The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-01-19

| --a Issas - .i-ss.Ezg Washington, Jan. ~.
SESArE-The proceedings Of the Senate were
J opened with prayer. lssdisssp 3s7si 'sta g..1
Nj. Cameron asked whether, vote could De
taken to allow persona 70 the floor OF the senate
i Mr.. TO0mbs objected. f5si3u tas saa5 yi,ti
The President decided that the rule might be
dispensed WITH, by unanimous consent Fur
ther objections being made vast number OF 10
dies and gentlemen retired to the lobby rooms
The diplomatic corps is IN attendance. At least
u thousand ladies and twelve hundred gentlemen
are in the galleries, and it is impossible for any
more to obtain admission, o5s f1.a iaa1
| A nlotioa to fill the vacancy in the Board OF
Regents in the Smithsonian Institute, was laid
| on the table. h ,s s. asa sggJbE53 :. ssrE q
The Senate proceeded to the SPECIAL order, the
consideration of the Presidents message
Mr.. Seward took the floor. fag'h;voa ilsaa
Mr.. Seward said, Congress re-assembled this
winter in the presence OF arrangement OF busi-
ness and in the disturbance of public as well ~
| private credit, and in the face ut seditious
combinations to overthrow the Union
The Union is not more the body than
than liberty is the soul of the nation. He avow.
ed his adherence to the Union, and its integrity
in all its parts; with my friends, with my party,
with my State, with my country or without,
either as they may determine. IN every event,
whether of peace or war, with every consequence
1
After stating the Union cannot be saved by
mutual recrimination or continuance OF debate
on the constitutional power of Congress over the
subject of slavery in the territories or discussing
| the rights of the Federal Government to cOerce
| seeding States into obedience. He says If this
Union is to 90 on, the latter question will give
way to a more practical one: whether many Sc
ceding States have right to coerce the remain
| ing members to acquiesce IN dissolution. de
/ a.. i ,I,,f% 1ntnr
would be worth if saved by the sword, yet said
he did not agree with those who desire to avert
the calamity, who advise conventional or unop-i
posed separation to what they call a recoustruc-I
! ton of the Union. The Union can be dissolved,
/ not by secession but by the voluntary consent
of the people of the United States. Congress
ought not to remain impassive; it ought, If it
can, redress any real grievances to the offended
States, and then ought to supply the President
| with all means necessary to maintain the Union
in full exhibition and discreet exercise of its
authority. Beyond this, with proper activity
OH the part of the executive the responsibility Of
saving the Union belongs to the people and tney
are abundantly competent to discharge. Mr.
| Seward argued at length on the advantages of
| the Union and effects of disunou from all points
of view. What is the ground OF discomfort!
1t is that the disunioulsts did not accept as COLI
elusive the arguments urged in behalf OF the sue
cesstul candidate in the late canvass, denied
thsir own arguments against him were satisfac-
tory to his supporters a.',. f
He said the Constitution didn't require the
| arguments of one party to be satisfactory to
| another, and said the constitutional remedy for
this inevitable dissatisfaction is in renewed de-
| bates and ultimate rehearsng in a subsequent
election. He denied that the Republicans per-
| verted power for the purpose OF oppression, tor
| they never held power.
| After further remarks he said he agreed that
| as concerned the bonosmen, the laws OF the
State within which man is property are su-
preme, and that Oh his escape to another State
| the Constitution regards him bondslnan who
shall be delivered, Oh Claim, to the party to
| whom his service is due. While thinking acts
of Congress on the subject should be molihed to
protect treemen being carried into slavery, he
agrees that all the laws Of States, free Or slave
relating to this classof persons, contravenng the
Constitution of the United States, ought 70 be
repealed, and was willing to vote tor an amend
ment to the COnstitutlon, that Congress should
never have the power to abolish or interfere with
slavery within the States If Kansas were ad-
mtted under the Wyandotte Constitution and
the organic laws Of other Territories could he
repealed, he could vote to autholsc the admis-
sion OF two uew States which should include
them serving the right to offer the subdivisions
whenever necessary into several convenient
States, but he did not find that such reservations
could he Constil utionaliy made Without them
the Interior embarrassment would outweigh all
the immediate advantages OF such measure. l
prefer, when the angry excitement OF the House
shall have subsided, one, two, or three years
| hence, convention of the people to decide
whether any and what amendments of the or.
ganic national law ought to he made. He was
ready to vote for any properly guaranteed laws
| fn al nf tha State nv
citizens of other States and punish those who
shall aid abet them Lastly, he was in favor
of the Pacific Railroad. Mr.. Seward concluded
by saying: | shall cheerfully support the Govern
ment in whatever prudent, yet energetic effort
it shall make to peserve public peace and main
tain the Union, advising only moderation, fer
bearance and conciliatDn, and by expressing the
conviction that the hour was not yet come for
| this great nation to fall
| Woe, woe, to the man who lifts his hand against
it! 1t shall continue and endure, and men in at.
ter times shall declare that this generation which
saved the Union from sudden and unlocked for
dangers, surpassed in magnifcence, even that
Que which laid its foundation on the eternal
principles Of liberty, justice, and humanity.
House Mr.. Clark of Mo-, alter reading
| telegraphic account that the Post Office, Sub
Treasury, and Custom House had been taken
possession OF by U. 8. troops under an order
from Gen. Scott, explained lest the account
might deceive the country, that all those officers
are located in the same building. As to what
was the condition of things at st Louis to
justify such an act he knew not. The people
there, so far, have been quiet and loyal to the
| Union. .r-
The Legislature of Missouri is now in session,
| and will consider what measures are necessary
for the perpetuity of the Union. Missouri makes
no threats, while she is determined to take such
steps as her honor, interests and safety require,
and this she must do in her own way and time.
Mr. Fenton and others on the Republican side,
objected
After further remarks Mr.. Clark asked leave
to offer resolution, calling on the Secretary OF
War to communicate whether the Post Office,
Sub Treasury and Custom House, situated at St.
Louis, have been taken possession OF by the Uni
ted States troops, and if 50 by whose orders, and
whether there has been any attempt by the State
o municipal authorities to improperly Interfere
with said buildings or whether the public pro-
perty has been threatened. He said he did not
believe the report.
He was again called to order on the Republi-
can side, and objection was made to the recep-
ton Of the resolution.
Mr.. Clark asked whether he could not move a
suspension OF the rules ... ~
The Speaker replied that that could be done
only on Monday.
Nj. Clark hoped the majority of the House
would not continue to object to the resolution,
and countenance military despotism.
The Speaker said objections having been made
the resolution could Not be entertained.
The Speaker laid before the House letter
signed by the Mississippi delegation stating tina,
they had received Official information tn At theiI
State had passed all ordinance thu ough conven
ton representing the sovereignty Of the peo
+ pie. by which the State has Withdrawn from the
Federal Government all powers previously dele
0 gated to it, and that they thought it their dut,
10 lay the facts before House and withdraw
t themselves tlom the further deliberations o
this body, while they regret the necessity for th
action; they appro ,ate it and will return.
! Washington, JAM IA.
a HoUsE-Mr. English asked leave to offer th
q following which was read for information
Il Resolved, That the present alarming condition
Of the country impsratively demands that Con
n gress should take immediate steps to preserv
the peace and maintain the Union by removing
far possible, all cases of sectional Irritation
G aud div;sou and Tn fh,t end pa rOfiSm Shoul