Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-24
THIRTY. SIXTH CONGREsS-secoud Session.
WAsHISGroS, Jan. %, 1851.
OIfhr ms

the country. Also another memorial signed by eighteen
thousand citizens Of New York in favor of compromise
and concession. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Salisbury presented the resolutions OF the State
of Delaware directing her Senators and Rel resenatves
to use their best efforts for the passage Of the Crittenden
resolutions other means of preserving the Union
Ordered to be printed
Mr. Biger presented petitions asking the passage Of
Mr.. Crittendens resolutions Also the proceedings OF
several meetings in Pennsylvania.
The Vice-Presdent said that there no record on
the Journal of the absence of any Senator'S and he had
no official notification of the fact OF Absence the names
of all being still called on the roll. He would like the
Senate to instruct whether he should recognize their
absence.
Mr. Salisbury contended that retiring Senators had
right at any time to come back and vote.
Mr.. Douglas could not admit that they had any such
power They could not recall their act OF resignation,
and could only this chamber by the courtesy OF
the body.
Mr. Benjamin denied that the seeding States were in
the Union. The fact that they were out, and the
federal government had no power within their limits
The official record should show that certain Senators had
resigned and left the body and he offered preliminary
motion that the journal be corrected as to show that
fact.
Mr.. Seward was in favor of allowing the seeding
Senators return in their good pleasure. lie hoped
the day would not be far distant
Mr. Fessenden thought the action of the Secretary
entirely irregular and OF no legal effect Their with
drawa however was tanamount TO areSignaton though
they had observed the usual form. Ii the Legisa-
ture of Mississippi were to elect two new Senator'S and
the old Senators to return which were entitled to
seats would depend upon the fact whether or not any
resignation had been mades they said that in con-
sequence of the action of their States they were long
err members of this body This however, constituted
resignation as much though they had used the precise
words.
Mr. Hunter did not understand that the Senators had
resigned and the Senate should not treat their action
They had withdrawn because their States had withdrawn
the authority by which they sat here If he thought as
some gentlemen did, that the States had no right to
withdraw then it would be competent to compel their
attendance by the sergeant-atarms. He thought how
ever the vacancies on the committees might be filed.
The President said he should consider himself in
sructed to fiji the vacancies upon the committees.
Mr. Beplmn's resolution read 1t proposed to
enter upon the journal of yesterday the fact that the Sen
ators from Mississippi Alabama and Florida had with
drawn because their States had assumed the powers
which they had delegated to the Federal Government.
Mr. Douglas offered substitute, simply stating the fact
that certain Senators had withdrawn
Mr. Seward thought the discussion Improbable, and
moved to lay the whole subject on the table.
Mr.. Douglas thought they had better settle the ques
ton at once 1t might arise before the close of the day
upon the question Of determining what constituted
quorum.
Mr. Baker did not believe any Of the States had a
right 10 secede He accepted the withdrawal of the Sen
receive the Senators back unless they reelected
He did not recognize secession in any way.
Mr.. Mason said he thought it would be necessary TO
correct the journal before they could transact business
The facts of the case should 60 upon the journal.
Mr. Douglas agreed that they could not exclude facts
from their proceedings The Of the retiring Sen
ators were not properly proceedings of the body They
should 60 upon the record for many OF their state
ments were not in accordance with the truth OF history
The subject having been debated at some length
I . - l. o. follo
Yeas-Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Biger, Bingham,
Chandler, Clark Collamer Crittenden, Dixon, DoOte,
Durkee Fessenden Fitch Foot, Foster, Grimes, Twin,
Hale, Harlan Johnson of Tenn, King, Latham Morrill,,
Salisbury, Seward, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck Thomp-
son, Wade, Wilkinson and Wilson-32.
Nays-Messrs. Benjamin, Bragg, Bright, Clingman,
Douglas Green Hempbl, Hunter, Iverson, Johnson of
Ark, Kennedy Lane, Mason, Nicholson, Pearce Polk,
Powell Rice Sebastian, Sde, Trumbull and Wigfall-
-.
