Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-03-15
senate Proceedings 49, Debate be.
tween WiYf;aIi and Douglas.

WASHINGTON, March b.
SENATE The debate in the Senate between
Messrs. Douglas and Clinglnan was quite
lengthy to-day.
In the course Of his remarks, Mr.. Douglas
said he did not desire it to be inferred that
he sympathized with tie Administration, or
IN any contingency he and the President
would be associated, for he expected to oppose
ais administration on those great principles
which separated parties III former times. but
on questions to the preservation Of the Uni. n
by peaceful means, and the settlement of the
slavery question by amendment to the Con-
>titutioD, if he understood the Presidents s
true meaning, he was with lin.
WAsmlsaToN. March Z.
SpNArF.-The Vice President laid before
the Senate a letter from Mr.. Chase resign,ng
his seat as Senator from Ohio, and asking
him TO have the goodness to make this known
to the Senate and the Governor Of Ohio.
On motion Of Mr.. Lane a copy was ordered
o te furnished the Governor Of Ohio.
The Senate then resumed the consiiars-
ton Of M. Dixon's resolution that there be
printed the usual number Of the President g
Inaugural
Mr.. W,gtail said that as Mr. Douglas had
yesterday entered into discussion of the
meaning Of Mr.. Lincoln's Inaugural, it was
proper that his MIR. VS. construction of it
should also be given to the country. 1t was
impossible for an administration dealing II
5eneralites, whether glittering or not. to give
peace to the country. 1t is a TACT that seven
States have withdrawn from the Union, en-,
,ered into compact, and formed govern
nent Though the fact is not officially
announced, the whole country knows that the
representatives of the Southern Oonfederacy
arc now here, prepared to be received at this
Ccurt. Waving all question Of regularity as
to the existence Of their Government, they
are here to enter into treaty with the Fed
era, Government; and the matters Of con-
roversy must be settled either by treaty or
the sword. 1t is easy to talk about enforcing
The laws, holding and occupying and possess
ing the forts. When you come to this, bay
on IS and not words must settle the question;
md he would say that Forts Pickens and
Sumter cannot be held much longer, The
present Administrator will soon be forced
10 construe the fnau., ural.
| Forts Moultrie ard Jameson, and Castle
Pinckney, are in the possession of the Con
| iederate States; but the Confederate States
| will not leave Fort Sumter in the hands OF
the Federal Government.
In reply to Mr.. Douglas, he (Wigfall) de-
MED that the Union as it was formerly now
exists legally and constitutionally. The evil
is upon us. The disease is seat d. A b. Ut
pill at night, and a cup of coffee n, 1t morn.
ng. may relieve the liver; hut when tie
disease is on you, blistering and blood stiiHG
is sometimes necessary; and when I
i tien; dies, it is necessary to have coil
funeral service, and things o. that sort. A
h, said the other night, the only question !.
whether there shall be a decent funeral, ate,
the Protestant form, or an Irish wake The
Union is dead, and has to be buried, II yoy
want Protestant funeral, you can have it
tifnot, you can have an irish wake.
Mr.. Wigf II proceeded to s;eak of the
difficulty ol emf rcing tho revenue laws, and
said: Troubles will envirou you all around
ton practically Unfortunately, Mr.. !incol,
will have but brief p:riod during WHICH t
decide tie question. !. he surposes tn
feinfsrcement Of Fort Sumter will lead t
lpeace he eau make the experiment. An,
80 as to recap. .uring Fort Mou trie. II h
shall not remove the troops from Fo,
Sumter, they will be removed for him."
"fhe adoption Of the Crittenden compro
mise proposition might have "djusted tn
difficulties Of the county, but it only REG il
ed nineteen votes in the Senate. The EN-
ator from Illinois (Mr. Donglas) had s.i,
that war cannot preserve the Union. Tn
Union. however, is dissolved. Seven South
ern States had formed onfrderation, an
to tell, as the President has DONE that thei
acts of secession are no more than pieces q
; blank paper, is an Insult. tie repeated
there is NO Union left The seeded State
will u yer surely come back-they will NJ
now come back under any circumstances
Withdraw your troops, then, make no attemE
to collect tribute. and enter iDto trea:
wish those States Do this, and you wi
have pace. Send your flag Of thirty -for
. stars iteer, and it will bs irsd into, ON
war will ensue." g 80 an
Will you divide the public property, an