The national Republican., 1861-01-10
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
Wednesday, January Q, 1861.
SENATE.

Mr.. Seward presented the memorial Of the
Chamber Of Commerce Of New York, praying
additional mail facilities to Mexico and New
York.
Mr. Hunter, of Virginia, took the floor, on
the Presidents message, for Friday next, and
Mr.. Seward, Of New York, for Saturday next.
Mr.. Slidell, of Louisiana, introduced reso
luton, requesting the President of the United
States to inform the Senate who was acting as
Secretary Of War; whether Hon. J. b. Floyd
was now acting &c.
Mr.. Clark introduced resolution favoring
the enforcement Of the laws and the perpetuity
Of the Union.
Mr.. Lane called up bill in relation to GER
amended and passed.
On motion, Friday next was set apart for the
consideration Of private business.
Mr.. Mason called up his resolution Of in
quiry as to the orders given army officers in
the Southern States.
After debate as to the parliamentary prac.
tce in regard to the reading of the Presidents
message,
The Chair decided that the reading of the
Presidents message was the emily thing in order.
The message having been reaS
Mr.. Davis, of Mississippi, said that the Presi.
dent had misrepresented the position Of the
South Carolina commissioners, and then de-
clined to receive paper which represented
their views. All the Senators knew the high
characters of the gentlemen comprising the
commission. He sent to the Clerks desk
copy of the letters Of those commissioners to
the President, and which the President had
refused to receive.
Mr.. King, of New York, objected to the
reading of the paper. The Senator had spoken
Of the high character Of the commission. Bene-
dict Arnald and Aaron Burr had once been
cation was traitorous.
Mr.. Davis said, if the Senator from New
York has the meanness to object, send the
letter back to me.
Mr.. Bigler said that this was an unprecedent.
ed demand, on the part Of the Senator from
New York.
The Chair (Mr. Fitzpatrick) said that, OBJ.
lection being made, the paper could not be
read without the consent OF the Senate.
Mr.. Douglas did not think that this paper
came under the rule 1t was a part Of the
speech of the Senator from Illinois.
Mr.. Trumbull appealed from the decision of
the Chair. He thought Mr.. Davis had an un.
doubted right to have the paper read.
Mr.. Fessenden said that the question was
one out of the jurisdiction Of the Senate.
Mr.. Bright sustained the decision Of the
Chair. He had never before heard of dis
tinction between formal or informal papers
being read.
Mr.. King said he had never intended to OBJ
ject to the paper as part Of a Senator's speech.
He objected to it as u paper before the Senate,
put in as a supplement to the Presidents mes.
sage.
Mr.. Wigfall desired to add word of peace.
IL baI haa but ~ troo ri;
course. Gentlemen must recollect that these
were extraordinary times. As Benedict Ar.
mold and Aaron Burr had been alluded to, he
would tell the Senator that Burr was New
Yorker, and that Arnold committed his treason
in that State. The treason of Barnwell, Orr,
and Adams, was the treason of the Barons at
Runnymede-the treason Of South Carolina in
l776. He hoped that these remarks would
have the effect of producing peace. Laugh
ter.
After further discussion, the Senate refused
to sustain the decision of the Chair-yeas 81,
nays l9.
The Senate then agreed that the paper be
read by vote Of f-yeas 36, nays ID.
The letter Of the commissioners to the Pres.
ident was then read at length.
Mr.. Davis resuming, said that the long
episode which had interrupted his remarks
had increased his pity for the President, who
had fallen from the head of the great Demo.
cratic party to be protected in the Senate by the
Senator from New York. He thanked that Sen.
ator, whose discourteous action had drawn the
paper from the hiding place in his speech,
where it would never have been seen, and
spread it before the world, on the files of the
Senate.
On motion, the subject was made the special
| order for tomorrow at one o'clock.
Several special orders being before the
Senate,
Mr.. Gwin desired to take up the Pacific
railroad BILL
Mr.. Bigler made speech in favor of TAX
ing up Mr.. Crittendens resolution. He would
not vote to take up any other business until
these resolutions were voted upon.
The resolutions were made the special order
for tomorrow at u o'clock.
The Senate then took up the special order,
being the Pacific railroad bill.
Mr.. Wilkinson moved to refer it and the
amendments to select committee of five
me nbers.
After debate by Messrs. Bragg, Gwin, and
Green,
Mr.. Rice moved an indefinite postponement
And after considerable debate, the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House some
Executive communications, which were ap-
propriately referred.
On motion of Mr.. Grow, the consideration
of the Territorial business was postponed until
Tuesday and Wednesday next.
| A message was received from the President
Of the United States in relation to the present
political difficulties.
The message having been read,
Mr.. Howard, of Michigan, offered resolu.
ton that it be referred to select committee of
five members, with instructions to inquire
whether any officers of the United States have
been, or are now, treating or holding communi.