Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-02-15
The XXXVlth Congress.

ed WASHINGTON, Feb. Z.
SENArE.-Mr. Thompson presented sevel
49, petitions in favor of the Crittenden reso utior
~ He also presented the rcsolut' 'ons of the lie
islature Of New Jersey, which his colleag
n. had presented during his absence, and sa
n. he entirely dissented from the views of b
colleague.
= Mr.. Ten Eyck replied, and said he had j
- desire to avail himself of his colleague
:" absence. He contended that the resolution
did not express the calm feeling Of the peopl
y as shown by the votes of the recent election
" but the resolutions sent were rushed throue
u the Senate Of New Jersey when four membe
q were sick.
e Mr.. Collamer presented petition from Il
S. citizens of Vermont, asking Congress to adoI
9 an amendment to the Constitution similar
10 the Border State propositions. He said
}. was willing to do all in his power in Congress
q but not anything which was not allowed b
y the Constitution, which was that Congress
:, may propose amendments to be submitted
- the States; and, further, if the States wan
amendments, let them say so by convention
and Congress must agree.
Mr.. Cameron presented petition, signe
4 by 6, 200 citizens of Philadelphia, Representing
probably $4,000 or 10000 people, in favor 0
q the Crittenden-Bigler resolutions.
The Presidents message came up.
t Mr.. Wigfall replied to Mr.. johnson. II,
L. SAID the effect of Johnson's first speech indi
Gated that he was in favor of coercion, and il
| was too late now to deny it. The Senator
. from Tennessee complained that his grea
argument had been unanswered; but he
(WigfalD had not heard any great argument
| f.l1o Lott &c
to enforce laws were coercion and war. He
said Helper was not so slanderous against the
South as sentiments uttered by Southern
Senators. lie said the South had no desire
to make war, but intended to live under such
la government as it saw fit. Six States had
revoked the treaty called the Constitution,
though they might be willing to make another.
He claimed that the South had mine of
wealth IN cotton, and pictured the destruction
of Northern commerce if the ports South are
blockaded. A vessel would be fired into if it
carried the flag of thirty y-three States into a
port where they have plucked stars from it.
The subject was postponed till Monday.
Adjourned.
| HousE-The galleries of the House were
densely crowded, to-day. Among the spec
tators were the Commissioners to the Peace
Convention. A sound like the reverberating
of cannon startled almost everybody. The
Members rushed to Their feet, and the ladies
hastily quit the galleries The Speaker quieted
their fears by saying that something had
fallen on the roof. 1t was subsequently found
that the wind had blown down small derrick.
! The report of the Committee Of Thirty three
was taken up.
| Mr.. Corwn gave notice that he should
move to close the debate week from Friday.
| Mr.. Davis, Of Maryland, took the floor.
He said six States had rebelled against the
supreme law Of the land, assuming lndepend-
ent powers, seizing forts and insulting the
| National hag He referred to the supplying
of arms by Cabinet Minister to those about
to make war, and Commissioners wandering
from State to State, tiagrantly violating the
| Constitution by stirring up rebellion; and a
Cabinet Minister, while holding his commis-
sion, and bound by oath to support the Con-
stitution, going himself from one State to
another, organizing another part of the scheme
of rebellion. We have seen the President
! neglecting the warning Of the first military
commander Of the age, allowing the forts to
be taken, and subsequently seen him making
| bargains for peace with disunionists, until he
shall be relieved from the responsibility,
instead of defending and indicating the
public honor. He considered the President
incapable for his position. The Constitution
| and laws must be enforced, and those who
stand across the path of enforcement must
! either destroy the power of Government, or
it will destroy them. Applause.] Revenue
may be collected on shipboard, and the laws
of commerce be enforced, by not allowing
vessels to pass out without Government
papers; postal facilities be conducted or srs-
pended, according to circumstances. He said
he should speak for Maryland, who has con-
fidence in the strength of the Government
VIII ch protects her.
Mr.. Kunkle-If you speak for that State,
desire to be heard. Cries of "order"1
Mr.. Davis--I decline to yield the floor.
Mr.. Kunkle- Speak for yourself, not for
Maryland.
MIR. Davis continued and said Maryland
does not recognize the right of secession or
the right to repeal the supreme law of the
land. Those who should presume to inaugu-
rate revolution would meet with revolutionary
resistance on the soil of Maryland, under the
| stars and stripes.
Mr.. Sedgewick said: So powerless and low
| has the Government fallen that even insight
| ficant Florida flaps the disunion banner in the
| face of the United States, and even here a
| truce had been declared between the Govern
| ment and the army of that State. Heopposed
all remedies proposed by the committee. He
was opposed to compromise. He would con-
sent that the slave States 60 into separate
confederacy with full consent of all parties.
! Mr.. Vallandlgham offered propositions to
amend the Constitution by dividing the United
States into four sectons-the New England
and Middle States forming one, the North
Western States another, the Pacific States
another, and the Southern States east of the
Rio Grande another to be called respectively
the North, the West, the Pacific and the South.
| A resolution was passed authorizing Lieut.
Craven to receive presents from the Spanish
Government.
Mr.. Craig, of North Carolina, gave notice
that he should offer resolutions, Monday,
calling for information of the Secretary of the
Treasury whether duties continue to be col
|lected in the ports of South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Louisiana and Florida.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.
SENArE.-Messrs. Seward and Hale pre-
sented petitions from the citizens of Philadel-
phia, asking for the preservation Of the Union
and the enforcement of the laws.
| Mr.. Blgler presented petltions I'D iaVor VI
the Crittenden resolutions.
Mr.. Wade asked to take up the resolution
extending the time for taking testimony in
regard to the patent for McCormick's reaper.
Mr.. Fitch had protest of the Commissioner
:, of Patents against the extension of time. He
moved that the resolution be referred to the
committee on patents.
Mr.. Wade argued in favor Of the extension
of time.
The resolution was passed-2S to Is.
| A spicy debate sprung up between Douglas
, and Fessenden The former charged the
latter with indecency. Fessenden defended
himself; in such matter he would put him
q self on par with Douglas or any other man
\ HousE.-The House passed bill for tn
I adjustment of the claims of the Puget Sount
| nri orlk,,ral ca ,,,,do,. thu froatu of Grea