The national Republican., 1861-02-20
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
Monday, February l9, 1861.
SENATE.

OEN VA In
The Senate met at IL o'clock.
The Chaplain being absent, there was no
prayer, aud, on motion of Mr.. johnson, the
reading of the Journal was suspended.
Memorials for Union and compromise from
citizens of Mimi, by Mr.. Rice; from ladies Of
Penn, by Mr.. Bigler; also, for the enforce.
ment Of the laws, by Mr.. Ten Eyck, Mr.. Seward
After the consideration Of some private bills,
Mr.. Seward presented q memorial, praying
Congress to enact suitable laws toprevent "un.
itigated scribbling y referred to the Commit
tee on the Library.
The Senate took up and passed joint reso.
luton directing the Auditor to adjust the &C.
count Of John Randolph Clay, United States
minister to Peru. ...
Mr.. Gwin, of CAL, introduced resolution
extending the morning hour until o'clock.
Objected to, and laid over under the rule.
The Senate then took up the tariff bill the
pending questiog being upon an amendment
authorizing the issue of $50 coupon Treasury
notes.
Mr.. Crittenden opposed the amendment.
He thought it was issuing an irredeemable
currency, and was the first step to the issue of
a currency like that of the Continental curren.
cy.
Mr.. Simmons defended the amendment.
During the discussion, Mr.. Clingman, Of
North Carolina, declared that the present con.
dition of Government credit was brought on
by the Republicans, whose offensive principles
had led to the seve rance of the Union.
Mr.. Chandler said that the cause Of the
financial embarrassment was, that traitors and
peculators in the Cabinet had even while in
Office declared the Government bonds were
worthless, and had filled the market with &C.
ceptances not worth the paper on which they
were written.
Mr.. Clingman then wanted to know why,
now that the Objectionable persons were not
in the Cabinet, the credit of the Government
had not risen.
Mr.. Chandler responded that the same party
still held the power, and the people we're afraid
to trus} them.
Mr.. Clingman wanted to know why, then, did
they have so much legislation to keep up the
credit Of the Government when Republican
Administration was coming in in two weeks.
Mr.. Clark, of New Hampshire, said that it
was because they had to raise the character of
the Government securities deprecated by the
Democrats.
Several amendments were proposed one,
diminishing the duty on wood screws, was
lost-yeas l6, nays "a.
An amendment, increasing the duty on wool,
was agreed to-yeas %, uays 20.
Without disposing of the subject, the Senate
adjourned.
Mr.. Fenton, of New York, (Rep,) proposed
the following, as a substitute for the report of
the committee Of thirtythree
Whereas the Constitution prescribes, in the
fifth article, that " the Congress, whenever two.
thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,
shall propose amendments to this Constitution,
or, on the application of the Legislatures Of
two-thirds Of the several States, shall call
Convention for proposing amendments, which,
in either case, shall be valid to all iutents and
purposes, as part of this Constitution, when rat
fled by the Legislatures of three.fourths of the
several States, or by Conventions in three
fourths thereof; " and
Whereas varied and conflicting opinions
prevail among members of this House in re.
gard to the causes which have produced the
unhappy disturbances now affecting the coun.
try, and in regard to the proper mode for quiet.
ing and adjusting these disturbances, and
guarding against their future occurren nee
therefore
ResQlred, That in the judgment of this
House, the proper tribunal to which all exist
ing disturbing questions should be referred, for
deliberate consideration and final settlement, is
Convention of Delegates from the several
States Of the Union, to be called in the mode
prescribed in the Constitution.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill reported yesterday by Mr.. Stanton, from
the Committee on Military Affairs, authorizing
the President to accept the services of volun.
teers.
Mr.. Stanton said that there was some misap.
prehension as to this bill. 1t was to extend
the provisions of the act of 1895, for the sup.
preston Of insurrection against the United
States the ex:Attorney General of the United
States, Mr.. Black considering that the law
He further explained, that they had to do one
Of two things: either to acknowledge the right
of secession, or to enforce the laws. And iu
the course Of the debate, he said, there being
but eighteen thousand Federal troops, sixty
DAYS must elapse before FIVE thousand could be
brought here to defend the capital, should an
attempt be made upon it in the event of the Sc.
cession of Maryland and Virginia.
He moved the previous question on the third
reading of the bill.
Mr.. Bocock said this was q declaration of
war, and appealed to those around him, in favor
of preserving Southern rights, to stand up in re.
sistance to the bill.
Mr.. Boteler thought that a more efficient
measure to dissolve the Union, than this bill,
could not be devised.
Mr.. Hindman said he viewed the bill as the
very best of disunion measures.
Mr.. Sickles remarked, that there was no oc.
cason for the passage of the bill, as the Presi.
dent elect had declared there was no danger to
anybody.
Mr.. Burnett said that a bill involving such
momentous consequences should be discussed.
Much excitement existed throuphout the pro.
on Mr.. Winslows motion to lay the bill on the
table, several gentlemen, though loudly called
to order, succeeded in explaining their posi-.
tions against the bill.
The House refused to lay it upon the table
yeas 6S, nays los.