The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-01-18


portation, not for construction.
On motion of Mr.. Bigler the Senate went
into Executive session.
HoUsE.-Mr. Clemens of Virginia present.
ed q memorial signed by 5000 persons in
his congressional district, in the counties of
Ohio, Hancock, Brooke, Wetzell and Ty-
Ter, in favor of an adjustment Of the slavery
question and for the Union.
Mr.. Webster of Maryland presented me-
mortal from some of his constituents in IA
vor OF Crittenden' S plan Of adjustment. He
believed that the signers of the memorial
represented the wishes of the people of all
parts of his congressional district. 1t was
laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The House then went into committee OF
the whole on the state of the Union and
took up the army bill.
HoUsB.-Mr. Sickles said it was SOW too
late to discuss the right of secession. 1t
must be looked upon as fixed fact. We
should avoid, by all means, the employ
neut of coercion and the adoption of any
policy of aggression, but like purpose and
like spirit should animate our Southern
friends 1t would never do for them to pro-
test against coercion, while at the same time
they seize the arsenals, forts, navy yards,
dQQ steamships vi lCu COII6 Hllulu buolE
reach When the Southern States them
selves employ force, they cannot cry peace,
and complain of coercion. After showing
that secession ordinances could not deprive
the Government of coded jurisdiction and
property in the forts, &C, which are the
common defense, he said the danger lies in
collision.
The act of secession from the beginning
to the end was as perfect as human agency
could make it. No interference was at
tempted by the Executive or Legislature of
this Government. Therefore in no sense
has Coercion been employed. But the acts
of South Carolina, including the firing into
the Star of the West, were acts of fragrant
war, which if it had been attempted By any
foreign power would have raised every
man in the nation to resistance.
At the close of his remarks Mr.. Siekles
said, whatever may be the issue of events,
whether happily by Cancellation and justice
to the South we may find an honorable So
luton to our difficulties, or whether, unhap-
PLY, we blindly drift into alienation war,
and irrevocable separation, the great CONNER
cial interests of this country require and the
destiny of American civilization demands
that the political and territorial control of
this Continent, from the mouth of the Hud-
son 10 the mouth OF the MISSISSIPPI, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, shall remain
where it now exists. in the hands of the gov
ernment of the United States.
In all the partizan issues between the
South and the Republican party, the people
of New York City are with the South. But
when the South makes an untenable issue
with the country; when the flag of the
Union is insulted when the fortified places
provided for the common defense are as
saulted and seized when the South aban-
dons it's Northern allies for English and
French cooperation, then the loyal and pa
triotic population of that imperial city are
unit for the Union.
Mr.. Ashley of Ohio maintained that there
were no causes for a dissolution Of the L Mon
and overthrow of the government.
Mr. Edwards of Maine said when it should
be tried to cut off New England from the
rest of the confederation it would be found
she could live as well without the South as
the South could without her. She was
always prompt to repel foes from without
and traitors from within. She is willing to
make any reasonable compromise which
could not be construed into an abandonment
of principle But the Union must and shall
be preserved.