The national Republican., 1861-01-29
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
SECOND sEssIor
Monday, January 2s, 1861.
SENATE.

Mr. hunter preSenteu tne memorial oil certain |
hardware dealers of Philadelphia, in relation to
the tariff
Mr.. Wilson presented Massachusetts memo
rial, favoring compromise.
Mr.. Bigler presented similar memorials.
Mr.. Hale, from the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, reported q bill in rela.
tion to the postal service of the United States.
Mr. Crittenden presented various memorials
in relation TO his compromise, among which
are resolutions of the late Washington City
Railroad Convention.
Mr.. Hale objected to the reception of those
resolutions.
Mr.. Crittenden said it was a question for the
Chair to decide.
times during the session refused to receive sim.
liar resolutions. He would submit the question
to the Senate.
Mr. Salisbury favored the reception.
Mr.. Crittenden followed on the same side.
Mr.. Mason did not think that the resolution,
not being a memorial, was entitled to be re-
ceived under the rules Of the Senate. He had
been asked to present similar resolutions from
public meeting in Virginia, and had declined
to do so.
Mr.. Seward favored the reception of the res.
olutions; pending which,
The Chair announced certain special orders
pending which,
The Chair laid before the Senate a commu.
nication from Mr.. 1verson, Of Georgia, an.
nouncing the secession of Georgia and his own
withdrawal from the Senate.
Mr.. Iverson took leave of the Senate in an
address, in which, after stating the reasons
which had induced the secession Of Georg ia,
he declared, that if they were allowed to depart
in peace, Georgia would desire an equitable
division of the assets of the Government; but,
if they made war, it would abolish both public
and private debts. Ii they departed in peace,
there might be reconstruction if in var, all
hope of future union was at an end. Mr. lver
son then returned thanks for the many kind
nesses he had received, and he bade the SEN
ate farewell.
Mr.. Bigler presented compromise resolutions
of the State Of Pennsylvania.
The Chair laid before the Senate message
from the President enclosing. the Virginia
propositions for conference of the States of
the Union upon the subject Of the present
crisis, and announcing the appointment OF John
Tyler as Commissioner to the Federal Govern.
ment, and Judge John Robinson as Commis.
sioner to the seeding States, to endeavor to
prevent hostilities pending the action of the
conference. The President urges upon the
Senate the importance Of the subject, eulogizes
the action of Virginia, and appeals to Congress
to carry out the recommendations Of Virginia.
Mr.. Mason moved to have it printed, and
said that the object Of Virginia was first, to
secure peace second, to obtain the rights of
the States in the present Union; or, failing in
that, to obtain a reconstruction Of the present
Government upon new basis.
The resolution to print was agreed to.
Mr.. Clingman moved to print an extra mum.
Der of copies.
Mr.. Hemphill, of Texas, read to the Senate
a written speech in defence of the doctrine Of
the right of State to secedc from the Union,
and particularly the right of Texas to resume
her sovereignty. He declared that it was owing
to Texas that California had been acquired,
and that the United States had forced Texas,
at the point of the bayonet, to surrender por.
ton of her territory to New Mexico. He be-
lieved that Texas would secede.
On motion, the further consideration Of the
subject was postponed until Wednesday next,
at one o'clock.
Several private bills were passed.
At $50 o'clock, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Rice, of Massachusetts,, presented the
petition of fourteen thousand citizens Of that
State, asking for peaceful settlement of the
present national difficulties. 1t was read, and
ordered to be printed. When it was carried up
to the Clerks table, the national flag which
surrounded it was hailed with applause both
from the floor and galleries The Boston com.
mittee, Messrs. Everett, Winthrop, and several
others, were in the galleries at the time.
Messrs. John Cochrane and Valandgham
severally introduced propositions to submit
amendments of the Constitution to the people
of the United States. The propositions were
referred to the select committee Of five.
Mr. Hughes offered a resolution, which was
adopted, instructing the Committee for the Dis
trict of Columbia to inquire into the eXpediency
of retroceding portion of the District of Colum.
bia, not necessary to the purposes of the Fed.
eral Government, back to the State of Mary
land.
Mr.. Hindman Intellectually endeavored to ex.
tend the inquiry to the expediency of retro
ceding all the District back to Maryland.
Mr.. Craige, of North Carolina asked, but
did not obtain, leave to offer resolution, call
ing upon the Secretary OF War to inform the
House how many troops have been ordered to
this city since December last-whence they
came-the character of the troops-and for
what purpose they are concentrated here in a
time of profound peace.
, Mr.. Stanton introduced bill to provide for
the efficiency Of the militia, lin regard to oath
: of offce,) which was referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs.
. Mr.. Vandever offered resolution to the eff.
feet that there is no constitutional power to in.
terfere with slavery in the States--that what.
ever questions may arise as to slavery in the
\ Territories, it is no cause for a dissolution of
the Union; and that Government that can
not enforce the laws, does not deserve to be
: maintained. Referred to the select committee
!. of FIVE.
r The Speaker laid before the House the
following message from the President of the
United States:
0 To the Senate and House Of Representatives. Of
!. the United States:
!. deem it my duty to submit to Congress a
series of resolutions adonted hu Tho or;nlo