, 1861-01-11
GENERAL cAss RESIGNED.
the PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL PASSED.
SOUTH CAROLINA GOES OUT.
miscellaneous Tte1a1s
From the Alta California, Dec. 20.

ElOm ehe AHA SGllOIuAI OeO. AOs
ST. Louis, Dec. 4.
Both Houses of Congress met on the
Sd, aud adjourned on the same day at On
early hour, after simply organizing.
A Joint committee waited on the Presi-
dent, consisting of Messrs. Bigler, Mason,
and Collamer, of the Senate, and More
head and others not named, Of the Hnuse
But one member from Carolina, and Scott,
of California, absent. =
In the Senate to-day, Gwin took his seat.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE AND SECESSION.
The Presidents Message was received
and read in both Houses. 1t makes eight
columns in the Constitution newspaper.
The President reviews the history of the
anti-slavery movement; says that all that
is necessary to accomplish the object Of the
slaVeholding States is to be let alone to
manage their domestic institutions in their
own way. The mere election Of any man
to Office does not justify a dissolution Of
the Union. The anteCedents Of the Pres
ident elect are calculated to excite feeling
10 South Carolina, but the question of con-
tingent dangers does not sufficiently Justify
the destruction of the Government.
The President reviews the acts Of differ
ent Northern States in their passage Of
Personal Liberty bills, and pronounces
them unconstitutional. He says that it
should not be presumed, in advance, that
the President elect will fail to enforce the
Fugitive Slave law, as this would be un-
just and contrary to Christian charity.
Let US wait, says the President, for the
overt act.
He declares against the right" Of se.
cession, and says that to admit it the Un-
ion must be broken into fragments in less
than two weeks. he quotes the language
of Jackson and Madison on the point.
The secession movement was founded alto.
gether on inference, not on calculation.
Tue Union was designed to be perpetu-
ated. he quotes the Constitution in sup
port Of this view. The trainers Of the
Constitution never intended to plant 10 its
bosom seeds for its own destruction. They
we're not guilty Of tho absurdity Of proVi
ding for :ts own dissolution. The right OF
resistance against tyranny and oppression
however, cannot be denied. The right is
asserted in the Declaration Of Independ-
ence; but secession is neither more nor less
than revolution.
He speaks Of affairs in South Carolina.
He does not apprehend that an attempt
will be made to seize Fort Moultrie, but
says that II 10 this he is mistaken, officers
have orders TO act strictly on the defensive,
and let the responsibility rest on the heads
Of those who provoke the contest,
The President gives it as bis opinion
that Congress has no power, by force Of
arms, to compel State to remain in the
Union. He quotes Mr.. Madison upon that
point. If we possessed the power be does
not believe it would be e1pedient to exer-
else it. We could not force q recreant
State to elect Senators and Representa-
tives. In q fraternal conflict, blood and
Treasure would be expended, rendering fu-
ture reconciliation between the States i'm
possible.
He considers the bred Scott decision as
settling the question Of slavery in the Ter
ritories, and that Territorial governments
have no mower to abolish Il within their
;nr;sd;ctinn
m,
UDion-the prosperity Of the nation under
1.-THE character it has given our people
10 eTeLy par =, sIs S,Sr :" ,So So =" q
.uo OloES y, o1I hnnn. H. ,ho @ uooo poooh y
.uo .u "EI - ~ .ps ,;" - of d;.soIn
,;on I ws sbolI recoiI win horror from the
fstai nInnge Congress can contribute
nncb N arrest II nv recommending to the
ssVeraI States the remedy for existing
tronbles which the Constitution itself has
nro,ided ror its own preservation. This
remedy is bv amending the Constitution so
az ~ 1rovide-
os.L. .;.L,
ISL AN eAPIc.t reeos . W.. ST.. ~ s"V rSsrs
OF properly III Ha'eS - - ~" Io1saS,or 80,
slavery now exists or may ;;,r n0 tSia 80, T ~
"a. Inc uuty Ti P,oses s",J ~ -. ~
Ill the common klIOukuOub LUClt