The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-20
THIRTY-SlXTH CONGRESS--SECOND SESSION
sen ATE

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-The Senate met at elev-
en- O'clock Mr.. RICE said that he believed that
the people of his State were in favor of a settle
mont of the pending federal difficulties, and if
separation must come, that it should be a peace
able one. He presented petition, signed by twelve
hundred voters of st. Paul, asking a settlement on
the basis of the Crittenden resolutions
BlGLER said that thousands of memorials had al
ready been presented, and he had this morning
memorial from patriotic band of Quakers in favor
of settlement.--Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas,
wished to object to this explaining of petitions at
length. They might as well sing psalms
| to dead horse thus take up all the time
ofthe morning hour.-Mr TEN EYCK presented
petitions from citizens of New Jersey, in favGr of
the Constitution and the laws.-Mr. SEWARD
presented large number of petitions in favor OF
the preservation of the Constitution and the
| forcement of the laws. He also presented peti.
ton, signed by large number of citizens of New
ork, stating that in their opinion the petitions
sent to Congress full of complaints of the state of
the country only served to make the matter worse
and they did not rep resent the true state of the
country. Therefore the petitioners ask Congress
to enact a law for the suppression of unmitigated
scrbbIing.--A resolution for the relief
of John Randolph Clay, former Minister at Peru,
was passed.-The consideration of the Presi-
dents Message was postponed till Thursday
The Tariff bill was taken up, and the amendments
of the committee proceeded with. A proviso was
added to the clause concerning Treasury notes. that
the authority to issue be limited to 30th June 1862
motion made that the value of the Treasury
notes be increased from twenty dollars to fifty
MIR. CHANDLER spoke against this amendment,
and said the credit of the Government had been
duced by traitors in the Cabinet He could appeal
to the people of his State and get all the money
they wanted in small amounts.-Mr. CLINGMAN
thought it very clear that the credit of the Govern
ment was reduced on account of the secession of
several States, and the fact that more would go
under policy that was to be inaugu-
rated.-Mr. CHANDLER did not think that
was the, reason. Had it been known that the
Government would be maintained at all haz-
ards, and had there not been traitors in the
Cabinet and imbeciles in the Presidential chair the
credit of the Government to-day would have been
as good as ever.-Mr. CLINGMAN wanted to
know why the credit of the Government did not
rise after these men had left.-Mr. CHANDLER
said the party still remaiped.--Mr. CLINGMAN
asked, il the new party was coming in in two
weeks, what was the need of all this legislation
now mir CLARK said he could tell the Sena-
tor that it was because they had got the credit of
the Government so low that it would take some
time to raise it. The discussion was continued at
some length, and the.motion carred-yeas 3d.
nays 22.--Mr. HUNTER moved to strike out the
duty on wood screws and insert rs per cent ad
ralorem Lost-yeas 16, nays 24.--Mr.
MASON called the attention of the SEN
ate to communication from the State
Department. to the effect that the duty on
wines in the bill might lead to difficulty in regard
to treaties already made with Portugal and other
countries.-On motion of Mr.. SIMMONS the bill
was amended so as to place duty of forty per cent
to amend the bill SO as to place duty on woods
under "a cents per pound of Is per cent. dd ralor
EN-; lost-yeas 10, nays 29.-Mr. BINGHAM
moved to amend so as to place duty of five per
agreed to-yeas %, nays 20.-Mr. POWELL Of
tered an amendment that on and after the Both of
June, 1861, all bountes on fishing vessels shall
cease; lost--Mr. GREEN moved to adjourn.
Oh the vote there were yeas &c, |
nays n. The question arose as to whether
there was quorum present.-Mr. GREEN asked
what constituted quorum?-The PRESIDENT
(Mr Fitch) said he could decide that question,
but thought there was quorum present. as several
Senators had come in since the vote-Mr.
GREEN said he would not raise the question now,
but he thought it ought to be settled at proper
time.-The bill was then reported to the Senate,
and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. FENTON offered preamble, recting the
clause of the Constitution relative to amendments
thereto, and adding that
WHEREAS, Varied and conflicting opinions prevail
among the members of this House regard the
which have produced the unhappy disturbances now af
icng country, and in regard to the proper mode
for quetng and adjusting these disturbances and guard
ing against their future recurrence therefore.
Resored That in the judgment of this House the proper
tribunal to which all existing questions should be
frred for legislative consideration and final settlement
is convention of delegates from the several States the
Union 10 be called in the mode prescribed in the Const
tuition.
Mr.. Fenton said he offered the above as substi-
tute for the propositions of the Committee Of Thir-
ty-three; ordered to be prlnted.-The House re- |
sumed the consideration of the bill reported yes
terday by Mr.. Stanton; authorizing the President
to accept the services of volunteers.-Mr. STAN |
TON, introducing the bill, said that the bill he
now submitted to the House mere revision of |
the law of 1855, the first section of which provides
for the calling out of the militia by the President
for the express purpose of suppressng instruction
in any State against the authority Of any State
the second section of which also provides for the
calling out of the militia to aid the execution
of the laws when resisted by combinations too
powerful to be overcome by the ordinary civil pro-
cess of law. In his Judgment that law Of i7s5
covers the case of an insurrecion against the au.
thority of the United States, and the right to call
out the militia to put down insurrection. But it
appears tha the late Attorney General Black had
expressed the opinion that it does not confer that
power upon the President.-Mr. SICKLES in
quired whether he understood the gentleman's
premises to be-There is instruction against the
authority of the United States.-Mr. STANTON
replied in the affrmative.-Mr. SICKLES said
there was evidently a difference of opinion
between the gentleman and the President
elect, the latter meeting the idea with
ridicule. There was certainly great discrep-
ancy.-Mr. STANTON supposed that the the
DRY of the present administration is, that States
have no Constitutional right to secede-that their
action is revolutionary, and secession is treated in
no other light. In the nature of things there would
be no difference of opininn in this bAtWeen