The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-04
TIIlRTY-SlXTH CONGRESS---SECOND SESSION,


WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1S6l.-0n motion of Mr..
GWlN, it was agreed that when the Senate ad-
journ to day, it be until Saturday.-Mr. BIG
LER presented the petition of citizens of Pennsyl-
vania, irrespective OF party, praying that Con-
gress may pass the resolutions offered by Mr.. Crit
tenden. Laid on the table.-Mr. BIGLER also
presented the proceedings of meetings held in
Pennsylvania breathing loyalty and devotion to the
Union.-Mr. CRlTTENDEN offered a resolution
for making immediate provision by law for taking
the sense of the people on the amendments propo-
sed to the Constitution. Laid over.-Mr. c. also
offered lengthy series of resolutions for amend
ing the Constitution. [They are, in effect, with
slight additions, the same as introduced recently by
Mr.. Douglas. Mr.. CRITTEN DEN briefly address
ed the Senate saying that he did believe that the
American people we're unequal to the occasion of
saving the country, and he appealed to the great
source of all power-the people If all others fail,
let the means of consulting the people be adopted.
Mir. BAKER resumed his speech He could
not resume without thanking the Senate and the
Senator from Illinois, Mr.. Douglas) for allowing
him to resume his remarks to-day. He desired to
understand the ground, the reason, the proof of
complaint from the South and be was willing to
show that in respect to their complaints he was
true and loyal to the Constitution. The attacks
on the Republican party and the people of the
North he thought were unjust. Hehad endeavored
to demonstrate yesterday that all the leading
men os the South, the people of the North,
and in fact all of the parties of the North,
as well as the fathers of the repub-
lie had always regarded slavery as the mere
creature of local law, and could not by virtue of
that local law go into the Territories. He quoted
General Cass to sustain this position, made in a
speech at Detroit in lS54.--It NAV be said that
this was the opinion of Northern man, but he
would quote from the opinions of the Senator from
Virginia, Mr.. Hunter,) expressed in the B eckin-
ridge State Convention, held at Charlottesville,
Va, last summer. He presented this to show that
Southern men held that Congress could restrict
slavery from the territories.--Mr. HUNTER
asked if the Senator quoted the extract from his
speech to prove the assertion just made p
Mr.. BAKER said that he could not say that
he had but the Senator would admit the state
ment that Southern men had, at some time in
their lives recognized the Missouri Cnmpro.
mise-the restriction of slavery by the Constitu-
tion.-Mr. HUNTER denied that he ever had
MED that he had ever admitted, at any time and
in any place, within his memory, any such thing.
MIR. BAKER proceeded to discuss the relations
of the Constitution to the Missouri Compromise
The Republicans had no desire to interfere with
slavery where it existed. They had no such power,
nor did they claim it. Congress had never inter
fered in any manner.-Mr. BENJAMIN said
Congress did not interfere, but the States did,
Mr.. BAKER inquired OF the Senator from Louisi
ana Mr.. Benz jamin) how he would frame a bill to
allow Illinois to interfere with slavery in Virginai
MIR. BENJAMIN would answer the Senator
not how he could frame such bill, but would tel
him how the States had interfered. John Brown
with band of men, entered peaceful village il
Virginia in the dead of night, melting servle in
surrection among the slaves, seizing government
property and numbering peaceable citizens. Mas
sachusetts had endorsed that action by the election
| of Andrews a Governor, as he upheld that in
! vasion, and had endorsed that murder. This is th
| way State interfered.-Mr. BAKER did not de
sire to defend Massachusetts,. She was represented
on this floor by able men, in his opinion, who coult
defend her.. There were bad men North, wh
would steal negroes South, as well as horses il
in the North-who would burn houses in the Nortl
and houses in the South. The Senator from
Louisiana Mr.. Benjamin) had said that tn
free States were encircling the slave States, ant
gradually hemming them in and pressing SLAYER
out Did the Senator think that cause for disso
luton ?-Mr. BENJAMIN said that he did thin
it a cause for dissolution,-Mr. BAKER said tha