The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-13

SENATE.-W AIDE presented a petition to
stand by the Constitution.
Dixon presented petition in favor of the
Crittenden propositions.
Crittenden presented a petition of %, 200
citizens in Massachusetts in favor of his re-
solutions. He said he felt cheered by such
a voice from Massachusetts, showing their
devotion to the Union for which their an
cesters fought.
Sumner said if the signers knew what
the proposition was they would never have
put their names to the petition. The pro-
position goes beyond the Breckenridge plat
form and joint guarantees of slavery in the
Constitution which the trainers of that in
strument never gave. He said Crittsnden' 5
propositions drew II black line at go so,
protecting slavery below, and robbed the
c0lored citizens of the state of Massachu
sets Of their franchise. lie should have
expected that petitions of true lovers
of the Union would have asked two things:
First, that the Constitution as administered
by our fathers be preserved intact. Sec
ond, that the verdict of the people last No
vember by which Lincoln was elected, be
enforced That is the ground on which
every loyal citizen can stand. The time
for compromise Is past, and difficulties must
Dt StlttCt4 liVW Oii CA ilifthNhb IAb4Sil'tN tAhA
not by the abandonment of principle. He had
heard the voice of the people GO forth few
days since, when the forts at the South were
surrendered, and especially when it was
feared Sumter would be surrendered. He
would appeal to the people now when the
proposition. to surrender. He would
surrender nothing, and would not have q
substitution of compromise for principle.
Crttenden said he supposed the signcrs
Of the petition were intelligent men. He
had presented propositions as n basis OF
peace Why had not gentlemen offered to
amend
Sumner thought them wrong-every
word and line.
Crittenden.-Had the gentleman no prop
osition to make
Sumner-Yes, the Constitution as adj
ministered by Washington.
Enthusiastically did he not move that,
then
Sumner said-he had voted for the resolu-
ton of the Senator from n. H., which ex-
pressed his idea.
The hour arrived for the special order
The yeas and nays were taken for postpon-
ing and carried, % TO 81.
/ Crittenden continued. He appealed tl
/ Senators TO stand by the Union-not plat
/ forms All compromises seemed to be re-
! jected He believed something must bt
done or the country would not be safe. He
| could not see how men can come here anC
talk business when the Union was il
danger.
Sumner said the Senator from Kentucky
was not aware of his own popularity il
Massachusetts and of the willingness Of tht
people to approve his (Crittenden's) nam
which they so much respect, when if they
had examined the proposition they woulC
reiectit The Senator intimated that til
propositions were not applicable to terrific
ry hereafter acquired
Crittenden said he did nos consider it es
sential.
Sumner-The Senator from Kentuck
voted for the proposition to print it.
Crittenden was understood to say if tha
amendment was not acceptable he woul
recede.
Clark got the floor.
; Cameron moved to postpone till Monday
Adopted,
The naval bill was taken up.
Green made a strong speech against til