Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-25
Thirty Sixth Colgress--secoId Session
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY %, 1861.
CCN SrNE'

Mr. Seward presented the petition OF +. {. Della
van. Of Albany suggesting the appointment OF officers
in n ports of entry to prevent the importation ot de-
lcteriuu5 liquors.
Also, memorial from seven hundred and iorty-Six
citizens OF New ork city the state of the country.
AlSo another memorial signed by eighteen thousand
citizens Of New York in iavor o! compromise and
concession. Laid on the table.
Alr. salisbury presented the resolutions Of the
State OF Delaware, directing her Senators and Rep
rescatvcs to their best efforts for the passage OF
the Erttendcn resolutions, Sunr other Incans vi
preserving the Union. Ordered 10 be printed.
Mr.. Bgler presented petitions asking the passage
OF Mr.. Crittcnden's resolutions Also the proceed
inss Of several meetings in Pennsylvania.
Sir. Fitch moved that tho Vice President be au-
thorizcd To fill the vacancies Oh the several COIN
nlze mittees.
The Vice President said that there WIS no record OIL
the journal OF the absence of any Senators, and he
had no official notification OF the lac. OF absence, the
names OF all being still called on the roll lie would
like the Senate instruct whether he should rccog
their absence.
Mr. Fitch suggested that there were vacancies on
the Committees uud the chairman might report the
ubscntccs so far the committees concerned.
Mr. Salisbury contcnded that retiring Senators had
Il right NJ any time 10 come back and vote.
Mr.. Douglas could not nLmit that they had any
such power. They could not recall their act oi r:-
.igIation, and could only enter this chamber 10y the
courtesy OF the body.
Mr. Benjamin denied that the Sccclin. States were
| in the Union. The fact that they out, and
the federal government had no bower within their
limits The official record should show that certain
Senators had rcsgncd and lett the body, ana he ut.
icrcd preliminary motion that the journal be cor
rcced H. tn show that fact.
Mr. FcsScndrn asked if the Senator believed the
retiring Senators had right 10 relnaliI after tLcr
States had seeded.
Mr Bcnjunlin.-"C not''
Mr. Seward was in favor Of allowing the seeding
Senators TO return in their own good pleasure lie
hoped the day would not bc far iiStnnt.
Mr. Fcsscnlem though; the action oi the Secretary
entirely Irregular and o 10 legal effect. Their
withdrawal, however, WAS tal.taiount To u rcSigna-
tion though they hnd not observed the usual form.
II the Legislature Of Mississippi to elect two
new Senator'S and the old Senators were to return,
which were entitled to seats wonld depend upon the
fact whether or not any resi- gnation had been nndc-
all they said that in consequence OF the uctnn OF
their State they were no longer members OF this
body. This, however, constituted Il resignation IL
much as though they had used the precise words
Mr. Hunter did not understand that the Senators
had resigned, and the Senate should not 80 treat their
action. They had withdrawn bccausc their States
had Withdrawn the authority by which they sat here
If he thought us some gentlemen did, that the States
had no right to withdraw, then 1t would be colnpc-
tent to compel their attendance by the scrgeantat.
arms. lie thought, however, the vacancies on the
committees might be filled.
The Vice President said he should consider linn
sell instructed to fill the vacancies upon the commit
tees,
Sir Bcniamir's resolution WIS rcaG. 1t proposed
to enter upon the journal of yesterday the fact that
the Senators from Mississippi, Alabama and Florida
hud Withdrawn hccnlisc their States had assumed the
powers which they had delegated to the Federal Co
vcrnmcnt.
Mr. Douglas offered substitute, simply stating
the fact that certain Scuators had withdrawn.
Mr. Seward thought the discussion Improbable,
and moved to lay the whole subject on the table
Mr. Douglas thought they had better settle the
question once. It might arise before the close OF
the day upon the question OF determining what con-
! sttutcd quorum.
right 10 scccde lie accepted the withdrawal Of the
Senators net Of resignation: he would be ui!-
willing to receive the Senators buck unless they
reelected. lie did not recognize secession in
any, way.
to correct the journal before they could transact b-
Sncss The tucts Of the should 70 upon the jonr-
nal
Mr.. BENJAMIN said the withdr?'':l, and the groun.l
of it, were facts which they liad right 10 exclude
from The journal. Whether or the withdrawal
was i resignation WAS Il conclu-.l drawn from the
facts, about which there mg.. ne II difference OF
opinion.
Nj Douglas agreed that the, eould not exclude
i.ts from their proceedings. Tics rclsons OF the re-
tirng Senators were not pro!r! proceedings Of the
body. They should not 20 upon the record, Tor
rnuny Of their statements were not IN accordance
with the truth Of history
+ The subject having been debated at some length,
was hid on the tablc--ycaS 81. nays 80, us follows
YEAs-Mcssrs. Anthony, Baker, Biglcr, Bingham,
Chandler, Clark, Coamer, Crrrnden, piXon Doo-
little, Durkee, Fessendeu, Fitch, Foot, Foster,
Grimes, Gwin Hale Harlan, johnson ii Tennesace,
King, Lutham, Morrill,, Salisbury, Seward Simmons,
Sumner, Ten Eyek, Thompson, Wade, Wilkinson
gnd WilSon-32.
NAYs-Mcssrs Benjamin, i;agg, Bright, Cling
man, Douglas, Green, IlcmphIll, Hunter, lverson,
johnson OF ARKANSAS, Kennedy, Lane, Mason, Mich
olson Pearce, Polk, Powell Eice, Sebastian, Slidcll,
TrumbuIl and Wiglal-22.
Mr.. Muson, from the committee Oh foreign affairs,
reported bill to carry into effect the convention be-
tween the United States and New Granada
Mr. Giwin moved To take mp the Pacific railroad
BILL but subsequently withdrew it, and the Crttcndcn
resolutions were taken up.
Mr Powell, OF Kentucky, made length; speech
in support Of the resolutions. lic thought our di-
cultics arose not from any defect in our institutions,
but from wild and reckless spirit which prevailed
For the first forty years Of our national existence, the
rights OF Nil sections were respected but since S20
increasing wuriare had been made upon the instItu
tons OF the South. Mr. Powell went into lengthy
narrative of the grievances OF the Snnth and 10 the
course of his remarks charged that Ohio had in re
usinS to deliver M fugitive from Justice, violated
her constitutional obligations.
Mr.. Wade denied the statements, aud called for
specific allegations.
Mr. Powell said the Senator's colleague had admit
ted the fact and specifications had time and again
been furnished. lie proceeded to charge the presl-
dent elect with being in favor OF excluding slavery
from the Territories, and opposed 10 the admission
OF more slave States.
Mr.. Trumbull denied that the luttcr charge was
correct, and read from Mr.. Lipcoln's speeches in
1858 to show it.
Mr. Powell said il he bud done any injustice to the
President elect he would correct the statement. But
it made very little difference, it WIS not denied
THAT he wished TO exclude slavery i'll the territories
and il that was done there could be no more slays
States. Referring the doctrine Of coercion G saio
it WAS unconstitutional. Coercion was war, ana war
was dissolution. lie was opposed to the acton o.
South Caroua as being hasty, and bad hoPeu tna1
am St,trS and un;t-d with them in unanimous de-
pland upon the North But she had acted other
Wise and TINT was question for herself. If the
there would be lnnr md