The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-08
XXXVl Congressional Session.
WASHINGTON.

NJ ?
WASHINGTON, Feb. %.
SENATE.-Mr. King presented number
Of petitions signed by several thousand per-
sons, in favor of the Constitution as it is and
the enforcement of the laws. 6 aos
Mr.. Foster presented several petitions in
favor of the border state resolutions.
Mr.. Lane reported from the Committee
OF Conference on the Oregon war debt bill,
that the Senate agree to the House amend>
ment, with an amendment making the
amount paid $2,400,00O, and allowing the
auditor to receive additional evidence in re-
gard to supplies furnished, and that the
Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to
pay the claimants in the bonds of the United
States. The report was agreed to. Z
Mr.. Trumbull presented the credentials
of Mr.. Lane, Senator elect from Indiana.
Mr.. TrumbuIl reported from the commit
tee appointed to wait on the President and
Vice President elect.
Mr.. Lincoln said:
With deep gratitude to my countrymen
for their mark Of confidence and with great
distrust of my ability to perform the duties
even in favorable circumstances, now rem.
dered doubly difficult under the existing
troubles, I rely on the strength of our own
free government and the ultimate loyalty Of
the people to the just principles on which
it is formed, and above all with mistaken
faith in the Supreme ruler of nations. &C.
cept this trust, and shall be pleased to sig.
Nifty my acceptance to the respective Hous.
es of Congress.
Mr.. Hamlin said: "Please communicate
to the two Houses of Congress my accept
ance of the trust confided in me by a gen.
erous people, even when the position was
neither sought nor desired. I am truly
gratifed for the confidence reposed in me,
and deeply sensible Of the obligation i'm
posed. 1t shall be my earnest effort to dis.
charge my duty in such manner as shall
subserve the interests of the whole country"
The Appropriation Bill was taken up
the amendments of the committee of
finance being under consideration.
WASHINGTON, March l.
SENATE.-Mr. King presented the petit
ton OF a German Republican Club, of Syr.
acuse, for tie Union and against compro.
mise also number OF other petitions Of
the same character.
Messrs. Ten Eycke and Trumbull pre-
scented petitions for the Union and consti-
tuition as it is and the enforcement of the
laws.
Mr.. Bigler presented large number of
petitions for the Union, and against COM
promise with rebellious States, or any ex-
tension of slavery; also petition for the
relief of Kansas.
Mr.. Crittenden presented petitions from
citizens OF several States asking for meas
ures of peace and the preservation of the
Union. Several private bills were passed,
HoUsE.-Mr. Phelps from the committee
of ways and means, reported bill which
was passed, regulating the value of new
silver coin OF Austria, in custom house COM
putations.
Mr.. Wsshburn OF Illinois, moved to post
pone the oil! reported by the committee of
SO, until the 4th of July. The Speaker
said the subject would not come up for an
hour
Mr.. Ely unsuccessiully asked for an ex-
tension to Mr.. Sibley's contract of the Spe-
ciic Telegraph Line till 1868, for compile
ton OF same. The House then considered
Senate's amendment to army bill.
The following is continuation of the
proceedings of the Senate, on the I'd. Our
last published Congressional was frag-
mentary abstract of Fridays proceedings.
We have neither head nor tail of what fol
lows. The Senate must have been discus
sing some of the peace measures.
WASHINGTON, March 2.
SENATE.--The discussion was continued
for some time between Messrs. Mason,
Douglas and Pugh.
Mr.. Morrill, disclamed even the belief,
on the part of any body OF men at the
North, that Congress has the right to in
terfere with slavery in the States. The
Senator from Kentucky says that the whole
difficulty is in regard to the Territory of
New Mexico. If that be so, it is really
no difficulty at all but here is PROPOSE.
ton to amend the Constitution, by recog,
nizing slavery, and it is that against which
lie protests.
Mr.. johnson said the conservative men
III tue soutn, nau Deen OVerpOWered, and
usurpation had triumphed. The stars and
stripes had been changed and palmetto, pel-
lean and rattlesnakes run up He closed
with an eloquent appeal for the flag of our
Union, expressing his trust that it would
ever wave over the land of the free, and de-
clariDg that Tennessee would remain in the
Union. Applause in galleries as be closed)
The chair ordered the galleries cleared.
"A few Kisses followed, when the whole
crowd rose, bursting into most tumultuous
applause, yelling, and the shouting culmi-
mating in three terrific cheers for the Union.
The greatest excitement prevailed. The
chair ordered the sergeant-at-arms to arrest
any one causing the disturbance. In
short time the galleries were cleared, the
doors locked and the Senate proceeded with
its business.
Mr.. Crittenden moved that when they