Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15
Thirty-sixth Congress--se Session
MONDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1861.
SEN ATE

b
Mr. Wade presented four petitions, nuu!crVusl y
sipncd bv citizens Of Philadriphn, asking Congress
to stand frm by the Union, the Constitution aid the
enforcement OF The laws.
Mr. Crittendcn presented large number oi petit
lions from citizens OF Massachusetts, Indiana aud
Missouri, asking Tor soI'e settlement VI Tie "n'e"'
ties OF the country.
The Senate then took up tie Naval Appropriation
bill.
A number Of amendments were proposed: among
them, to build srvc light uEauShI strhiISF', "
curry fur gums each.
Mr. Hunter WIS rot willing ut this time 10 Increase
the Navy when the Treasury WIS empty, and the
government forced 10 borrow money ut AL eHorblt"lt
interest.
Mr. IIue said that last year tic same appropriation
Ind been proposed.
Mr. Hunter did not SEQ thu, that afforded uny cause
for such MI appropriation in the present rxigency-
The light draft Of the vessels proposed excited his
suspicion. They were light draft und just suited 10
enter the ports OF the Southern States which had Sc
coded. If they were intended Tor COERCION, he would
not vote Il dollar.
Mr. Fessenden called the attention Of the Scnator
iron, Virginia to the tact that this appropriation for
small steamers had been reported last ycnr by the Sell
utor from Florida MIR. Mallory
Mr Hunter responded that 1t tllat time Florida had
not seeded, and such vusse IS would have been
useful during peace in the ports Of the States no" Sc
aeded. The case was quite different nov"
Mr. Grimes, OF Iowa, said he should mol vote LOT
the vessels with any view TO the coercion of the Sc
coded States lie believed, however, that They would
be enincn;ly useful in connection with iorolgn ha-
tons. ,,,;
,hst thc Scn.tor from Iowa would not vote for these
vessels with view 10 coercion lie sul! thought
that the present lnnpporue time Tor ii'crc's
ing the Navy.
After further iceutc the amendment MAS agreed 10
yeas So nays Is
Au a,neudneut was proposed creating M office Of
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy To he filled from tho
line oil uctiyv service by Captain Will shore pay
which amendment WIS not agreed TO-
Other amendments were prop"Hcu, hnu a!'eI eoh-
adorable debate the bill WIS reported TO the SENATE
All the amendments agreed To, in COMMITTEE were
aprerd To bv the Senate except that IN relation 20 the
building Of seven steala sloops-ci war.
Mr.. Polk opposed the amendment, alleging That
there WIS never time less fitted Tor sncl purpose
Mr.. Mason Of Va, declared that he would never
vote to strengthen the government, no long Us the
prrsert troubles continued, and there was any pro-
liability Of nh attempt ut eocreing the sec"iled States
| Mr. F.,sendrn, OF Me-, said TINT he admired the
| mnnliness Of the Senator from MISSISSIPPI, iMr.
Davis when he made the declaration That ~ long
a, he remained Il Senator Of the United States. he
would strive to uphold The Constitution and sustain
the Government WHOSE pay he WIS receiving. FOR
himself leing Senator OF the Lhiied states he
| would uphoId the authority OF the United Stntcs
everywhere i, had authority, by peaeca5e means, II
POSSIBLE: bu, ii that failed then by the eXercse oi
| the legitimate power Of the government.
Mr.. Mason responded that the Senator from Maine
| mir. Fcssendcn) might judge for himself what he
Irnres.u,ed Mid what were hs duties. lie MIR Ma
nni stood there representing the sovereign State Of
vir,inia and 10 her alone WAS Inc aInclahle Tor hs
| acts. # hc thought these preparations would
strengthen the hands Of those who wished 20 stir NJ
civil var, he would Oppose tLe,n "1!'i opp"se them
Mr. King, of New York WAS surprised ut the recE-
| L..snr.s OF treason He did not complain that men
voted agun-t supplies 10 sustain their own country,
| in q contest with her cneInleS. Tint ha'l
| hapucncd in the war of lsl2, and IN every
Curyrcss there bud been men who would do it. Nor
| woud ne limit fr, edum Of speech. No man cnnii
| tall; trrnsou 1t required to bc acted before
il Was punishable. lie was glad that treuson had
been discovered by Providence III the Cabinet before
il wns too late BY MEALS OF u fraud, which aIi led
70 tile icuomini0ns expulsion "f Il Cabinet officer,
| and his indictment common crlinnai. he
! h0ned that 10 terms would he made with treason.
Mr.. Green of Missouri lad heretofore been slen,
on this topic, but now il Mas time to speak out lie
took The floor, hut gave way 10 motion 10 adjourn
| and nj : clock the SENATE adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Of seneca Falls, i'll favor Of the border Suite Husolu-
tiuns.
Sir. Cr.ige, Of ~ c., offered the following presm-
| DE aud resolution:
Whereas The States al South Carolina, Georgia
! Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana md Florida have
seeded from the COHeucEack VI TIC SHLSu @tateo
| md established Southern Coniederacy; and,
Whereas It is desirable thut the most arnicable re.
| la,ions should exist between them, and that wal
should be- avoided the greatest calamity that car
result:
Therefore, Resolved. by the Senate and House o.
REPRESENTATIVES, that the President DC required te
acknowledge the independence Of sald Southern Con-
ederacy, as soon as oitica! information Of its estsb
| lshnlent bc received, and that he receive such
| Commissioners VI may b. appointed by tbut Gov
rruucnt for al amicablc adjustment Of all matters in
| dispute.
Mr. Grlise asked TINT the resolution he put OF lis
passage now, as all men desired t!nt pence should br
preserved.
| Mr. Faruswortii moved that it be referred ~ tie
| Committee on Patt rss. lLaushtrr.r
On motion OF Mr. Cra;gc, il Was referred to The
| Committee OH Foreign Affairs.
| Mr.. Netherlands resolution was a,ispted reeitng
but by the seizure OF the Mint md money at the Gus
] tom House by the authorities Of Louisiana, the
United States have bccn put ut defiance, call
ING UPON the President, il not ncoI atible with the
public interests for I'LL the scs i'll the case, and what
step. il any, have been taken or contemplated to
cover the possession Of the said property.
MI Ferry asked leave TO otter resolution nstruc-
ting the Committee the Judiciary to enquire into
the expedcncy Of so amending the Constitution OF
the nited States us 70 expressly forbid the with
drawnl of auy State from the Union, without The
concurrent vots qi swoshirds Of both Houses ot CoI-