The Placer herald., 1861-08-10

they would be satisfied with the Crttenden COM
promise. But all efforts were refused, and now
any offers OF peace are ruled out of order in
one House and it is vain and idle to argue for it,.
lie wanted to let the country know that Con-
gress deliberately refused the last effort to avert
the horrors of an internal struggle. But why
utter words? | shall trouble the Senate no lon
ger. | know that 10 argument or appeal will
have any effect. have cherished all my life an
attachment to the Union OF these States under
the Constitution of the United States, and |
have always revercd that instrument as one OF the
wi,est OF human works, but now it is put aside
by the executive of the Unit ed States. and those
acts are about to be approved by the Senate and
see proceedings inau gurated which. i'll my opin-
ion, Will lead to the subverson of the Constltu-
ton and public liberty. 1t is in vain to oppose
it. am aware that, IN the present temper Of
Congress. one might as well oppose his uplifted
hand TO the descending waters Of Niagara as to
risk an appeal against these contemplated pro-
ceedings The few of us lett can only look with
sadness on the melancholy drama being enacted
before us. We can only hope that this flash Of
frenzy may not assume the form of chronic
madness, but that Divine Providence may pre-
serve for US and fot posterty, out of the wreck
OF a broken Union, the priceless principles of
constitutional lib rty and elfgovernment.
Mr.. Lane (Rep.) of Indiana said he wanted to
know if the President had not saved the country
by prompt action. He sanctioned all done and
10 be done when our victorious columns shall
sweep treason from Old Virginia. The Presi-
dent had suspended the writ OF habeas corpus,
and he only regretted the corpus Of Baltimore
treason had not been suspended at the same time.
Suppose the Senator from Kentucky had been
elected President. would he have refused to de-
tenl the Capitol when he found that armed re-
bellon was endcav oring to capture iH lie be-
licved not. He proceeded to allude to the seiz-
ure OF the telegraphc dispatches, severely com
mented upon as a usurpotion of power by the
Senator from Kentucky. The seizure would be
necessary perhaps to implicate certain Senators
on this floor. He had read this day in paper
that certain Senator had telegraphed that Pres
idcnl Lincon's Congress would not be allowed
to meet here on the 4th of July.
Mr.. Breckenridge said he supposed the Senator
alluded to him.
Mr. Lane replied that he did.
Mr. Breckinridge replied that his personal re-
lations with the Senator precluded him from be-
lieving that he would do anything OF the kind;
but he had to say that the statement that he sent
such dispatch was totally untounded. He
would not pretend to deny all the charges made
against him in the papers He had attempted it
once, but found the charge reiterated in the same
journal the second day after he had expressly
denied it. He would say however. now, that the
statement that he had telegraphed Mr. Jefferson
Davis or written him that Kentucky would fur
nsh him with 1000 armed men was, like other
cnlfSeS, totally IllSe. Anu he nau Deen informed
by the Governor of Kentucky that the charge
in respect to him was equally alsc.
Mr.. Lane then proceeded to defend the sup
preston OF certain trtorous newspapers, dis
arming the people in rebellion. and other acts
which the Senator from Kentucky deemed to be
Allusions had been made to
the compromise Of last session. but he would only
say that none was made because of traitors who
occupied the now vacant seats. All that they
asked now was the Kentucky remedy for treason
hemp.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, (Rep) Of Massachu
sctts, the subject was postponed till Thursday.