Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-01-15
Congress.
Washir gtOn, Jan. 9.

SENATE.-A message from the President
was received.
Mr. Seward presented the memorial Of
the New York Chamber of Commerce, ask.
ing the establishment of steam postal serv-
ice between San Francisco and China
Referred to the Committee on Post Offices
ard Postroads.
Mr. Seward also presented memorial,
signed by the most prominent citizens of
New York city, concerning the present
state and future happiness Of the Union.
Mr.. Seward got the floor and EXPRESSED
his views on the Presidents message.
Mr.. Hunter asked that the resolution Of.
ierred by him be made the special order for
Friday.
Mr.. fulee presented bill to adjust the
present difficulties between the States
which was ordered printed.
MIR. Siidell presented resolution Of in
quiry, that the President inform the Senate
whether John B. Floyd at present fills the
office II Secretary Of War-ir not. VIII. fills
the Office, and il the appointment If acting
or provisional Secretary has been made !:
and when and BY what authority il was
made, and why the fact Of such cnmmuni-
cau9n was not Communicated 10 the Sen
ate
HoUsE Mr.. S'ratton asked leave In
present memorial Of the citizens of Prince
ton, on the subject of national affairs. con-
tanning practical suggestions. Mr.. Burnett
objected
The Speaker laid before the House n
message from the President. lie SAYS that
AZ the opening Of the session. he called at
,ehtinn to the dangers of the Union. and
recommended such measures of relief ms he
believed would have the effect of tranouiI-
/ izIng the country, and save it from the periIs
/ from which 1t Il needlesslv and unfirtun-
ateiy placed. Ii is not necessary 10 r.peat
/ this option and recommended on. his onini,n
/ remains unchanged. He regrets To- saw
/ that matters, instead Of becomipa bst,er
are still worse, and hope is diminished -
| Abiding % the condition Of Soutb CaroIino
/ he says that there is no alternative but Ia
( collect the revenue and protect the public
/ property as far AS is practicable under
/ existing laws. His duty is 10 execute and
/ not to make the laws the right and du,v
/ to use the military and naval forces ag.ips,
/ those who illegally assail the Federal Gov
/ erument are clear and understandable. hu,
J the present state Of things was beyond th o
Executive control. We are in the ui,Is,
} OF "A great revolution, and he recommended
/ to Congress 70 act in the present emerren-
/ cy. To Congress is reserved the mower Ia
| declare war, ana remove the grievance tba,
might lead to war, and restore neace IN tho
/ country. On them rests the respnnsibiIity
After eulogizing the blessings Conferred Lv
( the Union, he says should it perish. m 2
/ calamity will be a. severe in the Southern
as in the Northern States.
! Ihe secession movement is chiefly made
/ on an apprehension as to the sentiments a;
/ the majority of several of the Northern
( States. Let the question be transferred "a
the political assembly, To the ballot box -
/ The people will redress the grievances. In
heavens name let the trial be made before
/ we plunge into the assumption that there
/ Is no other alternative. Let US have reeac
/ ton. Would that South Carolina had re
| hected. lie appealed to Congress 70 say
: ia their might the Union shall and muct
/ be preserved 10y all constitutional means
! lie recommended Congress tn devote them
! selves To prompt action, with n view Z,
! peace. a division on the line Of 3Go 30 !,
suggested as calculated TO produce an ad.
/ adjustment. 1t was an imrutation on
members to say they will hesitate a momen,
The danger Is on Us. Ia several of IN,
/ States forts and arsenals have been seized
/ by aggressive ucis. Congress should on
dravor to give the difficulties a reareru
I solution. lie states the reason WHY he had
/ reiraineG from sending troops 10 Charles,,,
/ harbor, believing this would have furnished
( the pretext, IT not the persecution. ON the
/ part Of South Carolina, for aggression.
/ Referring to Major Anderson, he saws
/ thGt 'thter could not, before he left + p,
MoultrIe, have held that rust Is ar ca
| hours. lie had warned his cruutrvme, %,
( ITS danger. lie felt that the duty was
faithfully but imperiectly performed lie
/ was conscious he meant well for his conn
I try.
Mr.. Howard, of Mich, moved ,Ea, the
message he referred t. y special committee
OF five, with instructions to ipopir.
whether any Executive officers uC the I'M
ted States have bccn. or are uu,y tre,,ti,o
or holding communicative with any pers,n
! or persons for the transfer # Forts or any
property; whether any demand for thor
surrender has Ueen made, and by whom
and what answer has been given wbe,ber
any "tiiceT or officers have entered iuio arv
niedSe not TO send reinforcement Of tr,.,,s
t. the harhur If Charleston: If So ,yho,,
where, by whom, aud on what cnusidpra.
lions; whether tie custom house. pos,-
ONCE and arsenal at Charleston have iaep
seized, by whom held in Possession " beth.
er any revenue cutter has been sejzed and
whether any efforts have been maize IA re-
cover it. The committee have p,wer :,
send tor persons and papers and rem ,rt
from time to time such facts rs may be re-
quired for tile national honor, &c.
Mr.. Hons ton raised the point that surh
instructions were against the rules
Mr.. Howard replied, and moved the nre-
viuus question
MIR. Crawford said there was no cause
Tor excitement. We have passed beyund
that point.
calm. "'e
Mr.. Crawford continuod-Men should
be calm and understand the line on which
they are going He Intellectually sought IN
offer substitute for the resolution.
Mr.. Garnett desired TO have the Presi-
dents messSg &C considered in COMMITTEES CT
the Whole.
Mr.. Phelps remarked that the President
informed them they were in the midst of a
revolution, and inviting the adurtion uf
such measures as may avert civil war
The President appeals to Congress to make
AN effort to restore the fraternai relations
which ought tn exist. The recommenda-
ton made by the President is entitled to
the respect of the American penple. Inn,
the resolution pending, instead Of propos-
ing remedy, looked to a special commit
tee to indict somebody. lie would vote
against the resolution, as it did not meet
the emergency.
Mr. Florence, believing the resolution
productive OF no good, opposed it.
Dir. Hill said the resolutions was not
based on 4 pacific plan to adjust the diff
cuties
Mr.. Martin, Of Virginia, looked on the
resolution as a frebrand 10 be throw, ir,o
the country, which was already excited
The resolution passed-ayes lO3. noes
Mr. Maynard asked consent tn offer =