Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-27
OONGREssIONAL.
WAsHmGaoH, %
sKHATR.

lAIAAAs
On motion Of Mr.. Hale 1t vas agreed
that when the Senate adjourn to day It be
70 meet on Monday next, and when the Sen
ate meet on that day il adjourn to meet
next Thursday.
hF. Grim65 presented o peLIIlcH NON cIII-
Gems Of IoHa for the intrOductisn Of fths hom-
OOpstbis system Of practice in the army.
Messrs. Sumner and Trumhull presented
petitions for The emancipation Of slaves an
der the war power.
Several petitions were presented for the
location Of q natioual srmory ct Rock
Island, Ill. -.. .-s
Mr. Hale offered q resolution that the
President be requested, if not incompatible
with public interests, to transmit copies Of
all dispatches which have passed between
this country and Great Britain, relative to
the seizure Of Mason and Slidell-said dis
patches to be communicated in either open
or executive session as may be- deemsd
proper.
Mr.. Hale said be had understood from the
the public press and those who held more
intimate relations with the Administration
than himself, though the absence Of intimacy
was not his fault as be WasiWilling 70 be as
confidential as anybody, that for thres Or
four days past the Cabinet has had under
consideration a proposition fraught with
more evil to the country than anything
that had yet marked its history, and that
Wss the surrender Of Mason and Slidell to
Great Britain. By doing this we would
yield all We had gained In the war Of the
Revolution, and be humilisted to second
rate power. No man would 20 farther than
himself for peace, but he would not submit
to National disgrace and dishOnor to obtain
such peace. He would favor the arbiira-
| ton Of another power, but if a demand has
been made by Great Britain for the surren-
der of Mason and Slidell, war should be de-
clared against her instantly. He would
make all honorable concessions for peace,
but 3 peace involving such surrender would
be infinitely worse than war.
| His friend ron Indiana, Mr.. Lane, had
remarked this morning that his State had
now $4,000 men in the Aeld, and would
/ double that numbeF 10 maintain the nation
al honor. If this Senate snould 60 home
after such q surrender and humiliation, il
would be subject to the scorn and indigna-
ton Of the country. BE regarded tue aro-
CANT demand OF England as a pretsxt for
war. She vas determined to humiliate us
frat and fght Us afterwards. Let our cities
and villages be pillaged and burned, but let
I our nhtional honor be preserved. Frsnois
the First said that after the battle Of Pavia
that all was lost hut honor. He (Hals)
would pray thst this Administration might
not sacrifice our national honor. Thousands
would yet come to the field to defend it,
If this surrender was made, the Administers
ton would meet with gu0h Ire in the
Fesr that 1t would be hurled from power
If we had q war with England, it %ould be
for the same cause that had sent one King
to the block and another homeless and house
less over the Earld, and one shat would ap-
peal TO men wherever the English language
was spoken.
He believed, too, that If Napoleon had one
desire more than another, it was 10 wipe out
the stain upon the French arms at Water
loo. All ever Canada there were thousands
Of Irishmen who would rush 70 arms to sus-
tain such q cause az ours. Our principles
were our great strength, and If war must
come, be must say let it come, and thank
Ged we are the Instruments In his hands 70
work ont his own cause.
Mr.. Sumner said bis sEn belief was that
the matter would be amicably adjusted. Il
was In safe hands and it would be better for
the Senate to reserve themselves for fsetss
and not act upon rumors-
Mr. Hds's resolution was laid over under
the rules.
Mr.. Davis gave notice that he should In
troduce bill confseating every species Of
property of all persons who have had any
connection with the Southern Rebellion
either in civil, military OF naval capacity. 3
Mr.. Harlan introduced bill for establish
ing provisional governments in all the se-
ceding States. Referred.
Mr.. Howe introduced bill amending th'
Fugutive Slave Act. Referred.
Adjourned till Monnsy.