Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-29
u. =. SENATE.-ENrRA SESSION.

WASHINGTON, March, -.
Mr.. Douglas resolution, calling for infor-
nation in regard to Forts. Navy Yards, etc.
in the seeded States, was taken up.
| Mr.. Bayard concluded his remarks in IA
| vor OF recognizing the independence OF the
| Confederate States, and arguing there is dan
ger of collision. unless treaty is negotiated.
Mr.. Howe Of Wisconsin, opposed the res
olution; first, because 1t seemed to him, so
far as the mover of it was concerned, to be
wholly unnecessary, for it appeared to him
J from the Senator's (Douglas) argument that
he already possessed the information he
sought to obtain. lie (Howe) was also op-
posed to it for the reason that he was not
satisfied that the Secretary of War had the
| information desired. But a short time had
| elapsed since tho Secretary had entered on
the duties of his office. 1t was a little pc
cullar that this information should be called
Tor IN the very morning OF tins Administra-
tratlon and not in the evening LIGHT of the
late Administration. lie was opposed 10 the
resolution for another reason 1t was said
that the condition of the country IS critical.
and we are surrounded by dangers He did
not undertake to know or say how serious
the danger is. There was too much Of It, he
believed. 1t was said the danger is no less
imposing than 4 hostile nation in a thrca ten
ing attitude, and the assumption is rs TO
whether we are to have peace or war. He
was not prepared to say in what possible
contingency it would be WISE and prudent to
publish TO friends and enemies the very mi
mute information which the resolution called
for. If, as had been said we have a public
enemy confronting US, would it be the part
OF wisdom and craftsmanship to publish for
their information what forts we have IN our
possession, and by what force we can hold |
them, and, in addition, what additional |
forces and sums of money will be required |
for this purpose?
1t might be judicious to confine this know !
ledge to ourselves if we have it, While he |
doubted the wisdom of communicating this
knowledge to our enemies he was not en-
tIrely sure it would be prudent to impart it
to their friends. The Government has
friends the people of the United States are
not all enemies. Ii was said Government
which braves AMI defes it has sprung from
ourselves, rib of our own. taken from our
body IN horrid sleep And that Govern
lnent was so powerful that. as the Senator
IRON Illinois suggested, it would require two
hundred and eIghty-6ve thousand men to
enforce the laws IN that portion Of The coun
Try which 1t assumes to command and con-
troll. How happened this, Is u question
which the people are putting to themselves
to-day, and have been putting for many
Jays They are deeply curious to know
now this happened 1t is a strange event,
ana II so, 1t shows that they have not been
alrly dealt by. How happened it ? lie
iId not think we had better hurry up the
answer. They he ri every day remarks {
showing deliberate design to belittle the !
government and people OF the United States
lhey were told the nation is not equal to |
ms emergency or that CnteTprse-that YOU {
must abandon that post or that section. YOU f
AVE not force enough to hold it, etc. As l.
he Senator from Kentucky said, You must v
.bandon all the States which have abiured T
he authority of the nation, because you u
ave not force enough TO maintain your a
uthority there. and only enough to e
rrltate. 1t seemed to him this a
Tas strange language to be used byRepresen- W
itIves OF the United States here or else "
here. 1t would do for our enemies to saw S
hese things, but he hardly thought, with h
ue respect, it was becoming to our friends
n revolutionary times we met the British
egularS in the field, and the irregulars too
DO were not found in the line, but lurked nj
hucr the neuSes, anu nred at our troops | ri
ON behind old houses. They furnished W
rms to our enemies, and also fed them. The II
lends Of the Republic got from them no
Ipport whatever He was reminded of this !,
usage in our history by the speech of the n
,nator from Illinois, the other day
e have now an administration with, it has II,
zen proclaimed, an earnest desire aud fixed 49,
Irpose to maintain the authority of the W
nlted States, and not the authority Of this a.
that section merely, by peaceful means, If ~
aceful means will suffice This is the settled III
Irpose, as he understood it, of the admin
ration. Was it not a purpose which de- 49,
inded the best energies of every one ? II ~
,med to him the Senator from Illinois WAS ~. 81
t furnishing the great and he could have ~, 'n'
-nished with this view. Instead of helm lis
, to hold up the hands of the Government
1t Senator was confronting the Govern
mt, not by arms and the application of We,
ce, but with objections that the Admins die
ton must stop here, then there, and must
collect the revenue, etc. and it seemed
him (l1owel this furnished aid to the en- Pa
les and not to the friends of the country TIM
would admonish Representatives. that If ray
ther revolution is to be forced upon u.s. of
should take especial care that the future a fl
orian shall not be compelled to record VIII
t with the friends of the United States alt;
iounu INC senpiance OF the cowboys of incl
Revolution. his