The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-29
THlRTY.SlXTH CONGRESS.--SECOND SESSIOs
SENATE.

tions were received from the Dcpar tments.-M
SEWARD presented the petition of certain citi-
zens of New York demonstrating against any egis-
lation giving anv protection to slavery in the Ter
ritories. Also, the petition OF seven hundred cit
zens of New York praying for some adjustment OF
the present difficulties. MIR. DOUGLAS intro
duced a bill amendatory of the act of 1898 and the
act of 1885, relative to fugitive slaves referred to
the Committee the Judicary.-Mr. GWlN
presented the memorial of DR.. Rabe, Secretary of
the Pacific Railroad Convention, held in Calitor-
mia in 1859, transmitting the proceedings of the
Convention and a petition asking the passage
presented the petition of Moses Davenport
and others. of Newburyport Massachusetts,, in
favor of the speedy passage of the Crttenden reso
lutions. MIR. Wilson said these men prayed for
the adopt tion of the amendments to the Con titu-
ton proposed by tie Senator from Kentucky, to
wit The recognition of slavery and its protection
south of 3Go 80, not only in territory now held,
but in territory not yet conquered, purchased or
stolen; the denial of power in Congress to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia while it existed
in Virginia, to prohibit the transportation of
slaves from one State to mother or TO the terri
tories; recognizing slavery; to pay the owner the
full value of a fugitive slave when the Marshal
is prevented from arresting him by in
timidation, and taking from persons of the
African race the right of sutli age, which they
have possessed in Massachusetts since the Consti-
tuition was adopted by our Revolutionary fathers
in 1880; to acquire territory in Africa or South
America, and send at the expense of the Federal
Treasury, ,suchfree negroes the States may desire
to have removed from their limits. These petit
tions continued MIR. Wilson, ask for the adop-
tion of these honorable and humane provisions in
the Constitution, bey yond the power of the people
to change them. The people of the free States
would secure immense concessions in making the
fee of the Commissioner no greater for remanding
to slavery than for discharging him as free man.
Surely the prayer Of the men of Massachusetts, for
such objects ought to be needed by the Senate of
the United States. Laid on the table.-Mr BIG
LER presented petitions from Pennsylvania, in
favor of the passage of Mr.. Crttenden's resou-
tions.--Mr. HALE offered q resolution of inqu
nv if the Secretary of the Senate had executed an
order in favor of the widow OF Louis +. Lynn for
merly United States Senator from Missouri, and if
net, what is the reason mir. CRlTTENDEN
presented large number of petitions of the cit-
zens OF Michigan and other States, asking the pas
sage of his resolutions referring the national diff
Gu ties to the people. He also presented the
resolutions of the Railroad Presidents and
officers who lately assembled in this city,
Mr.. HALE objected to their reception,
they not addressed to the Senate
AT l, p. NJ, the CHAIR called up the special
order, but before its consideration, Mr.. IYERSON,
of Georgia, communicated the Ordinance of Seces-
sion passed by the Georgia Legislature, and an
nounced his withdrawal from the Senate. Mr.
Iverson made a few remarks, stating that Geor-
gia had withdrawn from the American Union be-
cause her safety, interests and honor demanded it.
In a few weeks, he said, a new Confederation
for its own defence. The act of Georgia met with
the appreciation of his judgment, and he cast his
fortunes cheerfully with her. If the North wished
peace, she could have it, and an equitable arrange
ment would be made by the South for the payment
for public property within her limits, and her just
proportion of the public debt; but if coercion
attempted, and war resulted, the South never
would pay one dollar of her public or private OBJ
legations. Cotton was still king, and if blockade
of Southern forts was attempted, the European
nations depending upon the cotton supply, might
have word to say on the subject. He concluded
by expressing his individual opposition to
any reconstruction of the government, and
thanking Senators for the courtesy he had
received at their hands, bade them ewell.--Mr.
BlGI.ER presented certain resolutions of the Leg
islature of Pennsylvania.-A message was re-
ceived from the President of the United States
communicating the resolutions of the Legislature of
the 4th of February. See House report for the
message. MIR. MASON, Of Va, on a motion to
print the message, made few remarks, in which
he explained the action of Virginia. She had de-
termined first to mediate between the two sections,
and secondly to induce the President of the Uni
ted States to refrain from any act likely to bring
about a collision between the nation
al and State authorities, satisfied that
whenever such collision should occur, civil
war; the greatest of all calamities, would be una
voidable. The President had in his message ex-
pressed the hope that the object of Virginia would
be attained. The great object of Virginia in send
ing Commissioners was to prevent the Federal
Government from taking any step to produce war.
