Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-09
Thirty-Sixth COngress--second Session.
Mondays Proceedings.

I =
authorize the people to elect delegates the 22d of
Feoruary to a Convention, to be held at PhiadeE
Phls on the 4th of March next, to consider the wei
fare q the nation. Referred.
CritIenden presented thirty four memorials asking
'nat the CrltteHden resolutions be submitted to the
people Of the country
Inc facifc Railroad Bill was made the special
] order at e'eloek on TUESDAY
Srl'senen moved to take up the resolution offer
i ed 0y hin afew days since.
The bill for the admission Of Kansas 1,,as made
| the special order for Monday nexf
! CFitienden spoke in favor of the passaga If the
resolution to submit the question to the people 4.
the public councils that it would be bette-, ~ =
| the question to the people themselves and be ssyv
nothing improper in it. Il does not conflict in sr-
way with the Constitution. He referred to the nr,;
! posed amendments to the Constitution and argne1
ia favor Of their adoption. Hs concluded that
line established, dividing the Territories was not 50
much compromise as a far adjustment of the
rights. He asked if the statesmen and Senator's
had rather encounter civil war with all its hOr-
rors than make a fair compromise and recog-
nize the existence of slavery in a Territory
till it becomes State Was it a party
dogma that no slave State shall be admitted into the
Union and win Senator'S sacrifice the country for
a mere party dogma? The Territories were &C
auired as common property of all, and now few
attempt to exclude portion of their Just rights be-
cause they have conscientious scruples on the sub
ieet We're Senator's willing to sacrifice the country
rather than yield their scFuplesg He to
consider the sacrifice OF the country, and was here
as an advocate for the Union. Win the party
in the first flush of victory plant itself plat
form of dogmas and not yield an inchor will they,
| ike generous men, be not only just but generous,
and not only generous but LIBERAL He then APP
peaed to them as patriots and countrymen to grant
equal rights 70 all He did net think he was asking
them TO make concessions, but only to grant equal
rights lie did not believe in the doctrine of seces-
| sion; It was new doctrine, and attempt TO Sc
cede with the bold front of revolution is nothing
but lawless violence of the laws and Constitution
lie only wanted to bear his testimony to the Con-
stltutiGn and to let be known that the Constitution
cannot be broken. If States wish to secede let
them proclaim revolution boldly, and not attempt
to hide themselves under the little subteties of law
| and claim the right of secession. constitutional
right to break up the Constitution was a new doc
trine. He argued that Webster always went against
any right of secession one side and on the other
it was civil war.
Trumbull asked if the Seuat did not know that
one State claimed to be out of the Union already
How would concession alter the case?
Crittenden concluded that the adoption Of a com
promise would put an end 70 all revolution.
Toombs said the Republicans had long been sow
ing the seeds of discOrJ-they now reaped crop of
armed men. The Union was already dissolved
South Carolina had boldly and nobly met the public
danger The cause of South Carolina was the
cause OF the South. They had appealed 10 the fra
ternity and justice of the North in vain, and now
were ready to appeal if need be, to the stern arb
tration of the sword, and the ground would reecho
with the tramp of armed men from the Capitol to
the Rio Grande. As the Republicans deemed trea-
son. there stood before them good traitor and as
good rebel as ever descended from revolutionary
lions. TSight applause. lie reviewed the de-
mands of the South and contended that such Ge-
mands were only for equality in the Union.
Unless government gave it protection it could not
expect allegiance The South had proclaimed to the
oi,r 11,1J, haf had ta-p he
cause a power had been elevated to Federal control
and stimulated instruction within and without The
Senator from kentucky doubts the right Of seces-
sion Ere long he viii see it thing accomplished.
The Senators from Ohio and New York had sworn
to observe the Constitution but oaths could bind
them. They had higher law. They take oaths
and break them. \ professional perkin, bought for
fifteen shilings. by an Od Bailey lawyer would be
less frequent. lie quoted the Personal Liberty
Bill of Vermont illustration of acts passed in
perjury and continued his detail Of grievances. He
cited the tacitencoura.enl ~ "a iHvala the slave
States by The declaration e.: the Republican leaders
He denied that bl,ol had been spilled to establish
the Constitution Not one drop Many of the rev.
dictionary patriots voted against it, was carried
in Virginia by 10 majority. in New York by ma
jorty and in Massachusetts, by lS majority. The
peOpe Of Georgia believed the Constitution was the
best form of Government which could be devised.
