.
which have long Deliberately held, and which recent
reflection has only tended 10 deepen and confirm that
State has the night by It's Sn art To -eeede from
the Union or to throw or its Federal obligation at
pleasure. ] also declare my opinion ~ be that
even if that riyht existed, aud should be exer,sed
by any State Of the Confederacy, the Execn-
tive Department OF this Government had no author
ity under the Constitution TO recognize IT. valid
ity by acknowledging the Independence Of such state
Tls left alternative H. the chief executive
officer under tie Constitution OF the United States bn
10 collect the public revenue and protect IN" p1bhc
property 70 far ~ this might be practicable under exist
ing laws This Il still my purpose. Ny province - to
cXerue not TO make the laws IL belongs 10 Congress
exclusively TO reTeal, modify enlarge their provi-
sions to mt ct exigebcies they may occur. PosSess
no disueIsing power. | certainly had night 20 make
qggrefsive war upon ANY State aud am perfectly slt
sfed that the Constitution has wisely withheld that
power even from Congress.
Bnt the night aud the duty 10 use military force de-
fensivoy against thoee who resirt the Federal officer
n tie execution Of their legal functions and against
those " lO asau the property OF the Federal Govern.
men II clear and under liable But tie dangerous aud
hottie attitude Of the States toward eacu 0ther has
n eady far unscended and cast into the shade the
ordinary Executive duties already provided Tor by
law and has assumed such vast ana alarming proper.
fions ~ TO PLACE the eci entirely above and beyond
Executive control The fact csnnoi be disguised that
we ire IN lie midst Of great revolution Therefore,
/ commend the question 10 Congress az the only human
tribunal, under Providence possessing the power 10
meet tie existing emergency. To them exclusively
belongs he power 10 declare war, or TO authorize the
employment of military force IN All CDntemp lated
by the Constitution aud they alone possess the power
TO remove all tie grievance which might lead 10 war,
and TO secure peace and uuicn 10 this d racted con-
try On them, and them alone, resis the RESPONSE
blty. The Union h "a sacred trust left by our ReyO-
utOnaIy father for their descendants, and never di1
aIy oLer people inherit rich legacy. IL has rem
dereh us prosperous in peace and triumphant IN war;
TIE National Ang has ioated in glory every sea,
and under its SHADOW American citizens have FOUND
protection and respect in all lands beneath the sun
If sve descend 10 considerations OF purely ma,
terial interest, when, in the history of all
time has a Confederaey been bound together
by such strong ties OF mutual interest Each portion
Of il Is dependent upon hll aud all upon each portion
for prosperity aud dOmectic security. Free TRADE
tbro lbout the whole supplies the wants OF one por-
ton from tie productions OF another, AMI scaters
ueolb everywfere The great planting and farming