The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-22
C0NGRESS--SECOND SESSION
SENATE

mise with traitors.--Mr. POWELL presented a
petition from citizens of Wisconsin, in favor of the
Crittenden omprOmise.--Messrs. DIXON and
BlGLER presented numerous petitions in favor of
the Crittenden and Border State resolutions
Mr.. BRAGG, presented the credentials Of Mr..
Cingman, reelected Senator from North Carolina.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF
the bill for the dscOniinuance Of postal services
in the seeding States, which was laid over yester-
day.-Mr. HUNTER said, if the States were in
the Union we had right to cut off the 'stal
rangements-it could not be to enforce the laws,
for the postal laws were not resisted. We cannot,
under the Constitution, undertake to punish States
in this way. He also added that the expression of
'nSurrection" aud 'rebelliOn" in the bill seemed
to be bat steps which will end in using force
against these States.-Mr. DOOLIrTLE said it
was measure of peace and not OF war. He said
it was cur duty to acknowledge and face charges
of what are now IDEAL that slavery is blessing
and proper state Of society in the republic-
This idea not admitted by the who
Coamer. They all said it was evil, socially
aud olitcallv.-Mr. CLILGMAN asked when
Mr.. CoIlamer said that slavery was blessng?-
Mr.. D0OLITTLE replied that he had said so on this
fioOr-that it the best and most stable basis of
free institutions. This idea regns despotc in
the Southern States and threatens to destroy eve
rything, unless admitted and recognized The first
demand was made of the Democratic party, and
because that party would not fully admit it, it was
disrupted and DESTROYED. To-day, with arms in
their hands. the South demands that we shall
make new Constitution, ard carry slavery into
the Territories where it never existed He, there
fore, hoped that the bill would be passed, as one
means which would give peace TO the UniOn.-
Mr.. HUNTER said that he glad to hear that
this not measure Of coercion, but he thought
it was not necessary to pass it, as he thought the
Postmaster General had all the power necessary.
Mr.. powell spoke against the bill, and said,
ifpassed, it would give the power of despot to
the head Clerk Of the Department, and destroy the
liberties of the people.-Mr. FESSENDEN said
he thought that the Senator was drawing upon his
Imagination. The bill was simply to give power
to the Postmaster General to suspend the operation
OF the laws, and relieve him Of the necessity of
attempt to enforce the laws. 1t most emf
nently measure Of peace.-The secret is that
gentlemen want to force US to acknowledge that
secession is lawful 1t seems to be simple truth
that gentlemen are unwilling to allow no
measu' Of peace unless we acknowledge this
Mr.. DOUGLAS said it seemed to him this was a
measure OF peace, and he was gratied to see it
coming from that side of the house The Senator
from Virginia is mistaken in regard to this bill; it
does not give the power TO stop the mails here
unless there obstruction or resistance With
out this measure the Postmaster General would be
obliged to carry the mails, in spite of resistance
that might spring up. In reply to the Senator
from Wisconsin. (Mr. DoOlittle,) he said he sup
posed this idea, that slavery was blessing was not
new: and even whether new or DID, it would have
occasiOned trouble if they had not attempted to
engrait it upon the Federal Government when
the Federal Government has no right to
interfere with the subject in any way
lie contended that the question of slavery
must be kept out OF Congress. The patriotic Sc
nator from en.ucky had brought forward pro
position to effect this.-Mr DOOLITTLE in re-
ply, quoted from Mr.. Hunters speech at Char
lottesville, where he admitted it was idea In
1852 we had peace; then this new idea demanded
the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise and now
it demands that free territory shall be given up
to sIavery.-Mr. WADE appealed to the friends
of the measure to let them have a vote.-Mr.
DOUGLAS replied, and c0ntended that the diff
Guilty commenced In the slavery agitation of the
North, and that the Senator from Wisconsin had
only turned Republican when he was defeated for
Congress in Democratic Cnnvention-then he
became convert in six wceks.-Mr. DOC
LITTLE denied this statement; said he was
not a candidate for Congress before Democratic
Convention in lS56-had changed to Republican
when the Democrats attempted to force q consitu-
ton on kansas.--DscussiOn continued some time,
when the hour for the special order arrived. The
miscellaneous appropriation bill was taken up
The Senate then went into executive session. Sen
ate after about three hours in executive session.
opened its doors and proceeded with the considera.
