Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-10
TIE LINCOLN CONGRESS-.
WAsuLSGToN CTR. Dec. 4, 1861.

TIE LINCOLN CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON CITT. Dec. 4, 1861.
Senate.
Mr.. Kennedy, CT Maryland, and Mr.. Sher-
man, Of Ohio. appeared in their seats to-day.
Mr.. Salisbury, of Delaware, offered a pre-
amble and % Mt resolution, az follows
Whereas the people Of the Slales of Fir-
ginia, North O~srolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee are in revolt
against the constitutional government OF the
United States, and have assumed to secede
from the Federal Union to form an independent
government, under the name of the ConfeGe-
rate States Of America; AMI, whereas, tho
Congress Of the United States. approving the
sentiments expressed by the President in bis
annual message that the Union must be pre-
served, and hence all indispensable means
must be employed" and believing that kind
and ~fraiern.l feeling between the people OF all
the States is indispensable to the maintenance
Of a hsppy and prosperous union, ard being
willing 10 manifest such feeling Oh their part
10 ihe end that psaco may DC restored to q
distracted Country, and the Union and Con
~s,i,u;ion be preserved and maintained, and
inviting the co operation Of the people of the
aforesaid States III the accomplishment of oc-
iect, 20 beneicia! 10 each and all, do resolve
as follows:
Resolved, &c, That M:llard Fillmore. Frank.
!in pisrce, Roger b. Tarey, Edeard Everett
George u. Dallas. Toomls Ewing, Horace
Binnev, Rsverdy johnson. john j. Criuenden,
Geo. E. Pugh and Richard ". Thompson be,
-ra lucy = i.---'.y appointed commissioner
on the part Of Congress to confer with q like
number Of commissioners to he appointed by
tho States aforesaid, for the preservation OF
the Union end the maintenance Of the Consti-
~tutioo, and tina; they report the result of said
conference to Congress for approval or r'j.c-
ton.
Resolved, That upon the appointment Of
commissioners as hereby invited by said States,
and upon the meeting Of the joint c0mulis-
sion Tor the purpose Of conference as afore-
said, active hostllities shall Cease aud be sus-
pended, and small 20, be resumed unless said
commission snail be unable to agree, or in case
Of an agreement by than, and said agreement
shall be rejected either by Congress or by the
aforesaid Ststes.
Mr. sumner, of Massachusetts, objected to
the rece ption Of the resolution.
ar. Hale, Of New Hampshire, said the list
Of commissioners named @as very good, but he
suggested that that Of james Buchanan be
added. Tia, would complete tho list.
The resolution WIS laid over informally.
Mr.. Col!amcr, OF Vermont, moved that the
Senate proceed 10 iha selection OF the standing
committees for the session, ard submitted a
list, which .sas adopted. The only changes
since the extra s=sSior arc H.. following:
Mr.. Harris on the committee Of foretgn rt-
~lstions, in tue placs Of Mr.. Breckenridge; Mr..
Nesmlth On rne committee on military Of IRIS.
il; place Of Mr. Baker; Mr.. Garlic On pubic
lands, in place vfar. b ngasm: NJ N.rk en-
Ind az sf4irs, in place OF Mr.. Fot; NJ. VII
lev on pensions, in place Of Mr. Bingham; NJ.
Pomercy and Mr.. Curlile OF territories, in
place of M,essrs. Baker and Breckenridge. The
committee on enrolled bills CONSISTS Of Messrs.
Browning, Wiley and Salisbury.
Mr.. Chandler of Michigan, offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, That J,hn @. Breckenridge be
and hs is hereby expelled from the Senste.
Mr.. PoSell, o! Ky, said that Mr.. B.cckin-
ridge had already resigned.
Mr.. Chandler asked on what authority the
statement was made-it was only newspaper
report, ard hc asserted that Mr.. B. was a trai
;or acting agains! the Government.
Mr. Powell said bis authority for the fec!
Ct Ar. Breokinridsc's resignation wAs his pub
lished letter that was his SOLE authority and
as 10 tho charges made, there was no other than
newspaper authority for them.
Mr.. Chandler asked what vas Mr. Breckin-
ridges language Oh the subject
Mr. Powell said that as well as he could re.
collect, Mr.. 3. declared that be laid down
the Office of Senator to take up the musket Of
the soldier.
Mr.. Chandicr.-Ia be not in the army of the
rebels-a general in their ~scrvice1
Mr. POWELL have cited Mr.. Brickiuridge's
language-that is all / rely on.
Mr. Trumbull insisted that Mr.. B. ought to
be expelled, and suggested the following as q
it was accepted by him:
Whereas, John O.. Breckinr!dze, p member
Of this body from the Stste Of Kentucky; has
joined the enemies Of his country AMI is now
in arms against the government he had sworn
to support; therefore,
Resolved. That said John O.. Breckenridge,
the traitor, be and he is hereby expelled from
the Senate.
The question on the resolution was taken by
yeas ard nays. All those who voted at all
voted for the expulsion. Those present and
not voting were Messrs. Bavard and S.ulsbn-
~, Of Del; Pearce, Of Nd Powell, Of Ky, and
Rice, Of Minnesota. Mr.. Kennedy, OF BID,
vote1 for the expulsion.
After considerable debate concerning colored
persons in tho Washington Jail, tic following
was adopted:
Resolved, That the marshal of the District
Of Columbia be directed to report Immediately
to the Senate the names of persons nov con-
fined in the Jail in the city Of Washington,
with the cause of their commitment, and the
names of the magistrates BY whom committed
and the length Of their Imprisonment. and tho
names Of the persons who made the hrst or.
rest.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Mass, offered the following,
which after some cebate was adopted:
Resolved, That all laws now in force in the
District Of Columbia relating to the arrest of
persons es ~fugitivas from service or labor, to-
gsther With all oIher avs concerning persons
OF ooloT, within the District Of Columbia, be
referred to the committee on the District Of Co.