The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-02-06
Congressional.
W,oh;urt,, Tan 40

| washington, Jan. 81.
sEN,rE.-NTr. Seward presented monster
petition from the citizens OF N. Y for the pas
sage of ENTHUSIASTICALLY the border
resolutions. The petition is signed by 81, 900
people, and is 100 feet long.
/ In the course of his remarks he said he had
been asked to support this petition. He had
not found, though anxiOusly waited for, that
manifestation Of temper on the part of the peo-
| pie and representatives Of the country which
would justify him in saying the seeding States,
or those who sympathize with them. have made
propositions which citizens Of the adhering
States would be acceptable and satisfactory to
the other party. He had thought it his duty to
hold himself open and ready for the best ad
justment that could be practically made. lie
had, thdrefore, been obliged to ask the petit
TONERS to be content with the assurance that he
would express to the public and the Senate that
the spirit in which they come is positively com.
mendable. 1t was gratifying to him to see =
proper spirit-a spirit OF iratcrnal kindness, of
Cancellation and atIection--adopted by large
portion OF his fellow.citizens OF the State where
he belong.
! have asked them also in return for per.
forming my duty Oh this occasion, when they
! arrive hence, that they will act in the same
spirit, and manifest their devotion to the Union
above all other interests and sentiments, by
speaking for the Union, by voting for the
Union, and If it should be demanded, lending,
even giving their money for the Union. and
fighting in the last resort for tie Union, taking
care that speaking always goes before voting;
voting goes before giving money, and all 60 be.
fore battle, which l should regard hazardous
and dangerous. and therefore the last, as it
would be the most painful measure to be re
sorted to for the salvation OF the Union
This is the spirit in which l determined for
through it, as J sincerely believe, We shall pass
through it. For although this great co,itro-
versy is not already settled, do not therefore
any less calculate upon and expect it will be
settled, and settled forever,
do not expect the Union will be firmly re-
established in so days. But my confidence
remains that rs have not believed the pas
sion and freely Of the opposition, however, can
overturn this great Fabric of constitutional lib
erty and empire in 80 days SO have felt sure
there will be time even after the expiration Of
30 days for the restoration of all that has been
lost, and the re establishment of all that is in
danger Secession or revolution on one side
and coercion or defiance on the other, are all to
pass away before the Union. which is TO become
the grand absorbing object of interest and at
lection and duty upon the part OF the citizens Of
the United States. ...a.
| Abiding to the question Of slavery in Ter.
ritorcs, which had been vital one for twelve
years at least, he said the admission of Kansas
settled all that was vital or important in IL,
leaving behind nothing but passions which the
contest engendered. Kansas is admitted into
| the Union, California and Oregon into the
Union. and now the same contest distracts this
Union as before. The extent of the territory
after the admission of Kansas is ,063, 500
square miles, area "a times that or the State of
New York--.4 States such rs New York are
yet to be organized Now, under what IL &C
ccptcd by the Administration as judicial de-
cree. every inch OF that territory is slave ter
| ritory. .aa.-
He spoke of the decree, not as he accepted
| it, tut rs eniorced by the existing Administra-
ton over a considerable portion. The slave
code made by the government, created by Con.
eress, is enforced. How many slaves are there
in it Twenty.iour African slaves He had
followed this thing in .ood faith, with zeal and
energy, but confessed he had no ie IRIS of slave.
ry. wherein the peculiar condition of things
which has existed, slavery had succeeded in
planting only one slave upon every $4,000
square miles OF territory. THIS, THEN
CEASES TO BE THE PRACTICAL
QUESTION
| In lieu comes up the the great aud vital ques.
ton, union or dissolution Of the country, or no
country. The question Of hope the question
OF sinking forever under the contempt of man
kind. Why then should he despair, tnat
great people, (thirty miiio,'s) will be unable to
meet the crisis. He had no fear. This is a
Coniederacy, not in empire 60, crnment, Or
government OF single State. 1t is IA Confed.
cracy-d"penGent upon the imperial consent OF
| all members. and subject to dissolution by their
own actions. But that consent is to be always
taken by virtue Of original assent. and held,
until the form preserve by the Constitution it,
self, and in time and manner. and with all the
| conditions which the Constitution prescribed,
those who constitute the Union shall declare
that it shall be no longer. hirty days, sixty
days. ninety days, given us by the di>unionists,
may not be enough for their policy and pur.
poses He trusted that there may be time
enough for the aims and purposes OF the Union.
God grant it may. Not that this controversy
will be settled just rs our fathers did, hen
they formed the Constitution, Ivy submitting it
to the p ope of the United States, in conven
tons called according to forms Of the Consti-
tuition, and manners prescribed by law. Mason
saw after all else, the recommendation of the
Senator, is battle and blood What then is to
save the Union ?
| The Union is broken Is there no Union in
the co n,ry? Mr.. Seward said he was not sur
prised that the Senators from Virginia ds,,.
creed. The Senator sees Il discovered country.
4
ny in the Union and the Senator from Virginia.
He was in the Union or out Seats are here,
Union, here, States here. He hud contcmpat.
ed fighting, because he knew treason, North or
| South, mi1h arm against the Union.
| MIR. Mason said he wanted to place before the
| American people the fact that the Senator
proposes as remedy. War. He has presented
an argument of tyrant force; compulsion as the
only resort. He takes no notice OF the com.
munities claiming to have resumed sovereignty
and arc now completely out OF the Union. He
wanted Virginia not to be hoodwinkcd by the
cry Of peace when there was no peace. He
trusted to the good sense OF the people Nor:h
ana South to repudiate the counscls OF the Sen.
| ator.
| Seward was amazed at the deluson Of the
! Senator from Virginia. He made speech
specific and fraterllal. The Senator makes it a
declaration of war. He did say nothing but
what was in a speech which simply proposed
speaking Tor the Unon-yotng for the Union,
| giving money for the Union and Constitution,
| from and after, all other things were exhaust.
ed; then, stand by the old flag, and if it must
fall, to be wrapped in its folds
Mr.. Mason said he was speaking for Virginia.
She could never remain in the Confederacy un.
preservation of her rights. He was not willing
to submit the question to the mass of the Amer
lean people. but the Constitution recognized
the people Of the States
Mr.. Douglas desired peace ard the maintain.
ancc Of the Union, but il that failed, was in
favor Of anything that the Senator from Vir-
ginia proposed. He was panied when the gen
tleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr. Camcron.)
made a large advance towards Cancellation. He
seemed to be repelled by the Senator from Vir-
ginia, when he said he wanted no coercion.
He was applanded by the Senator from New
Hampshire (Hale) he was panied also when
the Senator from New York, this morning, was
met in sucl, a spirit MS If he feared moderation
| would prevail There seemed to be concert