Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-25
THIRrY,SlxTH cONSREsS-SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1861.
CENkTE


the constitution and the laws and make no compromise
with traitors.
Mr Powell presented petition from citizens of Wis
ccusiu in favor of the Crtteuden compromise.
Messrs Dixon and Bigl,r presented numerous petit
tious in favor Of the Crenden and Border States reso
lutoHs.
ar. Bragg presented the credentials Of Nr Cingmar,
re c'ec'el Senator f ON North Carolina.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the bi
for the dscoutuuauce OF postal services IN the secedug
Sttcs which was laid over yesterday.
Mr. Hunter said If the States were in the Union we
had no right 10 cut off the postal arraugemc1ts-t could
no be 10 enforce the laws for the postal laws We ro
resisted We cannot under the constitution undertake
TO punish States in this lie also added that the N
pressions Of "iusurrec.on" and "rebehon IN the bi
seemed to be but steps watch will eud in using iolce
against these States
Mr. Dooi,te said i. wss a MEASURE OF peace and not
Of war he sal il wss our duty 20 acknowledge end
face charges OF what are now ideal that savery is
blessing and proper OF society IN the republic ms
idea was not admitted by the who framed the cou
sti,uron hut was the idea Of Mr. Colamer. They al
sail it was an evil, socially and politically
Mr Chugmsn asked when Ar. Coamer said taat Save
/ ~ was p blessing:
M Doous replied that he bad said on t'is iloor-
that /, was m best and stable bas Of free iustiil
fcrs This idea reGus d,spotic IN the Southefn
States md tLreters - dee t-Oy everything, unless adj
/ rit:cd and ccosuzed. The first demand was made Of
the 6,uorsc rarv and because that party would not
fully admit t. IL disrupted and destroyed. To-day
with arms IN their hands the South demands that we
shall make constitution, and carry slavery into tne
Territories where tnevcr existed He Therefore hoped
that bill would be passed as oLe means which would
/ give peace 20 the Urion.
NJ Iun,r said that he was glad 10 hear that this was
no. measure of coercion, but he thought was not ne
slry 10 pass it, be thought the Postmaster General
had an the power necessary.
/ Mr. Pow, N spoke against the bill and said, il passed
T. would give the rover Of a despot TO the head clerk
OF the Department and destroy the liberties OF the
/ people.
d-r.r rp7n his guston The b;.l simply 20 give
10 ser TO the Postmaster General 70 suspend the opera
lion OF the laws and relieve tim OF the necessity OF any
attempt to enforce the laws. 1t most emnently
measure OF peace.
Tie secret s that the gentlemen want to force Us TO
aeknowedge that secession ia lawful 1t seems to be
r,ole truth that gentlemen are unwilling to allow any
/ measure OF peace unless we ctnoWledsc this
SIR Douglas said 10 seemed TO him this was measure
of mace ani he was graGad 10 coming from that
side of the house. the Senator from Virginia Is mistaken
IN regard to th- l It does no, give tue power 70 stop
the mails anywhere uults, there distraction or re-
.i.r,rrc Whou. this measure the Postmaster General
voga obliged 10 carry the mails, 10 sle OF any I'-
-i=.auce that might spring np.
j.. reply to the Senator from Wisconsin, hr p0oht
H. ne sail le supposed this idea that slavery was
blessing was not new; and even whether new o7 Old H
would have Occss0. ei 10 trouble II they had not a.
t.,cE ,1 cgeratti upon the federal government when
H-
iii @, I'm ,pv Nav Ee cOntrudud that the question Of
-it.-. must bs kept o. Congress The patriotic
Senator frou kentucky had brought forward p'opos
! zion tY % c- this
NJ E.oiule in r,ply ioted from Mr. Hunter
.r c.l st Charlottesville, where be admitted It was
nov, isal IT, 1872 we had pace; then ths nov idea
d.r.an3 a the repeal Of the Missouri compromise and
roit demands that free teui,ory shall be given up 20
NJ. W ls 7-e,'ci TO tho friends Of the measure %
I Lat fR.. how
~ D,.g,i. rcpl.. tn, he conten3ed that the diff
cui,y crqlmcnc. ia the slavery agitation of the Mort.
