Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-02-14
Proceedings of Congress.

In the House, on the 9th, Mr.. Colfax Ind. J
vice. He said bke. Committee ca, Postal af-
fairs did not wish it thought, even by infer
ence, that they recognize the right of States
TO secede from the Union. After consulta-
tion, they had agreed on more general biz,
which provides mat whenever ih. the opinion
of the Postmaster General, the postal SER
vice cannot be safely continued, or Post Office
revenues collected, or the postal laws main
tained or the contents of the mails preserved
inviolate till delivered to the proper address,
on any post route, by reason Of any insurrec-
ton or resistance to the laws of the United
States, the Postmaster General is hereby au-
thorized to discontinue the postal service on
such route, or any part thereof. and at any
Post Office thereon till the same be safely
restored, and shall report his action to Con
gress. The bill passed, l3I to 26.
The speech Of Governor johnson, of Ten
nessee, in the Senate on the 5th, was most
mastery effort being characterized by great
boldness and decision. He stated that as far
back as Jackson's times, he had always al.
vocated the same doctrine-that notification
and secession are damnable political here
sy, which must end in the production of an
archy and despotfsm, and the destruction Of
the present existing free government lie
solemnly protested against it. Since his last
speech, he mas been attacked in and out of
the Senate, because he has been the first man
south of Mason and Dixon's line that had
struck treason blow. But his position was
the same now as then. He would not change
his opinions. lie then alluded to the soph-
isms of ex-senator Benjamin, contained in
his farewell speech, showing that louisiana
was sold to the people Of the United
States" 1t was not good will on the part of
Napoleon that induced him to sell Louisiana
for sixty millions Of francs. If he had not
done so England would have conquered it.
lie Was very severe and bitter on Ben iamin.
He asked of what wrongs Louisiana COM
planned. Was it because the brave sons of
Kentucky and Tennessee, under jackson, had
bled and fought for her delivery from for
eign enemy at the battle of New Orleans
Was it because we protected her sugar cult.
vation by paying millions of dollars every
year? She went out without even consulting
Kentucky and Tennessee, who defended her
He denounced as foolish outrage and a
folly, the capture by the seeding States, of
the United States forts and other property.
The seceders are arming because they arc
afraid something Iaigh4 be done that would
lead to reconciliation. They wanted to keep
their own people down. General Washing
ton had been the f.rst that executed and en-,
forced the laws. lie quoted then Mr.. Benja-
minis speech in San Francisco, which is very
strong for the Union. He also spoke of his
remarks against Douglas last winter, where
iu he (Benjamin) declares Mr.. Lincoln more
conservative than Douglas. His (Johnson's)
quotation from Senator Hunter as in opposi-
ton to secession, was rather a sharp cut as
that gentleman is now soul and body with
the seceders.
Gov. Johnson's speech is considered the
most bitter phillippic against secession that
has yet been made on the floor of either
House. lie was listened to with marked at
tention by Senators on both sides.