He trusted that in this purpose her efforts might
not prove unavailing. MIR. Mason noticed the fact
that six States had left the Union and others would
undoubtedly follow. If the Confederacy had to be
broken up, Virginia desired that war should not
result and the peace Of the continent be preserved.
She wished to see. in such contingency, whether
some other form of Union could not be devised, and
a reconstruction effected, after the good
of the people had had time to operate.
Any attempt to enforce the laws in seeding States,
could only result in They had daily eviden.
ces from the sections which had separated them
selves from the Unon that in sezing the forts they
had only done so as measures of prudence and pre-
caution, and when matters arranged, would
account for every dollars worth of public proper
ty thus seized. He believed these States would re-
frain from every calculated to break the public
peace, blt not from any motives of fear
Mr.. HALE asked the Senator from Vir-
ginia, if, while the State of Virginia
was appealing to the President to
avert war, she had appealed to any other State
now occupying warlike attitude, to keep the
peace.-Mr. MASON said, Virginia had sent a
Commissioner to all the seeding States, asking
them to keep the peace On motion of Mr. Mason,
the message was ordered to be printed, and on a
motion to print extra copies, Mr.. HEMPHILL, of
Texas, addressed the Senate general TOPICS
He endorsed the right of secession whenever the
arrangements entered into between the States have
been violated, and denounced coercion as simply
an act of war. The States were sovereign, and,
therefore, could at any time participate in the for
nation of new Government, and revoke all
former grants of power to any confederation. Such
withdrawal could not be treated as rebellion, neith
er was it ground of war. He ridculed the idea
that the South had anything to fear from slave in
surrection. Mr. Hemphil spoke at considerable
length and made legal argument in defence OF the
right of secession.-On the conclusion of his re-
marks, Mr. CLINGMAN obtained the floor, and the
subject was postponed till Wednesday at l, 2. NJ.
After the consideration of one or two bills Of a
private nature, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The SPEAKER laid before the House a commu-
ncatiOn from the Secretary of the Interior, trans
mitting statement of the number of clerks in that
department. and also recommending a reduction
of the number. Laid on the table, and ordered to
be printed-Mr. HUGHES, of Maryland, offered
a resolution instructing the Committee on the Dis
trct of Columbia to inquire into the eypediencyp
ceding back to the State of Maryland all that por
ton of the District of Columbia not occupied in
actual use by the federal government.-Mr.
HINDMAN, of Arkansas, asked if it would
be in order to amend the resolution by ceding
all the District back to MARYLAND. The resO-
luton was laid on the table, and ordered to be
printed MIR. RICE, of Massachusetts,, presented
petition signed by 10000 citizens, voters of Bos
ton, asking for some peaceable adjustment of the
present existing difficulties. The petition was
wrapped in the American flag, and was received
with applause from the galleries. The commission
ers who were entrusted with the mission of bearing
the petition to the seat of Government, with the
Hon. Edward Everett at their head, entered and
took their seats in the diplomatic gallery.
Mr.. STANTON, from the Committee on Military
Affairs reported bill for the better organization o
the militia in the District of Columbia. 1t was re
ferred back to the Committee on Military Affairs
Mr.. QUARLES, of Tennessee, presented Sc
ries of resolutions passed by the Legislature of that
State, to the effect that convention assemble al
Nashville, Tennessee, whatever other place may
best to the delegates, before the 4th of Febru
ary, if possible, to settle, if possible the existing
difficulties of the country; laid on the table,
Mr.. VANDEVER offered a resolution declaring
that no amendment should be offered to the
Constitution, which did not recognize property in
slaves; not receved.-Mr. j. COCHRANE in
troduced Mr.. Bger's proposition providing for the
taking the of the people of the several States
on certain propositions; referred to the Select
Committee of Five.-Mr. COLFAX introduced a
bill specifying railroad bridges as post routes
Mr.. HAMILTON, of Texas, offered resolution
making, the report of the Judiciary Committee
with reference to the case of Judge Watrous, the
special order for the 4th of February next objected
to--Mr. CURTIS introduced bill for the relief o
certain officers and soldiers stationed at Fort Sum
ter. Referred--Mr. ALDRIDGE introduced
resolution instructing the Committee Of Ways ant
Means to inquire into the expediency and propriety
of repeating the laws which levy duties sugar
and such like commodities Agreed to--Mr.
MCkEAN presented series of resolutions signed
by 553 residents of his district in the State of New
York, to which petition was attached the UniteC
States flag, and expressed attachment to the Union
Laid on the table Mr.. NORRIS introduced the
following resolution:
Resolred That the members of this House from tn
slavehoding States be respectfully solicited to submit
the House ultmatum proposition expressing thei
views upon the questions agitating country
dividing the Union, by which proposition they are