Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-09
Thirty-sixsh Cangrsss--Extra Session.
Tharsdqy's Proceedings.

Thirty-sixsh Cangress--Extra Session.
Thursdays Proceedings.
| WASHINGTON, March 7-SESArE-The Vice Presi
dent laid before the Senate letter from Mr. Chase
resigning his seat "a Senator from Ohio and asking
him to make it known to the Senate and Governor
| Of Ohio.
On motion of Mr.. Lane copy was ordered to be
| furnished to the Governor of Ohio.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of Mr.
Dixons resolution that there be printed the usual
| number of the Presidents Inaugural.
Mr.. Wigfall said that Mr.. Douglas yesterday en-
| tered into discussion of the meaning of Mr. Lin
coins Inaugural il was proper that his (Wigfall's)
construction Of it should also be given to the coun
/ try. 1t was impossible for administration deal
ing in generalties whether gttering rot to give
peace to the country 1t is fact that seven States
have Withdrawn from the Union, have entered into
| q compact and formed government Though the
fact IS not officially announced, the whole country
knows that the Representatives from the Southern
Confederation are now here prepared to be receiV-
ed ct this court, waving all questions to the ex-
stence of this Government; they are here to enter
into treaty with the Federal Government, and the
matters of controversy must be settled either BY
treaty by the sword 1t is easy to talk about en-
forcing the laws, and holding, occupying, and pos
sessing forts, but when you to this, bayonets
and not words, must settle the question. And he
would say that PickeDs and Sumter cannot hold out
much longer Forts Moultrie, johnson and Castle
Pinckney in possession of the Confederate States
and they will not leave Fort Sumter in the hands of
the Federal Government.
In reply to Mr.. Douglas, he denied that the Union
as it formerly was exists legally and C0nstitu-
tionally The evil is upon u.s. the disease Is seated
a blue pill at night and cup of coffee may relieve
the liver but when the disease is you blisterng
and blood-letting is sometimes necessary, and when
the patient dies it is necessary to have coffin,
funeral service and other things of that Sort As he
said the other night, the only question is whether
there shall be decent, quiet funeral after the
Protestant form, or an Irish wake" The Union
is dead, and has to be buried. If you want q Pro-
testant funeral you have it if not you can have
an Irish wake" He proceeded to speak of the
difficulty Of enforcing the revenue laws adding that
troubles as to this will environ you all around.
Had you not better deal with this question practi
cally? Unfortunately, Mr.. Liucoln will have but
brief period during which to decide the question
If he supposes the reinforcement of Fort Sumter |
will lead to peace he can make the experiment,
as to recapture Fort Moultrie. If he should not |
remove the troops from Fort Gumter they win be |
removed for him.
The adoption of the Crittenden Compromise Propo |
sitlon might have adjusted the difficulties Of the |
country. but it only received nineteen votes in the
Senate. The Senator from Illinois (Douglas) has |
said that war cannot preserve the Union The |
Union, however, is dissolved. Seven Southern |
States have formed Confederacy, and to tell the
President has done, that their acts of secession
only much blank paper, is an insult He repeat |
ed, there is no Uuion left the seeded States will
will not live under this Administration. Withdraw |
your troops then; make nc attempt to collect trib
ute, and enter into treaty with these States Do |
this and you will have peace. Send your flag with /
thirtyfour stars it thitheP and it viii be fired in
to and war will eusue. viii you divide the public
property and make fair assessment of the public /
debt or would you sit stupidity and idly doing moth
ing till there shall be a conflict of arms, because
you cannot compromise with traitorsl Let the re-
naming States reform their Government, and if il
is acceptable the Southern Confederacy will enter
into treaty Of peace and amity with them. If 1
you want peace, you shall have it; If you
want war, you shall have it. The time for
platforms and demagogueism Is past. Treat |
with the Confederate States independent |
and you can have peace; treat them States
of this Union and you will have war. Mr.. Linenlo
has to remove the troops from Forts Pickens and
Sumter or they will be removed for him. He has
to collect the at Charleston Savannah and
New OrleaIs or it will be collected for him. If he
attempts to collect the revenue resistance will be
made. It is useless to blind your eyes, No compro-
mise or amendment to the Constitution, no agree
ment you may enter into, will satisfy the South,
unless you recognize slaves property, and protect
it as any other species of property. These States
withdrew from the Union because their property
was not protected. The Southerners have preserved
on omnOus silence the subject of the inaugural.
The speech of the Senator from Illinois (Douglas)
was calculated 70 produce the impression that Lin
coin will do nothing, but this mastery inactivity
will not prevr faction. action, as the great Athe-
Rian orator said, is now necessary. "4ou can no
longer serve God and mammon.n You must answer
quickly the question, Under which King. Bengo
man % You must withdraw your flag from our
country, and allow US to have our own. and enter
into treaty with US. Do this, or make up your
minds for in its sternest aspect and all its accu
mulated horrors.
Douglas replied in substantially the same terms
as yesterday. He feared that Forts Sumter and
Pckens could not be held much longer by Federal
troops There was time when Sumter could have
been reinforced. He did not believe itcould be now
without the use of 10000 men, by land and sea.
There were but few men to the guns, and they
must soon be exhausted, and they had not enough
of breal and salt for thirty days There must be
prompt action in favor of peace be oelleVed the
President was IN favor Of peace.
Wigfall asked If Mr.. Douglas would advise the
withdrawal of troops from Forts Sumter and Pick
ems and from the borders of the Confederate States
and that no attempt be made TO collect the revenue.
Douglas replied that he was not In the councils or
confidence of the Administration, and should not
tender his advice till it was asked for. Whenever
the Administration wanted advice it would doubt
less ask it It would hardly be the part Of wisdom
to state what his policy might be to one who may
so soon be in the councils Of the enemy and COM
mander of the army.
In reply to a remark of Mr.. WigfaIl, Mr.. Douglas
said he saw no reason 70 modify any sentiment in
his Norfolk speech.
After further debate, Mr.. Mason spoke against
the inaugural as being proclamation Of war. Vir-
0inia would become party to the war by the unan-
imous consent of her people when the first gun was
fred against a seeding State.
Douglas spoke further, to the effect that if the
Administration anticipated the use of arms we shall
see a proclamation for extra session of Congress
in order to increase the regular forces and call vol
unteers into the field