Weekly standard., 1861-02-27
CONGRESSIONAL.


SESArE.--The usual number of memorials were
presented for and against coercion. Mr.. Seward
presented a memorial praying an enactment against
unmitigated scribbng. The Tariff bill was taken
up, but the debate thereon totally unmportant.
uoUsE.-Mr. Fenton introduced q resolution in ef
feet that the best means of suppressng the national
trouble is by a convention'of the whole people.
MIR. Stantons bill authorizing the President to &C.
cept volunteers, was resumed. Mr. Stanton said one
Of the two things is necessary must either admit
the right of secession or suppress it that the Fed
eral army amounts to only eighteen thousand men,
and sixty days must elapse before five thousand
could be concentrated here to protect the city, should
Maryland and Virginia secede.
MIR. Bocock said this was declaration of war,
and he appealed to those around him in favor of
preserving Southern rights to stand up in resistance
to the bill.
Mr.. Boteler thought that more efficient means
to dissolve the Union than this bill could not be de-
vsed
Mr. Hindman viewed tho bill as the very best
means to dissolve the Union.
Mr. Sckles said there was no occasion for the BILL
as Mr.. Lincoln had declared there was no danger
to any body.
Mr. Burnette said that bill involving such mo-
inentous consequences, ought to be discussed.
Great excitement prevailed throughout the pro-
ceedings. While the roll was being called, on Mr..
Winslow's motion to lay the bill on the table, sev.
eral members defined their opposition to the BILL
The House refused to lay the bill on the table by
vote of 6s to lO5 Pending the dscussiono Of the bill,
the committee of Thirty ythrees report taken up.
The naval appropriation amendments were consider
ed some were agreed to and others rejected. The
bill goes again to the Senate
WAsHrNGToN. Feb 81.
SEsATs.-ME Bragg presented the credentials Of
| Mr. Clngman, Senator elect for the next term.
| Mr. Hale's resolution to discontinue the postal
service in the seeded States was taken up.
Mr. Hunter said that if those States were in the
Union, Government had no power to deprive them
of their right under the Constitution to mail IA
| cilites He disliked the term "insurrection." 1t
looked like coercion and was the first step to war
and its unmitigatcd horrors If reconstruction was
impractcabIe the best step would be peaceabe sepa
| ration. -.
Mr.. Doolittle said this was not coercive mea-
sure but measure Of peace
Mr. Hunter was glad to learn that the Senator
from Wisconsin did not vote for this bill as coer
Give measure. He hoped that no party would com.
nit itself to such policy, but if such was not its
intention there was no need of the bill. ~a
Mr.. Fessenden defended the policy of the bill.
Mr.. Douglas thought The measure was one o.
peace. He believed that the offensive terms should
be stricken out He believed, too, that there were
as many dsunionists on. The Northern side As on
tic Southern side Of the Chamher-.and that th1ri
was plot to 6raak up the Union under the pretencs
tof Prsserving it ~ b
! At o'clock the Senate went into executive s.s
| sion. - .-,--sf a.s s,,-s s}31s.
HousE.-A statement Of the expenses Of the Wa,
| Department last year was laid before the House !,
| Mr.. Dawes, of Mass, from the Select Committee
reported resolution censuring the Secretary of tn,
Navy for accepting resignatons ef officers from tn
sspsaisg SaateR S ..Ili s>.e Is (.,ss :,