Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-05
Thirty.Sixth Congress-Second Session.

of petitions were presented in reference TO the
present difficulties. Senator Douglas introduced
q bill for the amendment of the Fugitive Slave
law. Senator Iverson announced the secession
of Georgia and his own withdrawal from the Sem
ate. He expressed his opposition to a reconstruc-
ton of the Union and prophesied great things for
the Southern Confederacy. The Presidents
Message was read, and after some remarks from
Senator Mason, was ordered to be printed. SEN
ator Hemphill, of Texas, spoke in defence of lhe
legal right of secession.
In the House to-day the monster petition from
Boston, in favor of Compromise was received
and ordered to be printed. Various other reso-
lutions and petitions, having reference to the ma
tional difficulties, were presented. The Presi-
dents Message was read and its consideration,
after some debate, deferred. Mr. Pryor address,
ed the House in defence of the right of Secess
ion. The Senate amendment to the Kansas bill
was agreed to, and the bill for the better organ
ization of the military of the District passed.
TUESDAY, Jan. 29th-The United States Sen.
ate was engaged to-day with the Pacific railroad
bill. A number of amendments were made to
the bill, but no final vote TAKEN
In the House to-day after the morning hour,
the debate was resumed On the report of the
Committee of Thirty three, and Mr.. Stephens, of
Pennsylvania, delivered an anti-compromise
speech. Mr.. Harris, of Maryland, followed in an
eloquent and earnest speech, showing the little.
ness of the causes which were destroying the
country and the terrible results of that destruc-
ton. Mr.. Winslow, of North Carolina, and Mr..
Van Wyck, of New York, then continued the de-
bate.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30til-In the United States
Senate to-day, during the morning hour, several
petitions were presented having reference to Sec
tional troubles. The Pacific Railroad bill was
then taken up and finally passed-yeas 81, nays
IA. 1t has been loaded with amendments by the
Senate, to many of which it is believed the House
will not agree. The bill for the organization of
Jefferson Territory was taken up, and the name
of the Territory changed to ''Idaho." On mo
tion of Mr.. Green, the bill was amended so as to
provide that the Territorial Legislature shall pass
no laws to impair the right of private property
or discriminate in taxation between differ ent
classes of property.
In the House to day the Speaker presented a
letter from Mr.. Cobb, of Alabama, stating that
he had received certified copy of the Ordinance
of Secession his State and that he felt it his du-
ty to withdraw from the House. MIR. Cobb, who
has consistently and strongly opposed secession,
added some feeling remarks, in which he declar-
ed that the people OF Alabama would receive a
message of peace and reunion with open arms,
but would meet attempted coercion with brave
defence of their rights. A message was receiv-
ed from the President signifying his approval of
the bill admitting Kansas as State, and Mr..
Conway appeared, took the oath and assumed his
seat. The general debate on Federal affairs was
then resumed.
THURSDAY, Jan. 31st-The debate in the Uni
ted States Senate to-day will attract marked at
tention. Its importance and significance cannot
be mistaken. Mr.. Seward, in presenting the
memorial of thirty eight thousand citizens of
New York in favor of the Border State Com
promise, accompanied it with remarks that will
meet the approval of every man who does not
desire to press the sectional troubles of the cOnn-
try to the point of national disintegration and
ruin. He declared that he held himself open to
of compromise, that he believed the
Union would be preserved, and that "ALL PLAT
"FoRMs or MEN THAT STOOD IN THE WAY OF ITS
PRESERVATION WOULD BE SWEPT AWAY" The
question of freedom or slavery in the Territories
he said had been reduced to very narrow COM
pass by the admission OF Kansas, California and
Oregon, and as in that part OF the Territory
which remained, over which slave code extern
ded, but twenty-four slaves had been introdu-
ced, he "did not fear slave aggression" which had
accomplished only that much. He was willing
TO submit the question to a Convention to be
called according to the forms OF the Constitution,
and "the world would see how thirty four States
would peacefully adjust this difficulty" Sena-
tor Mason endeavored to dissipate the force of
the manly and candid declarations of MIR. Sew
ard, but simply showed that he belongs to those
extremists who do not wish, and have determine
ed to prevent if they can, all possibility of an ad
justment Mr.. Seward replied to him with all
the force of truth that he had ''made ont of
speech pacific and fraternal, declaration OF
war;" The debate was continued up TO the ad-
journment of the Senate, Mr.. Douglas taking an
effective part.
In the House yesterday Mr.. Adams, of Massa-
chusetts, Republican, made q speech almost as
marked as that of Mr.. Seward in the Senate for
its coDciliatory and conservative character. Du-
ring the morning hour the House rejected the
Senate amendment to the bill providing daily
overland mail service. The deficiency bill was
considered in Committee of the Whole. The
House will hereafter hold evening sessions for
debate only.
FRIDAY, Feb. 1st.-The Senate to-day, after
the morning hour, was addressed by Mr.. Latham
of California, in favor of the preservation of the
Union, and against coercion. Mr.. Simmons,
from the Select Committee, reported the tariff
bill, which was made the special order for w ed
nesday next.
10 the House Mr.. Kellogg, of Illinois, Repub-
lican, reported series OF propositions to be sub
mltted as amendments to the Constitution, for
the adjustment OF the National difficulties. The
plan is q modification of the Border State reso-
lations Mr.. Kellogg asked that they should be
printed, and gave notice that he would offer
them as a substitute for the resolutions of the
Committee of Thirty three. The special order
coming up, Mr.. Hamilton, OF Texas continued
the debate, opposing secession, and declaring the
Southern States had no good cause to detach
themselves from the Government. MIR. Stokes,
of Tenn, followed on the same side, declaring
that he had tBken an oath to support the Con-
stitnion, and he intended to keep it so long he
lived. The House met in the evening again for
general debate.
SATURDAY, Feb. 2-The .. S. Senate, on Sat-
urday, passed joint resolution appointing
Committee to count the vote of the Electoral
College for President and Vice President of the
United States. The House concurred, and the
Committee was appointed as follows: On the
part of the Senate, Messrs. TrumbuIl, Foote and
Latham; on the part of the House, Messrs.
Washburne, Adrian, Ely, Anderson and Craig.
The House passed the bill authorizing the
President at any time between this and the 1st
of July to borrow $25,000,000 on the credit of
the United States. Mr.. Corwin gave notice of
his intention to close the debate on the report of
the Committee of Thrty-Three on Thursday
next.
MAGNANIMoUs.-Mr. Hugh W. Shelley has
from the Conventional canvass iD
Augusta county. This we conceive to be, under
the circumstances, most prsiseworthy and mag