Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-16

TO reinforce any Of the Forts now in possession
Of the Government, including all your forts in
the Atlantic, in the C;nlC, every fort that can,
by INV possibility BIZ considered US attached To
any Of the scccdcd States. Now. sir, my amend
mcnt does not give any abstract opinion 1t all,
but merely specifies the character OF the forts
to he affected by the resolution Ms it stands.
Mr.. Wlsg.--Aud leaves them in the occu-
ration of the Federal authorities on the
mainland.
Mr.. SrMMERS.-No more than your origi-
nal resolution does. All your resolution
declares is tia, none of them shall be rein
forced. There is nothing said of cyacua-
ton. The difference between us is, that
You declare if any attempt is made to rein-
force any Of the forts you will remain no
longer in the Union. | say That any at
lcmpt 10 reinforce the forts within the har-
bors or on the mainland is not TO be permit
ted, but omit to speak rs to the forts out al
sea, not necessary TO the Seccded States.
do not alter the language in any otherwise.
| only group one class Of notifications
that is all. The whole matter between the
gentleman from Princess Anne and myself
is this, and l bring him TO it; does he mean
10 say that during this period of waiting
for RESPONSES from The Northern States,
during this interval of examination and
consideration Of these amendments, that
lie would be willing 10 make the reinforce
mcmt at Tortugas or Key West the cause oi
breaking up this Governments! Does he
mean to say that the throwing into these
forts. q hundred miles distant from the
mainland, at sea, of 4 small! additional force,
would be sufficient cause for rs TO break oil
all negotiations, all efforts for peace, and to
disrupt the Government
Mr.. WIsF.-Will the gentleman allow me
to answer:
Mr.. SvMMErs.-I have not time, and
was not permitted to answer the gentleman
while he was speaking. ask the gentle
man, also, to answer this question: Has
he reason to believe that the occupation by
the United States troops Of Key West and Of
Fort Jefferson uponthc dry Tortugas, is in
any manner offensive to the seeded States
Have they made any move, have they even
asked the withdrawal of the United States
troops from these points? The seeded
States arc in the condition of being without
naval forces altogether, and the withdrawal
of the United States troops FROM these
p'ILAko lHlOh WI " vi ~ "a
that quarter at the mercy Of the piratical
free-Looters Of the Gulf. 1t is for the in
tcrrSt Of the seeded States, therefore, that
no immediate withdrawal should DE made.
The resolution, no more Than tho amend
mcnt, covers more than the period during
which our propositions are to be under con-
sidcration at the North. I am sure that
when the Committee shall consider this
amendment, in connection with the rcsolu-
luton itself, they will find unqucstionably
that 10 reasonable objection can hr made
TO it. ] go heartily with the gentleman
and al who are il favor Of this resolution,
in declaring that We shall expect that no e-
fort will be made 10 rc-capture any Of the
forts that have been taken by the seeded
States. An' the resolution declares fur
Their that we shall expect no imposts 10 be
levied upon their commerce; and il winds
up by declaring that, during this interval,
we shall expect no measure will be rcSOrted
10, justly calculated 10 provoke hostile col
lision. That would perhaps he included
by some in an attempt to reinforce Tortu-
gas and Key West, but l do not think that
we should state that il would be sufficient
cause for us to break or our efforts 10 re-
store peace, and in my opinion it ought moi
10 be considered us u cauSe Of offence 10
anybody.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, | trust that We are
all seriously and sincerely making our best
effort to see that these difficulties between
the South and the North can and may be
adjusted.
Mr.. WlsE.-l agree with the gentleman
in motive but not in the colrsc Of action
he proposes.
Mr.. ScMMEEs.-Me disagree rs To some
things. Ny friend from Princess Anne, |
believe. has presented 4 minority report.
Here the hammer fell.
Mr.. WIsE-Mr. Chairman, I suppose no
further debate is in order upon this amend
lpent, blu. I desire 10 ask 4 question as TO
its effect. ! ask yon. if this amendment is
adopted, whether it would, ur would not.
leave the military forces Of the United
&latcs in possession Of the forts in the main
land and in the harborS; then ask, if the
effect Of this amendment would not be to
enable the United States authorities to re-
~inforce the. forts out Of the harbor and Of
the main land:
The CHAinHAx-Thc Chair wonld suggest
70 the gentleman that il Is not in order 10
PROFOUND interrogatoTigS, because time must
be taken 10 answer them. and because II is
in the nature Of debate
Mr.. ScMMEgs-ls il in order for ne 10
answer the gentleman?
The ~CHMEMAS-lt is not.
Mr.. SvMMERs-The gentleman has asked
q question, and ! suppose it is equally in
order for me TO ask back the question ; |
simply PROFOUND back the q~uestion--tor
T o,rpnt l.I,t. ,.l.tlnr ttn louri1 TN nf
the resolution, as it now reads: does not
leave the forts in the harbors and on the
main land. in every particular, precisely as
they will be left if the amendment Is adopt
ed.
The amendment was agreed io-ayes g,
noes not counted.
Mr.. WisE-In order 10 make this rtsoln-
ton. as it has now been amended, consis-
tent with itself; ! move to strike out, in
the 18th line, the word NOR" and insert
the word "exccp;" so that the clause will
read, "that no attempt be made to subject
them to the Federal authority, except 20
reinforce the forts" &c. (Laughter.)
That, sir, will express the true sense Of
the resolution as it is amended. That will
show what the gentleman from kanawha
means. it will show nXactly what this
House means; hat a pacific policy Shall be
pursued. except 10 reinforce certain Of the
forts. Those forts arc to continue to he
held rs now, in the possession ofthe forces
of the United States. The gentleman says
that ] mis-statcd it. did not mis-statc il,
or, if | did, he has NOT made it clear 10 my
mind, and | call his attention again to the
effect Of his amendment. 1t was to leave.
during the interval Of effort TO secure an
adjustment, the forts on the main land and
in the harbors in the occupation nE the
United States authorities. That is the effect
Of the resolution itself, | admit, but then
the effect Of his amendment was further to
enable them, not only to occupy the forts
on the islands, but TO reinforce those forts.
That is all | said in respect TO the effect Of
the amendment, and in that he, himself,
c1ncurs. is not the effect Of the amend
ment that has just been adopted to allow
the authorities Of the United States to re-