tion Of the appropriation bill till five o'clock, when
they took recess till seven O'Clock for purposes of
ge eral debate only.--Mr. WILSON followed, |
defending Massachusetts, and took strong ground |
against compromise. CLARKE also fellow |
ed in the same strain. When he concluded the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. |
Mr.. DAWES, from the Select Committee of Five |
to whom was referred the Presidents special mes |
sage of the 8th of January, made report to the
'tationing Of vessels of war in such manner as to
neglect the defence of the whole Atlantic coast
turing the prevalence of lawess violence. The
number Of ships, they say, lying in port oismanled
and unit for service is twenty eight, and mounting
IN aggregate of eight hundred and twenty-eight
-uns. None OF them could be repaired and put
lnder sail short of several weeks time, and many
1f them would require for that purpose at least six
months. No order LAD been issued put Of them
n readiness. The committee discuss other objects
connected with the navy, and propose a resolution
hat the Secretary of the Navy, in accepting with
'ut delay or inquiry the resignation of officers of
he navy WIS were in arms against the government
when rendering the same, and of those who sought
% .esign that they might be relieved from the re-
tralnt imposed by their commissions upon engag-
ng in hOstities to the constituted authorities of
he nation, has committed grave error, highly
to the discipline of the service and in
urious to the honor and efficiency of the navy fer
which he deserves the censure of this House.
ir. BRANCH submitted minority report--
JOHN C0CHRANE also dissented from the views
If the maiority.--Mr. DAWES gave notice that
lie will ask for vote on his resolution on Monday
II Tuesday. The House resumed the con.
liberation of Mr.. Stanton's Volunteer bilI.-Mr.
}OCOCK resumed his remarks in opposi-
ion to the bill, Interrupted on yesterday by the
EXPIRATION of the morning hour. He said that al
eady, by the act of 1885, the President had the
'ower to employ the army and navy, and had
X
he country as he could concentrate here. In ad-'
tion to that they had a local Legislature, by
whose authority he could call out the military in
ass they were threatened BY an invasion of armed
orces from other States. Even if the military
'ower of the country was called out to aid in the
of the laws, 1t must be subordinate to
he civil power. But when they called out the
'ower to bear directly on the execution of the
avs it was making war, and would be so con-
ldered By the country; and so every force bill |
eported TO this House was a war measure and |
ndeed whether or not it should be so regarded
t must, in the necessity Of the case, result in
'ar. Ii that, then, be so, he stood there clothed
With no authority to say what any State of the
Union would do, but he knew that Virginia stood
by her declarations, stood committed in
onor and interest to resist at all hazards war of
ggression upon the Southern States Of this coned-
racy. And she must do it. Why must she do it
The very hand that would aid in striking down
south Carolina and Alabama, strengthened bv Vir-
,Inla, might, at any moment, be uplfted to crush
he other States-crippled and crushed by the
,ery subJugaton Of these Southern States
lot, all the border States within three months
line, with one or two exceptions, will be
ound side by side with the seeding States of
he Union. He would ask was it likely that
virginia and Kentucky would hold a position
n which they would be liable to have their
militia called out-theY, perhaps, being near
est to the scene OF action-to aid in making war
lpon South Carolina or Mississippi? No, they
NOuIu not 40 II. lHeY would lnuCn prefer 10 |
hrow off the yoke of the government, and do what
they could to repel the attacks of the army and
lavy, and to crush the power Of the government.
/ he was not much mistaken, this would be the
natural result of any of these measures. The
question was asked what must do what must
he North do ? He would answer: Give the South
guarantees and secure them from all attacks on
heir rights. He would ask, if war come, which
iod in his mercy avert, what reason would they
rive to the world for precipitating it on the
"
most eager in pressing on measures, and max
ng measures, would be the very ones to
ag behind in the brunt of the battle. And
heir own people would call them to account
why this was so, well the country and
he world, and their own copscences. And what
answer could they, the Republicans, give 'fAnd,"
aid the speaker, 81 here this day in the conclusion
IF my remarks, denounca the measure with all the
power can bring to bear upon the occasion. In |
he name of the Constitution it violates, denounce
t. In the name OF my constituents whom it in
dres, and is likely to attack, denounce it. In
he name of our common country whose peace it is
likely to disturb, and whose peace II once disturbed
,an never be restored, denOuuce it. In the name
# that humanity to which We all belong, but which
too many of US ignore, with redoubled energy
Ind in deeper accents, ! denounce and exc
rate it." Applause. l--Mr. HOWARD,
# Michigan, characterized the remarks of |
Mr.. Bocock, as mere captrap. The
appeal of the gentleman from Virginia was design
ID for his State, so that it might operate on the
minds of the delegates to their convention and |
which was now in session. He was not willing to
ct the seeding States go peaceably. He was un-
Wiling to give any guarantees, or to make any
.--On motion of Mr.. Stanton, the
,ilI was mace the order of the day for Tuesday
lext.-Mr. SPINNER, from the Committee on
ccounts, presented a report in relation to the
of the employees, officials and others in
The House Of Representatives; and also presented |
resolution on the part Of the committee, in refer
,nce to the accountability of disbursng
agent for the House.-The resolution