The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-01-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
Is no excitement hero,
WAsmNGroN, Jan. 9


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr. Suation asked leave to present a
memorial Of the citizens Of Princeton on
the subject of national affairs, con.
tanning practical suggestions.
Mr.. Burnett objected. l-i
The Speaker laid before the House
message from the President lie sav,
at the opening Of the session he called
attention to the dangers Of the Union and
recommended such measures Of relief as
he believed would have the effect of tran
quilizing the country and save it from the
perils in which il is needlcssly and I'M
fortunately placed Il is not necessary
to repeat this opinion and recommenda-
tion-hs opinions then expressed remain
unchanged. lie regrets to say that mat.
ters, instead Of becoming better, arc still
worse, and hope il diminished, Allud-
/ ing to the condition Of South Carolina,
he says there is no other alternative but
/ to collect the revenue and protect the
| public property as far as is practicable
under existing laws His duty is to ex-
ecute and not TO mako the laws. Tho
! right and duty to us5 tho military aud ma
val force against those who illegally as
sail tho Federal Government ere cloar
and indisputablc, but the present state of
things was beyond the Executive con-
troll, We arc in the midst OF great rev.
olution, and he recommended 10 Con-
/ gress TO act in the present emergency
To Congress is reserved the powor 20 de-
clare war and remove the grievance that
might lead to war and restore peace Ia
the country. On thom rests the respons.
ibility. After eulogiziug the blessings
conferred by the Union, he says, shoult
it perish the calamity will be as severe
in the Southern as In the n orthcrn States
Tho secession movement is chiefly made
on an apprehension as 10 the sentiments
Of the majority ofseyersl Of the Northern
States. Let tho question be transferred
to the political assCmbly-to the ballo
box. The people win redress the Eriey
unce. In heavens namc let the trial bt
made before we plunge into tho assum
tion that there is no other ultsrn0tive.-
Let Us have reflection. Would that Soutl
Carolina had reflected.
He appeals to Congress TO say in III
might, the Union shall and must be pre-
served by all Constitutional means. II,
recommends Congress 70 devote itself q
prompt action with view TO peace A
division on the line Of 36 deg, 30 min, is
suggested as calculated 10 produce an adj.
iustment. ltwas an imputaton on mem.
bers to say they will hesitate a moment
The danger was on US. In several Of
the States forts and arsenals have beer
seized by aggressive acts. Congress,
should endeavor to give the difficulty q
peaceful solution. lie states the reasons
why he hadrolrained from sending troops
10 Charleston Hurbor, believing this
would have furnished the protext if MOI
the proypcation on the part Of South
Carolina for aggression.
Referring 10 Mai. Anderson, he sayi
[ that officer could not, before he left Fort
Moultrie, have held that post 45 or Of
hours. lie had warned his countrymer
Of its danger. He felt that the duty hat
been faithfully but imperlectly performed
He was conscious he meant well for his
country.
Mr. Howard, of Michigan, moved that
the Message be referred 20 a special com,
mitteo Of five, with instructions TO inquire
whether any executive officers oftha u
S. have been or are now treating OT hold
ing communication with any person ol
persons lor the transfer Of forts or unI
other property; whether any demand iol
their surrender has been made, and by
whom, and what answer has been giyeni
whether any officer or officers have enter.
ed into any pledge not TO send reinforce
ment Of troops to the IIarbor OF Charles,
ton, IL so, when, by whom, and on whoi
considerations; whether the custom-housC
post Office and arsenal at Charleston
have been seized, and by whom held il
possessioui whether any roVenuo cuttel
has been seized, and whether any effort,
have been made 10 recover il. That the
committee have power 10 send for persons
and papers, and report from time 10 time
such facts az may be required for the ma
tional honor, &c.
Mr.. Houston raised the point that s''ol
} instructions were against the rules.
Dir. Howard replied and moved the pre-
! Yious question.
Mr.. Crawford said there was no oaus,
for excitement, We have pissed beyon'
J that point. Noices-there is no excite
ment, we arc calm,
Mr.. Crawford continued, men should
! be cool and understand tho line upol
which they gre going. He Intellectually
sought 70 offer a substitute Cor the reHo
luton.