He himself did not share in this opinion Had he
been in the Convention, he would have voted with
Henry and Mason against 1t. Every tribunal III the
Government had decided in favor of Southern de-
mands and yet they were not yielded, ard now tn
only arbitrator the sword. He declared that
the Chicago Platform had logically declared that the
treaty which acquired Louisiana and Florida was
null, as the decisions of the Supreme Court were
void and no law. He. himself, was willing to Dc
fend the Constitution Will; he halter mound as neck.
He understood. Mr. Lincoln 10 say that he would
clude slavery from the Territories and the District of
Columbia. So they abandon the tribunal which they
themselves had declared to be the arbitrator Of dlS
putes between the States and declared their plrpOse
| to rule ANYHOW. They will outlaw five millions OF
the people Of the South and of the Territories. Was
| this not a cause for war? He would not buy
| shameful peace. he would rather have war Geor-
| gia was on the war path, aud she would make II
! nal settlement Mr.. lincoln had said that the dec
aration of independence referred to slavery. Madl
son and Jefferson owned slaves, held the sum OF all
vilainies" robbed the slave of his wages. and at
death left them slaves to their descendants lie con
tinued. quoting Fattel, to show that the people OF
the North had violated the comfy due the South BY
/ international law. lie presented the manner in
| which john Brown was received in the North as
token Of Northern feeling. The people Of the South
had taken up TO protect their rights under IN
ternational laws, and would never resign them I'M
less menaced by the iron grasp Of freemen lie con-
| cluded By an eloquent summing up Of his speech,
that if the South was denied her rights, she would
invoke the God Of battles and trust to him for sccu-
rity and peace.
Bigler moved to 20 into Executive Session. Agreed
to- After the Executive session the Senate adjourn
ed.
HousE.-Cobb rose to a personal explanation. He
said he not present at the conference OF the
Alabama and Mississippi delegations on Saturday
| as reported in the newspapers He was responsible
for his own acts and Judgment. but in thus remark
ing he did wish to reflect upon others. He rep
| resented people who were competent to speak for
themselves.
| Houston said he understood the conference was
on the part Of Senators alone from several OF the
Southern States AMI that no member Of the House
| attended it.
Cobb replied ,hat he happened not to be there and
sent ma teCgraphic Dispatch God knew his prayers
were for harmon, III the land. and that in the event
of war the stars AID stripes should be carried into
the midst of our enemies. He wanted the flag to
float as long as all the States can remain in the
Union as equals. The majority of his people believe
they cannot have that equality, but are for making
another effort for adjustment
Gentlemen with whom he had cOnversed said the
| Committee Of Thirty three will do something lie
wished he could feel this in his bones. lie woubi
call on the senate as well the representatives to
come forward and relieve our country from Its en-
barrasscd condition Standing on the brink OF DIS
solution ne raised his humble voice, not only to
the North but to the South, to do something 20
save from OuF present troubles 1t blood shan
be shed reconstruction Of the Union cannot AXE
Mace. He again beseeched gentlemen to do some
thing for himself and his people The slavery
question was not the only one submitted by the Re
publicans to the people
Hindman rose TO the point OF order that MI
Cobb was not combining himself to personal expla
nations.
Cobb said he asked for no favors but what tht
House granted him; he stood ON his rights.
Hindman again objected TO Cobbs remarks as not
: heng confined to personal explanations. [Crie
from the Republican side, go on
Cobb was endeavoring to show that the Republi
cans can do something in the present crisis.
Barksdae inquired whether Cobb obtained per
| mission to make a personal explanation.
: The Speaker repled-Only a personal explana
| ton.
: Barksdsle-Then the gentleman is abusing IL;
privilege.
Houston appealed to Cobb to let his explanation
I be of a personal character.
e Cobb was very much obliged to his colleague, bu
: he must be governed by his own judgment.
t The Speaker requested Cobb to restrict himscl
: to what was necessary to personal explanation
= Cobb said that he would do near posi-
! bic. He did not regard the question of slavery a
being settled the Presidential election. and wa
calling on the Republicans to do what they say the
cannot do. The Tariff, Internal Improvement, Pa
ciic Railroad and Homestead bills all entered tina
a contest, and he sorry to see the corruption
+ the Administration. though he had defended !
! After further remarks, he appealed to the gentle
It men to bring in the old ship and see whether the
o | cannot reDsir her If this cannot be DONE if th