and tll- tuc g--ator NiscO su had ouly tanned
r.rgscsc whom he was defeated Tor Congress - dcE-
o,-s,ic conycut.ou-thCu he became convert in 81
" Doolj'e ieuieI ,h:s statement sad he no, a
candidate for C,ugre,s before democratic convention
when the democrats attempted 10 force constitution on
/ K9rsls
Discussion continued some time when the hour for the
snac.l order arrived The miscraucous appropriation
bl was taken up TIE Senate then went into executive
session. I'D cer ahou. three hour spent therein, open
ed 's doors aud procry1el ~i,n NJ coas eTauoa oi "
appropr..ion bin ll i've O'clock when they took a to-
cess I'm seven O'Clock, for purposes Of general debae
Mr. wilson followed defend ng Massachusetts,, ard
took .ircrg ground gainst compromise.
| NJ CLARK followed IN the same strain. When be hld
/ concluded the S,uate afjourn'd
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NJ Dlxes from the select cDuEtt2e pi Eve 20 Wfom
was referred the President special message OF the
of J.ruaty made report as 20 tie s;auompg OF vessels
Of vs 1 such manner as TO neglect the defence oil ne
whole AuauGc cols. during tie prevalence OF i4"iess
| violence
The ruribcr Of ships tsey sly ling in port di,nnu
lied ard und for service is twtutyg5ht 4ad mounting
sn aggregate OF eight huut,ed and t"ei leigh guns
None of them could be repaired and put under sail short
OF eeytra weeks tue and many Of theH would require
for that purpose as. six months No order had been
issued TO put any OF them in readaess.
The committee discuss other objects connected With
the navy aud propose resolution that tie Secretary Of
the Navy in accepting without delay or INQUIRY ihe Ie
/ signation oil officers OF the navy wlo we're m arms
against the government waen rendering the same, and OF
sse Who sought TO resign that they might be relieved
from the restraint imposed by their commissions upon
engaging IN hOsties TO the constituted authorities OF
the nation Las committed grave error highly pcd i
dicil TO the discipline OF the service, and Injurious to
the honor aud efficiency of the navy, for which ne de-
| serves the censure Of this House
| Mr. Branch submitted a minority report.
John Cochrane also dssented from the Views OF the
majority.
Mr. Dawes gave notice that he viii ask for vote on
on his resolution on Monday or Tuesday.
The House resumed the consideration OF Mr.. StlntonS
volunteer bill
Mr.. Bocock resumed his remarks u opposition to the
bill interrupted on Yesterday by expiration OF the
morning hour He said that already by the act Of lIHj
the President had the power to employ the army and ns
W. aud had right to st ton many OF the regular
troop of the country as he could concentrate here In
addition to that they had local Legislature by whose
authority he could call out the military in they
threatened by inyasOa of armed forces from other
States Even II the military power OF The country was
called on. TO aid in the enforcement Il the laws, 1t must
be subordinate to the civil power But when they cau
out the power to bear directly the execution OF the
laws it was making war aud would be considered by
the country aud 50 every force bill reported TO this
House was a war measure, and indeed, whether or lot
should be regarded il must in the necessity Of the
case, result IN war
If that then be So he stood there clothed with no
horty TO say what any State Of the Union would do but
he knew that Virginia stood committed by her decara
ons stood committed in honor interest TO ress. at
all hazards OF aggression upon the Southern Sat. 5
of this coufederacy And she must do it, Why must
she do tg The very hand that would aid in striking down
South Carolina and Alabama, strengthened by Virginia,
might at any moment be uplited TO crush the other
Staes-erpped and crushed by the very ugation OF
these Southern States Whether they made declaration
of war or not all the border Staes within three months
time with two exceptions will be found side by
side with the seeding States OF the Union. He would
ask was it likely that Virginia and Kentucky would hold
a position in which they would be liable to have their
militia called out-they, perhaps, being nearest TO the
scene of action 10 aid upon making war upon South
Carolina or Mississippi? No, they would not do it
They would much prefer throw of the yoke of the
government and do what they could repe the attacks
Of the enemy and navy and to crush the power Of the
government If he was not much mistaken this would
be the natural result of any of these measures.
The question was asked what must we dos what
must the North do He would answer Give the South
guarantees aud secure them from all attacks on their
rights He would ask if come, which God in his
mercy avert what reason would they give TO the world
9 -. = gha, eHtpfrNg ka MI L.