The national Republican., 1861-03-16
EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE.
Friday March Is, 1861.
Mr.. Mason offered the following:

permanently concentrated at the seat of Gov
ernment is departure from all former usage
of the Government, and dangerous to the rights
and liberties Of the peoples therefore,
ReSolUed, That the President inform the
Senate what number Of troops Of the army Of
the United States are quartered in this city, the
respective arms OF service, and the purpose for
which they were brought here; and that he
further nfQrm the Senate when said troops are
to be withdrawn and il not to be withdrawn,
for what purpose they are maintained here, and
whether it is his purpose to increase the said
force, and to what extent.
Objection being made to the resolution, it
lies over.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
resolution offered by Mr.. Douglas on Wednes.
day, calling for information to the forts, etc.
Mr.. Douglas addressed the Senate at length,
in support of the proposition. He maintained
that the President did not, according to his in.
augural, intend to precipitate the country into
q war, and that there is no power to blockade
the ports of the seeded States, and.collect the
revenue. Nor could the militia be called out,
except at the request of the Governor when
the Legislature is not in session or cannot be in
time convened. And the troops of the United
States could be called out only as posse comita.
tuS, to aid the sheriff in the serving ofprocess. 1t
was known, however, there are no Federal ju-
| dicial officers in the seeded States. He fur.
ther proceeded to show that the forts cannot be
retaken without war, in which it would be ne
cessary to employ two hundred and eighty thou
sand men, at all annual expense of $3lG, 100000.
In Offering his resolution, his obj ect was to be Of
ticially informed whether the Administr alton
want peace or war. What harm, then, could
result from the adoption OF the resolution ? 1t
was due to the country the information should
be furnished. His opinion was, they must
choose promptly one Of the three following
propositions:
First. The restoration and preservation of
the Union by such amendments to the Consti
tuition as will insure the domestic tranquility,
safety, and equality of all the States, and thus
restore peace, unity, and fraternity to the whole
country.
Second. A peaceful dissolution of the Union,
by recognising the independence Of such States
as refuse to remain in the Union without such
constitutional amendments, and the establish
ment OF q liberal system of commerce and
social intercourse with them, by treaties Of
commerce and amity.
Third. War, with a view to subjugation, the
military occupation of the States which have
seeded, or may secede from ihe Union.
In his opinion, one of these three lines Of
policy must be pursued, the sooner the better
Tor every friend Of liberty and constitutional
government throughout the world. The first
proposition was the best, and the last is the
worst. In advocating it, he maintained that,
with proper constitutional amendments, Vir.
ginia and the other border States would re-
main in the Coniederacy, and Union party
acquire strength in the cotton States to bring
them back to the Union.
Mr.. Wilson said the Senator was man OF
anxiety. Ten days ago only this Administra.
tion came into power. There was treason in
Congress, treason in the army, treason in the
navy, treason in the country. Scarcely had
the inaugural been published than the Senator
from Illinois stepped forth strutted- -unasked,
to interpret it. No one on the Republican side
Of the chamber had undertook either to sane
ton or disavow the Interpretation that Senator
had given TO the inaugural; but the Senator
} was not content to stand even on his own in,
depreciation of it he was not content that the
President and Cabinet, who had Just taken
, possession OF Government and country in
ruins, should have time enough to cast about
themselves, and SEQ what principle and patriot
ism require should be done, but he rushes into
this chamber and brings in a resolution, asking
the Administration to at once declare to the
country what it intends to do. The Senator
strutted before the Senate, aud talked about
what he should not permit. He Mr.. Wilson
. begged leave to say to him, before the Senate
r and the country that the Senator was clothed
, with no power to dictate to the Republican side
The Administration would no doubt sele.
gentlemen in whom it had confidence to de
clare its policy.
| Mr.. Douglas, in reply, said he would pardon
. the petulancy oftbe Senator, and, among othe
, things, said Mr.. Wilson, instead of answering
his arguments, made personal attack on him
; He Mr.. Dougas) said there were two wings
= to the Republican party-one Of war, and the
. other Of peace, and that Mr. Wilson belonged
+ to the former.
Mr. Fessenden interrupted Mr.. Douglas, say
> ing the gentleman had referred to the Senator
from Maine, which was evidently q mistake
J meaning the Senator from Massachusetts.
Mr.. Douglas denied this, saying his Language
was wherever they came"
Mr. Fessenden rejoined, the Senator wa
understood by several gentlemen near him a
saying the Senator from Maine"
/. Mr., Douglas replied, that the usual courtes
$ was to accept gentemans own explanation
/. and that the Senator from Maine ought to hav
a accepted his, (Mr. Douglas's.)
e Mr.. Fessc den said the gentleman was de
+, termined on personal quarrel.
Mr.. Douglas said Mr.. Fessenden could no
e understand the truth when it was told, and aI
r. piled the word " false" to him.
The conversation was further continued, MI
y Fessenden replying at some length, and sayin
:. he did not regard Mr., Douglass remarks a
gentlemanly, and was quietly and keenly Sc
we're.
a Mr.. Douglas responded.
y Mr.. Hale only wanted two minutes He ha
found a written speech in an old book, from
which he proceeded to read, quoting from tn
G Second Book of Samuel, 10Th chapter and At
f verse "Absalom said, Moreover, that
e were made judge in the land, that every ma
e which hath any suit or cause might come unit
o me- and would do him justice" Laughter.
e This he designed as a reply to Mr. Douglas
# Mr.. Douglas rose to reply, and in the cours
1t of his remarks, said he knew the schemes
r, the Republicans He did not mean the