Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-01-14
~ Ell EGR A p HIC
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WAsHINoroN Jan. /.


SxSArs.-Ths proceeding . OF the Senate we're
opened with prayer.
Mr. Cameron esked whether . vote could be
taken to allow persons to the floor OF the Sen.
| ate.
| MIR. Toonbs objected.
The President decided that the rule might
be d,-pensed with by unanimous consent.
Further objections being made. a vast num-
Der Of ladies' and gentlemen retired to the
library room. and the diplomatic corps is in
attendance. At least . thousand lacies and
and twelve hundred gentlemen are in the ga-
| lsriss, and it is impossible tor any more to OBJ
| tain admission.
A motion to fill the vacancy in the Board Of
! Regents in the Smithsonian Institute, was laid
/ on the tvble.
MIR. Seward moved that the Senate proceed
| to the special order, the consideration Of the
| Prseidents message.
Mr. Sc ard took the floor. He said Cou-
gress re-ssssmbled this winter in the prsence
| Of d,rangeiDent Of business, and the distur-
bance Of public, as we'll AS private credit, and
| 10 the face Of audacious CON mbnations to over
throw the Union. The alarm is appalling, for
| the Ulion j. not more the body tnan liberty
| ie the soul of the nation lie avowed his ad.
herence to the Union and its integrity in all its
| psrils. with my friends. with my party, with
y
as they may determine. in every event. wheth-
er OF peace or war, with every consequence of
honor or dishonor, Of lie Or death sitter seal
| ing The Union cannot be saved by mutual
, recrininstion CT continuance Of debate on the
| constitutional power of Congress u[on the
subject OF slavery in the Territories. or discuss
| ing the right of the Federal Government to
coeree seeding States into obedience. lie
says if this Union is to go on, the latter ques-
| ton will give way to . more practicable one,
whether many seeding States have right to
coerce the remaining members to acquiesce IN
| dissolution. He ahhorred civil war, did not
know what the Union would be worth If saved
by the sword, yet he said he did not agree
| with those who desirs to avert the calamity
by advised conventional or uncpposed separa-
iioD, with view to what they call a Recon
s,ruc,ion Of the Union. The Union can be dis.
solved, not by secession, but by the voluntary
consent of the people of the United States
Congress ought not to remain impassve it
ought il it can to redres. any real grievances to
the offended States, and then ough, to supply
the President with all means necessary to
maintain the Union in full exhibition and dis
Greet exercise of.its authority; beyond this.
with proper activity on the part Of the Execu
tive. the responsibility Of saving the Union,
belongs to the people, and they abundant.
| IL.
| argued at length on the advantages OF the
Union and effects Of disunion. from all
points of views. He procee led What is the
ground of discomfort? 1t is that
the dsuBionists did not accept as conclusive
the arguments urged in behalf Of the succe.s-
| fol candidate in the late canvass, denied their
| own arguments against him were more
satisfactory to his supporters. lie said
the Constitution did not require the argument
| of one party to be satisfactory to another. and
said the constitutional remedy for this is inevl-
table dissatisfaction, 10 in renewed debate or
| ultimate rehearsng in subsequent election. He
denied that the Republicans perverted pow
for the purpose of oppression, for they never
held power.
| After further remarks he eaid ne agreed that
| as concerns the bondsmen, the laws # the State
within which man is property, are supreme
ard that on his escape to another State the
! Constitution regards him q bondsman, who
shall be delivered on claim 10 the party to
whom his service is due. While thinking acts
ofCongress the subject should be modified to
protect free men from being cal red into slavery
| he agrees that all the laws Of the States, free
| or slavs. relating to the clsss Of persons con-
| travening the Constitution of the L ed States
| ought to be repealed, and was willing 10 vote
for On amendment to the Constitution that
Congress should never have the pow er TO abol-
ish or interfere with slavery within the States
Ii Kansas were admitted under the Wyandotte
| Constitution, and the organic lave Of other
Territories. Could b. repealed. he could vote
to authorize the admission of two new States.
which should include their right to offer
the b-divsion whenever necessary. into
eral convenient States. but he did not find
that such reservations could be constitut,onally
| H. ade without them. Tie ulterior ernbarrass-
ments would outweigh oil the imm ediate sd
vsntages Of such q measure. l prefer. when
| the angry excitements q the House shall have
subsided, one, two or three yeArs hence. q con.
ven,on Of the people. to decide whether any,
and hat amendments of the organic national
law ought to be made, lie was ready to vote
for any proper guaranteed laws to prev cut
mutual invAsions of the States by citizens of
other States, and punish those Who shall aid or
sbet them. Lastly, he was in favor Of she Pa
cifc Railroad.
Mr.. Seward concluded by saying I shall
cheerfully support the Government in What
ever prudent. yet energetic. efforts it shall
make to preserve public peace and maintain
the Union-advising only moderation and for
besrsnce and concilia,ion, and by expressing
TO the CONVEX tion that the hour had not ye,
come for this great national fsll. Woe. woe, to
the mao that madly lifts his hand against it
1t shsll continue and encure. and men in after
times shall declare that this generation which
saved the Union from the sudden and uu-
looked fo- dangers surpassed in magniicenc-,
even the one which laid lie foundation in the
eternal principle of liberty. justice and human.
ity. 91mEsF str
Mr.. Clark. Of Misronri, after reading a tele-
graph account that the sub-Treasury and Gus.
ton House had been taken possession OF by
Uuited States troops under sn order from Gen.
Scott, explained. lest the account might deceive
the country. that all these offices ara located
in the came building. but - to what the con.
d.ion OF thi ,gs Of st Louis to juetify such an
act he knew not. The people there, 60 far,
have been quiet and loyal to the Union.
The LegslAture of Missouri, and no in ses.
sion, will consider what measures are necessary
for the perpetuation Of the Union. Missouri
makes 20 threats, while she is determined to
take such steps - her honor. interest and cafe
ty requires. and this she will do In her own
way and time
Mr. Fsston and others on the Republican
] Jdids ebjsstsd. sa10Not.
ttS4sa