The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-30
TELEGR APH.


BY TELEGRAPH.
8 o, .. SENATE~-ExTnA SESSION..
WASHINGTON, March 25.--On motion of Mr..
Hale his resolution for the election of Sergeant.
alarms and Door-keeper was laid over for the
present.
On motion of Mr.. Powell it, vas
Resolved. That the President be requested 10
communicate to the Senate, IL not incompatible
with the public interest, the dispatches from
Major Anderson to the War Department during
the time he has been in command Of Fort
Sumter.
Mr.. How resumed his speech in opposition
to Mr.. Douglas resolution calling for Informs
ton relative TO Southern forts. He showed the
difficulties Of procuring amendments to the
Constitution, which Douglas advocated as .
remedy for the troubles and argued that the
recognition Of the seeded States would notpro-
duce peace, and the issue is between loyal citi-
zens and those who defy the authorities of the
Government. He said the Unionists in the
seeded States were borne down by tyranny
from which they ought to be relieved. He
asked Douglas to unite with him and the Re-
publicans that while we do not propose to make
war, We do not intend war shall be made upon us.
Mr.. Douglas said if the War, Department was
ton calls for, no harm could result from such an
answer. He apprehended that this information
would tend to allay public excitement. He sup
posed there was no danger as to Fort Sumter,
but desired to know whether Fort Pickens
would be held merely for irritation? He wanted
to know whether we were to have peace or
war? He believed the policy to be peace. The
threat to collect the revenue and blockade the
ports without legal authority, was q threat to
violate the Constitution Was it wise to delude
the people into the belief that the Administra.
ton was going to do what the Constitution does
not permit? He had endeavored during the
last session, when the Republicans were rushing
through bill to destroy the revenues, to pre-.
vent it, but they would not listen to the warn
ing, and he apprehended that an extra session
would be called to undo part Of what was reck-
lessly and unusually done. Itseemed impossible
for the Republicans to make speeches without
impugning his motive or assailing his character.
Mr.. Howe said he had opposed the amend
ments he proposed, with view of assuring
safety and equality, and restoring peace, unity
and fraternity to the whole country.
Mr.. Clark, interrupting, said he was one who
chose to stand by the Constitution as it is, be.
living it better than entertaining compromises.
Mr. Douglas. No doubt the Senator enter
tanned that opinion, even if disunion was the
inevitable consequence, and would prefer war
to amendments to the Constitution.
q Mr.. Clark said he could judge of .he amend
ments only when PROPOSED. He deprecated war.
Mr.. Douglas. Yet when the question of war
or amendments was proposed, he understood
Mr.. Clark to be against all compromises.
Mr. Clark distinctly believed he could stand
on the Constitution better than any thing else,
and avoid war by taking that position The
time was not far distant when the laws would be
enforced all over the Union without the use oil
the bayonet.
Mr. Douglas. Still no one denies that seven
States have expelled Federal authority.
Mr.. Clark inquired whether the Post Office
Department did not run mails through those
States? sl H allH% p -
Mr. Douglas believed they did; but with the
consent of those States. But letters might
be opened without punishment
Mr. Clark inquired if the revenue could not
be collected on ship board, if Congress clothed
the President with power?
Mr. Douglas supposed they could. But he
had been speaking of laws as they are. He
regarded this as an admission that the Repub-
licans did not mean to collect revenues until the
laws were changed
Mr. Clark wished Mr. Douglas to take the ad
mission as including nobody but himself
Mr.. Douglas thought the admission so clear
that he might include all the Republicans in it,
and said the triumphs of Republicans had
brought disunion, and God only knew what con-
sequences were to grow out Of it.
Mr.. Howe asked whether he understood that
the election OF Mr.. Lincoln, instead of samebo-
dy else, had caused dissolution of the Union?
Mr. Douglas said if he had succeeded in de.
fea:ing the Republicans, thereby rendering it
certain that their policy wouldn't be carried out,
the Southern people would have rested in Sc
curity and the Union would not have been dis.
solved
Mr.. Howe inquired what policy?
Mr.. Douglas replied sectional policy. Because
the Republicans make war on slavery as great
political and moral evil.
Mr. Howe denied that the Republicans were a
sectional party.
Mr.. Douglas said the Republican party is based
on hostility to slavery. He replied to Brock
inridges argument that under the law as it now
stands US to every territory, without exception, a
man eau remove thither with his slave property
on equal terms with other property. The Republi-
cans in organizing Governments for Nevada,
Colorado and Dacotah, last session, did what
they had not done for twelve years before, and
did what they had so long abused him (Douglas)
for wanting to do. They did it from sense Of
justice when they got the majority. The motive
he bad for being President was to carry out that
policy. He gave the Republicans credit for
adopting it after defeating him. The Senator
from Pennsylvania (WimoD had arrived here
in time to see the Republicans repudiate the
Wilmot Proviso, reject the cornerstone of the
temple, and come up to non.intervention and
popular sovereignty.
Mr. Howe, in the course of the debate,
wished to know if Douglass principles could
have saved the Unions and as the Republicans
have adopted them, why wasrot there peace?
Mr. Douglas replied, because the Republicans
would not acknowledge it, and kept the people
in the dark.
NJ. Breckenridge wished to reply to Mr.. Doug
las, but the Senate went into Executive session,
and adjourned.
! WASHINGTON, March 26.-Mr. Breckenridge
moved to take up the resolution, introduced by
him yesterday, advising the withdrawal of the
federal troops from the seeded States. He did
not intend making any remarks, as he had alrea-
dy expressed his views on that subject, and de-
sired the vote on his motion to be regarded as
test question.
Mr.. Fessenden supposed there would be no
objection to that, but reminded the Senator that
no quorum was present.
On motion of Mr.. Hale, the Senate went into
executive session.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-The Senate resumed
the consideration of the resolution OF Mr.. Doug
las
Mr. Breckenridge addressed the Senate, reply
ing to some remarks made by Mr. Douglas yes
terday. He spoka at some length to the effect
that If Republican, statesmen remained firm and
determined there can be no other result than TO
drive the Border States into q union with the
Confederate States.
If the border slave States hold Convention,
which seems probable, and the non-slaveholdng
States deem it their duty to reject such PROPOSE
lions as may be essential, then disruption of
the Union will be inevitable, to the extent of
fifteen States, and at no distant day that will
be the largest Confederacy on the Continent.
Mr.. Douglas replied and reiterated the points
Of his former speech to show that the slave hold
ing states have no complaint to make, as they
have their just proportion and right in the Ter
ritories, and that there be an equitable division
on the line of 81 degrees, half degree further
south than claimed in the Crittenden PROPOSE
ton. The Senator from kentucky had not at.
tempted to disprove this, but he knew the Ter.
ritories Of Colorado Nevada, and Dacotah had
been organized on the basis of the Kansas Ne
braska bill
All these Territories were organized on the
principle, leaving to the people