The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-21
THIRTY-SlXTH CONGRESS.-SECOND SESSION
SENATE.


Senator elect from Wisconsin private
bills were passed.-On motion of Mr.. WADE,
the House bill to authorize the Postmaster General
to discontinue the mail services in States where it
is liable to be interfered with, was taken up
Mr.. GREEN moved to add that the Secretary of
the Treasury be directed to prevent the attempt to
collect revenue in such States.-Mr. DOUGLAS
suggested that this was not the proper place to of
fer this amendment.-Mr. GREEN said it was an
indirect attempt to strike at States claiming to be
out of the Union. Is there insur rection in any
State or an obstruction to the mail service in any
State? Even II there was, the Postmaster Gener-
al or the President has no power to interfere unless
asked by the Governors of the States.--Mr.
HEMPHILL offered the following:
WHEREAS, Several States have Withdrawn from the
Union aud the laws of the United States are no longer
enforced therein; therefore
Resolred, That the Postmaster General be directed to
arrangements with governments of the same
postal communication therein.
Mr.. GREEN withdrew his amendment --Mr
CLINGMAN said he believed that these States
were out of the Union, and were foreign States as
much as Great Britain, and he thought that the
mail service should be stopped in them. But he
wanted to alter the bill, and he moved to strike
out "nsurrection" and insert as the reason
for such discontnuance "secession of GER
tain States. "---Mr. FITCH suggested to
say "retusal TO acknowledge the laws" so
as not to recognize secession. Also to
strike out the words "pCsal laws maintained so
rs to give no reason to employ force.-Mr.
CLINGMAN accepted the amendment-Mr.
MASON said the bill was declaration BY the SEN
ate of Instruction on the part OF these States He
trusted that the Senate would look the question
as it was one of the most grave questions ever be-
fore the country. He said the facts that these
States had contederatcd together. They had a
Congress in session with much power as we pos
sees, yet the bill calls it insurrection and assumes
that there is no new empire, but that the Federal
power is still in existence in those States. He pro-
ceeded to argue against anything which would
plunge the country into civil Wharf.-The hour of
having I'll p Iva tax
"A separate vote was had the amendment
reducing the duty on sugar, and placing the duty
on tea and cofiee.-Mr. BlGLER explained the
provisions of the bill, and stated that under its op-
Grafton an increase of SIG, 022 900 in revenue was
nnticipated.-Mr. GRIMES moved to strike out
the amendment relating to tea and coffee; lost by
yeas is, nays 25.--The amendment was then agreed
to.-The amendment imposing duty on wool
under is cents per pound OF per cent. I'D Ualorem
was concurred in by yeas &c, nays 19.--The
amendment imposing duty of Is per cent. I'D
ratorem on books and periodicals in the English
language, and watches and parts of watches, was
adopted.--An amendment offered by Mr. SUM
NER to admit books over three wears old free of
duty was debated and reected.-Mr. LANE
offered an amendment substituting the act of 1916
for the present bil.-Mr. DOUGLAS said he
could not vote fer the original bill and would sus-
tain the amendment of the Senator from Oregon
lie thought it unwise, in view of the excitement in
the Southern States, to increase the irritation by
passing so obnoxious a measure as protective
tariff. The untriendly legislation of Canada was
also a matter to be taken into considera-
ton. lie was in favor of a great CONT
mental system which would embrace all the nations
upon the American Continent, and unite them in
great common civil Union, having a uniform rat
of duty. He thought the present time suspicious
for the Inauguration of this policy. The idea
of unrestricted intercourse between contiguous
nations was not a novel one, and he instanced the
German Zollveren the model upon which he
would base the system he would wish to see adopt
ed. The Zolverein had worked so we'll that it now
embraced nearly He Tod
at length the great advantages to result from the
adoption of this policy. He thought such an ar
rangement would compose the difficulties with the
seeding States. He hoped the Tariff subject
would be postponed till the next session. The
vote was then taken MIR. Lanes substitute
which was lost by yeas Is, nays %. The bill was
then passed, and the Senate adjourned at halEpast
seven O'Clock.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at II NJ. PRAYER by the Chan |
lain.--Mr. DAWES, from the Select Committee
OF Five, TO whom referred the Presidents
Message of the 10Th of January, 1861, in relation
to the secession of the State of South Carolina from
the Federal Union, presented a report which he |
desired should be read and ordered to be printed
Mr.. BRANCH desired to submit few remarks.
lie could not make minority report for every re-
port made by the committee therefore he wished |
to speak in animadversion to the b--The re- !
port was, therefore, withdrawn, until tomorrow
morning, in consequence of the special order the
Dill OF Mr.. Stanton, which provides for the CALLING
out by the President, in case of certain CONTINGENT
cies, all the regular and volunteer forces--Mr. |
BoCOCK, of Virginia, said he considered the pas
sage OF this bill foregone conclusion, but he op-
posed 1t on account of the features which appear |
on Its lace. He opposed it in consequence of the
enects Its passage will produce on the peace and
prosperity OF the country. He opposed it, above
all and more than ALL in consequences of the nolicv
it indicates, if it does not in the STRONGEST degree
initiate. de yesterday characterized the bill as a
declaration of war, and having since carefully read
IT, he reiterated the remark. 1t was more
a declaration Df l.
the President, in time of peace with dicta- |
torial powers. The bill does something more than
suppress invasion and insurrection. 1t authorizes
the President to employ military force to suppress
instruction against the authority of the United
States. lie briefly argued the various features |
In the Constitution which were designed and in |
tended to prohibit the General Government
b IRON 1h0;u operating in the States unless
the President to carry on po8itve direct and I'M
mediate coercion against the seeding States and |
goes further than that. 1t clothes the Presi-
dent with the whole military power of the country
Ihls bill does more. 1t authorizes the President
to employ the forces for the purpose of ENFORCING
the laws of the United States RESURRECTION had in
the old statute been termed domestic violence. But
TINS would construe the action of the seeding
States as Instruction. and use the forces of the
United States for the purpose of marching on the
State offending with armed forces And further,
II the President was empowered to call out all the
volunteers, he would attempt to call out those vol
unteers of States which were still in the Union vet
Southern in feeling and interest. This would create
mutny, and thus in another way bring on civil strife
lie said that there doubt but that the CUES
ton was now whether the Chicago platform or the
Constitution, the Republican party or the country
should stand. The Chicago platform was to the
Republicans law and statute-book. 1t was a
higher law.-Mr BocOek had not finished his
remarks when the morning hour expired, and the
Dill lies over.-Mr. VALANDIGHAM addressed
the House on the report of the Committee of
fhirty-Three. He earnestly appealed to the Re-
publcans to use every effort to preserve the Union
The special order for the hour of 3 o'clock, the
Naval Appropriation bill, was taken up and con-
GARRETT took the floor. He de-
nounced the bill as war measure, and offered an
amendment providing that the said armament and
ships ofwar should not be used for the enforcement
of the laws in any State which had seceded.-The
amendment was not agreed to, and after further
discussion. Yyithont Coming to any final nnlinn IN |