The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-08
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the Senate on the 3lst, Mr. Powell, from the
Committee of thirteen, reported that the Com
mittee directed him to report that they had been
unable to agree
MIR Douglas said that he desired to address the
Senate on the subject on Wednesday.
Mr. Wilson introduced resolution of inquiry as
to the places of deposite Sales &c of public arms,
which was laid on the table
Mr. BENJAMIN then addressed the Senate. He
declared the crisis in the country had not come
without warning to the Republicans, who had scot
fed at and neglected it; now they saw the truth.
South Carolina has become independent; Missis-
sippi, Florida and Alabama would be Independent
next week; and Georgia, Louisiana and Texas
would soon follow. The question now was, whe-
Their their independence should be recognized or
civil war begin. South Carolina had only repeal
ed in eighteen hundred and sixty what she had
done in seventeen hundred and eighty weight. She
had the right to do so, because the compact which
bound her to it was broken; and the compact bro
ken on one side it was therefore broken on all
sides The present Union had been formed on
this principle by nine States seeding from the
old confederation. He quoted the debates in the
Conventions of 1883, to show the truth of this
and sustained his position by we'll considered
gument. He declared they had two classes of re-
NEEDLES; one class against the power usurped in the
Constitution; unlike secession and other agents,
the abuse Of the constitutional power was revolu-
ton. Denied that secession was revolution, but
contended that it was right. He quoted the Nc
Leod case to show that an individual could not be
held responsible when carrying out his govern
ment's orders He showed that civil process
must precede the employment of military force,
and that civil process was possible ina seeding
State He argued the subject at length, and, af-
ter the recitation of the wrongs endured by the
South, declared, you may bring desoation upon
Init car
NEVER NEVER. At the conclusion of his speech
there was tumultuous applause, when the Chair
ordered the galleries to be cleared, and while the
call for the yeas and nays was being made, the
gentlemen's gallery was cleared. The Senate then
adjourned.
In House, Mr. Stanton Offered resolution which
was adopted, that the Committee on Military AT
fairs report at any time about the recent sales Of
public arms to Southern States; Charleston harbor
and Arsenal affairs.
Mr. Pryor, a resolution which was tabled, that
any attempt to preserve the Union by force, was
impracticabe and destructive to Republican Eber-
ty-lost, SO to SIS.
Pending a resolution and substitute, denying
the right of secession, and inquring if the present
laws were not sufficient to protect the public pro-
perty, by the employment Of the Army and Navy,
the House adjourned to Wednesday.
January I'm the Senate, Mr. Hunter intro
duced bill for the purpose of ceding to the with
drawing States the forts, arsenas, &c, within their
limits Crittenden's resolutions were up to-day.
Mr. Baker delivered long argumentative speech
in response to Senator Benz amin.
In the House, the petitions and resolutions
from N. jersey, asking amendment to the Constitu-
ton to quiet the present sectional antagonsm was
referred. The balance Of the day occupied in
parliamentary tactics to prevent action on Hol-
mans substitute against right of secession and in
quiring into expediency of coercing seeding States
with the Army and Navy.
January 3.-In the Senate, Mr. Baker concluded
his speech. Senator Douglas made speech on
PowelPs resolutions, but presented no new points
In the House, the judiciary Committee report
ed bill investing the President with additional
powers to collect revenue. A parliamentary strug-
gle then ensued, and the bill was finally made the
order for next Tuesday. Both Houses adjourned
to Monday.