Mr. Powell, of Ky, made a lengthy speech in support
OF the resolutions He thought difficulties not
from any defect in our institutions but from wild and
reckless spirit which prevailed For the first forty years
OF our national existence the rights Of all sections were
respected but since 1920 increasing warfare had been
made upon the institutions OF the South. Mr. Powell
went into a lengthy narrative Of the grievances of the
South and in the course OF bis remarks charged that
Ohio had in refusing 10 give up fugitive from justice,
violated her constitutional obligations.
Mr. Wade denied the statement and called for specific
allegations.
Mr.. Powell said the Senator'S colleague had admitted
the fact and the specifications had time and again been
furnished He proceeded 20 charge the President elect
with being in favor of excluding slavery from the Terri
teries and opposed to the admission OF more slave
States.
Mr.. Trumbull denied that the latter charge was
rect and read from Mr.. Lncons speeches in 1858 to
show il.
Mr.. Powell said if he had done any injustice to the
President elect he would correct the statement. But il
made very little difference, as is WAS not denied that he
wished to exclude slavery in the Territories and if that
was done there could be more slave States Referring
to the doctrine OF coercion, he said it uncOnsu
tional Coercion was war, aud war was dissolution. He
was opposed TO the action of South Carolina being
bastv and had hoped that she would have taken counsel
with the other Southern States and united with them in
A unanimous demand upon the North. But she had
acted otherwise and that was question for herself If
the North resorted TO coercion there would be long
and exhausting war, and afterwards negotiation. DE
concluded by expressing the hope that il they separated
might be peacefully and thought that the passage OF
his colleagues resolutions would give peace to the
try and save the Union.
Mr. Wade would not indulge in any extended remarks
lie defended his from the charge Of passing uncon-
stitltional laws and fulfilling her constitutional obi
cations.
Mr. Douglas deprecated this criminatien and recrmi.
nation Faults had been committed on both sides. Viz
GINA in 1871 had refused by her Governor, deliver
up fugitive from justice from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Mason said that before provision had been
made for the delivery Of ugtves from justice. There
was no parallel between that and the insult wrong
and coatumey which for twenty years had been heaped
upon Southern States Il was idle for gentlemen from
the nonsaveholdng States 10 arragn the South as the
original offender Such arguments do not prevent the
disintegration OF the Union, which now going on
This great movement Of disruption not to be pre-
vented by requests to them to bring in their bill Of ndc
ment They did not intend to do So Ohio had refused
to repeal her personal liberty bills, and had virtually null
lifted the fugitive slave law.
Mr. Douglas said he had heard this allegation brought
forward constantly excuse for disunon when the
savehoding Safes had committed the same oilense
often as the Northern States. The record showed that
Virginia was the first State refuse to surrender fug
tive
Mr. Wade said if the Governor Of Ohio committed an
error he grounded his action upon the decision of Old
Virginia herself Yet the Republicans were told that
they had the salvation OF the Union in their hands by
those who we're seeking destroy the He
had asked for specifications but could not get them 1t
was not yet settled whether the principles upon which
Gov Dennisou ted correct or not and yet grave
accusations founded upon that The secessionists
hard up for the OF dsunon when they enun-
ciatcd such as these.
Mr. Mason defended Virginia from the charges pre-
erred against her by the Senator from Illinois. Virginia
based her action upon the fact that there law
thorizng the arrest of the alleged fugitive
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Whitley presented a memorandum and certain
resolutions from the State of Delaware relative to the
present difficulties and praying the prompt action OF
Congress thereon.
Mr. Harris OF Maryland, presented series Of resolu-
tions, signed by 1000 citizens of Maryland, praying
Congress to adopt prompt for the settlement
of existing difficulties the basis of the border State
resolutions objected to.
Mr.. Colfax, from the committee on postofices and
posroads, reported the following bill: