The national Republican., 1861-01-28
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
Saturday, January 26, 1861.

SoA'D o'Soo'oN'
Saturday, January 26, 1861.
The Senate was not in session. +
HOUSE.
Mr. Grow, offered the following resolution,
and asked for its consideration: ... 80
Resolved, That the select committee appoint.
ed on the 7th instant ION the special message
Of the President) inquire whether any secret
organization hostile 10 the Government of the
United States exists in the District Of fColumbia;
and IL SO, whsthsr say officer or employeeTo Tof
the city of Washington, or any officer or en-
ployee of the Federal Government, in the Ex.
ecutive or Judicial department Of the Govern.
ment, are members hereof.
Mr.. Burnett, Of Kentucky. Idesire 10 know,
and it is certainly due to the House to know,
whether any reason or fact exists to induce tho
House to put on foot any such investigation.
II is libel on the authorities of the city of
Washington, and of the Federal Government,
and we ought not to entertain the resolution
unless the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr..
Grow states on his own responsibility there is
such conspiracy. ....
Mr.. Grow. should not have offered the
resolution unless had supposed there was some
thing on which to base it.
Mr.. Branch. will be obliged to object to
the resolution until l see the chairman of tho
select committee Mr.. Howard, Of Michigan]
in his seat. ......
Mr.. Grow. Ispoke to the chairman Of the
committee about it yesterday, and it met with
his sanction. l have reason to believe there
was design entertained by some persons in
the employment of the Government to engage
in such proceedings. To what extent the con-
spiracy has gone, do not know. For the
reason stated, offered the resolution. If gen.
tlemen on the other side do not want to investi.
gate, they can object; and that would be bet.
ter evidence that there j. something in it.
After further discussion, the previous ques.
ton was called, and the resolution agreed to.
A message was received from the President,
vetoing private bill, in favor Of Liggett and
Hockiday. Upon passing the bill again, the
vote was, yeas 81 nays e. not two thirds.
Mr. Clark, Of Missouri, made speech, threat.
ening that Missouri would go out, if she could
not obtain equality in the Territories.
Mr.. Gimer, of North Carolina, did not think
it was too late to do something to save the
country and restore peace to the greatest peo-
pie on earth. He expressed his views against
secession, which was at first advocated as q
peaceful measure, but had now broken out in
violence to overturn the Government.
He appealed to the Republicans to come
forward and do something-it was in their power.
Give us, he said, the Crittenden proposition if
not that, the resolutions OF the border States
if not these, the recommendations of the COM
mittee Of thirty.three. On the territorial ques.
ton the proposition OF the last-nsmed was the
best of the whole. But, in whatever was done,
let all gentlemen act together. Notwithstand.
ing the seeming difficulties which surround the
slavery question, he thought that it would find
an easy solution if gentlemen would approach
it in a calm and honest spirit. In conclusion,
he made an earnest appeal for a union of hand
and heart for the settlement of the present
difficulties.
Mr.. Alley, Of Massachusetts,, said, while he
ives earnestly willing to restore peace, he would
never sacrifice and trample under foot the
eternal principles of right and duty to save this
Government, or any other. He argued that
the action of the North furnished to the South
no ground of just complaint. The people Of
Massachusetts would fulfil all constitutional OBJ.
| legations, leaving slavery where it belongs
unmolested in the States. If the Union can,
under these circumstances, be saved, God be
praised but if not, then she was willing to take
the consequences. The South, he contended,
has aggressed on the North, which has been
driven to assert their principles and power.
The House adjourned.