Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-02-24
TalRrY-srxrm oercHEss.

1@1AANG aAaaARAH
WAsBNGTos, February 21.-Mr. DooIittle
presented a petition from the citizens Of Mil
wsukee, numerously signed, asking Congress
to stand by the Constitution and laws, and
make no compromise with traitors.
Mr.. Powell presented a petition Of the eiti-
zens OK Wisconsin In favor OF the CritteDden
resolutions.
Messrs. Dixon and Doolittle presented nu-
mero1s petitions for the border State and Crit
tenden resolutions.
Mr.. Bragg pr scented the credentials Of Mr..
Clingman, reelected Senator from North Car
olina.
The Senate renewed the consideration Of the
bill for the discontinusnce Of the postal SER
vice In the seeding States, which was laid
over yesterday.
Mr.. Hunter said that If the States were In
the Union we bad no right to cut of their pos
tai benefits. The postal law bad not been re-
sisted, and we could not undertake, under the
Constitution, to punish States in this way. He
said the expressions "insurreetiono and Gre
bellion" in the Bib, seemed 10 be but steps
which would end in using force against the
States.
Mr.. DoOlittle said that it was a measure Of
peace, not war. He said it was the duty Of
the Government to acknowledge and face
the changes OF the day. What are the new
ideas we have to neet2 The first is the idea
that slavery is a blessing, and a proper state
OF society In our Republic, This idea was not
admitted by the men who formed the Consti-
t~utiob, but was the idea Of Calhoun. All said
it was an evil, socially and politically.
Mr.. Clingman asked when Mr.. Calhoun said
slavery was a blessing.
Mr.. DoOiittle said be said so on the floor Of
the Senate. He said it was the best and most
stable basis Of free institutions. This idea
now reigns dsspotic in the southern States and
threatens to destroy everything unless It is
admitted and recognized. The first demand
was Of the Democratic par y, and because that
party would not fully admit it, It was disrup-
ted and destroyed. To-day, with arms in their
hands, the South demand that we shall make
a new Constitution, and carry slavery into
Territories where it never existed. He hoped
this would be passed, as It was one Of the
means which weuld give peace to the Union.
Mt. Hunter said that be was glad to hear
that his WAS not q measure Of coercion, but
be thought it wss not necessary t. pass it, as
the Postmaster-G General has an the power
necessary.
Mr.. Powell spoke agains. the bill, and said
that, If it passed, it would give the power Of a
despot to the head clerk Of a department, and
destroy the liberty Of the people.
Mr.. Fessenden said be thought Senators
were drawing on their inaginatiOus. The bill
simply gives power to the Gostmaster-Genera
to suspend the operation Of ihe laws, and re-
lieyes bin Of any attempt to enforce the laws.
It is most eminently a measure Of peace. The
secret is that gentlemen want to force us to
acknowledge that recession is lawful. It
seems to be the simple truth that gentlemen
won't let us have a measure Of peace without
acknowledging tie right Of secession.
Mr.. Hunter opposed the bill as coercion.
Mr.. Doolittle said it was a measure of peace,
not war.
Mr.. Douglas considered the bill a peace
measure, and was gralifed 10 see It from the
other side Of the House.
After some few remarks in response to those
Of Mr.. Doolittle, Mr.. Douglas said be believed
there was a deliberate plot to break up the
Union on the pretext of devotion to it, AMI
there were as many disunionists North as
South.
Further debate ensued, and Mr.. GreeR pro-
posed an amendment, that the Postmaster
General also suspend the mails where an organ
izstion exists for running of slaves. No &C
ton was taken on toe bill.
The miscellaneous appropriation bill was
taken up, after which an Executive session,
and the Senate ado ITned.
House.-Mr. Dawes, from the select CEN.
mlttee Of Ave, tosghOm was referred the Presi-
dent's special message of the ST. Of January,
made a report as to the stationing OF vessels
Of the navy in such q manner az to neglect the
d~efences of the whole Atlantic coast, during
the prevalence Of lswless violence. The num-
Der Of ships living in port dismsDtled and unfit
for service is %. mounting, in the aggregate,
S74 guns. None of them could be repaired and
put under sail short Of several weeks time,
and many Of them would require for that pur-
pose at least six months. No order has as yet
been issues 10 put any Of them in readiness. The
committee discussed ether subjects connected
With the navy, and propose a resolution that
the Secretary Of the NAVY, in accepting, with
out delay or inquiry, the designations Of the
officers Of the navy who were in arms against
the Government when rendering the same, and
ofthose who sought to resign that they might
be relieved from he restraint imposed by their
commissions upon engaging in hostility to the
constituted authorities of the nation, has CON-
nitted a grave error, highly prejudicial to the
discipline Of the service, and injurious to the
honor and efficiency Of the navy, for which be
deserves the ceusure Of the House.
Mr.. Branch submitted a minority report.
John Cocbrans also dissents from the views
Of the majority.
Mr.. Dawes gave notice that be viii ask a
vote on the resolutions on Monday or Tues
day.
The House rssunsd consideration Of Mr..
Stanton's volunteer bill.
Mr.. Bocock finished his speech, concluding
by exscrating and dsnOuncing the bill.
Mr.. Howard replied, characterizing Mr..
Bocock's speech as clap-trsp, and his appeals
here were made to influence the Virginia con.
%vention in assisting to break up the Govern
ment.
The consideration Of the bill was postponed
till Monday.
The report Of the committee Of ~thirty-three
wss taken up.
Mr.. Barrett condemned the Republican
party protested against secession thought
the seeded States should have remained and
obtained their rights in the Union said coer-
cion would drive Missouri and the border
States to resist it.
The Senate bin appropriating So, 400, O0C
for Oregon and Washington indian war sx-
penses, was considered. The amount was re.
dHced to less than 50, 900. After debate
but with no final action, the House Adjourned
l ffg Saturday