Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-01-29
Thirty-sixth Congressional session.

CHoRus-Then three cheers for the Union, &c.
Thirty-Sixth Congressional Session.
MONDAY, January 14.-1n the. United States
Senate to-day Mr.. Brown gave notice that the
Senators from Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi
would no longer take an active part in the de-
liberations of the body. Their States had ta-
ken measures to withdraw from the Union, but
of which the Senators were not so officially in
formed as to justify their final withdrawal from
the Senate. The Kansas bill was then taken up,
and Mr.. Polk, of Missouri, spoke in favor of the
right of secession and against coercion. Mr.
Crittenden called up the resolutions submitting
his Compromise to vote of the people, and
pressed vote on them. After some discussion
the resolutions were made the special order at
half past twelve o'clock to-day, with the UNDER
standing that they will then be considered to the
exclusion of all other business until finally dis
posed Of
To the House to day, during the morning hour
Mr.. Etheridge made another unsuccessful attempt
to introduce the Border State resolutions In
Committee Of the Whole the Army bill was ta-
ken up and a general debate commenced on the
perilous state OF the country. Mr.. McClernand,
of Illinois, and Mr.. Cox, OF Ohio, both Demo-
Gratis, made strong speeches against the right of
secession and in favor of the enforcement of the
laws. They contended that the collection of the
revenues and the protection of the public prop
erty was not coercion, and supported the course
of the President. Mr.. Cox was especially en-
phatic. He warned South Carolina not to touch
a hair on the head of Major Anderson, and re-
ferriDg to the espionage alleged to have been es-
tablished over vessels coming down the Misss-
sippi, said that the Northwest would never per-
nit such surveillance. Both gentlemen express
ed willingness to vote either for the Crittenden
or the Border State Compromise, and Mr. Cox
expressed the opinion that there were symptoms
of concession on the part of the epnblicans.-
Mr. Oorwin, from the Committee of Thirty
Three, made report, which made the spe-
cal order for Monday next, and from day to
day until disposed OF. A minority report was
also made.
TUESDAY, January 15.-In the United States
Senate to day Mr.. Crittenden's resolutions were
taken up, but at one o'clock were forced aside
for the special order, the Pacific Railroad BILL
The pending motion to indefinitely postpone that
bill was rejected, but without coming to final
vote on it the Senate adjourned.
The House with the Army bill before it, in
dulged in miscellaneous debate on secession,
coercion, the revolutionary seizure of the forts
&c. During the debate Mr.. Rust, of Arkansas.
said that the compromise measures reported by
Mr. Corwin had not been adopted by the Com
mittee of Thirty-Three.
WEDNESDAY, January 16-In the United
States Senate Mr.. Crittenden's resolutions were
taken up after the morning hour. Senator Pow
ell amendment, to the first proposed amend
ment to the Constitution SO as to make it read,
sin all the Territories noao held, or hereafter &C.
s'quired south of said line of latitude slavery of
s'the African race is hereby recognized as exist
(Ss- Nd %ad o. II
the Republicans voting in the negative. The
Compromise with this amendment was aban-
doned, and after some debate Senator Clarke's
resolutions were adopted as substitute by a
vote of yeas %, nays %. This substitute de.
clares that the provisions of the present Oonst-
tuition are ample that it needs to be Obeyed
rather than amended, that all attempts to dis
solve the Union with an idea to its RECONSTRUCT
ton are illusory and destructive, that no such
reconstruction is practicable and that, therefore,
the energies of the government and the effort of
good citizens should be directed to the preserva-
tion of the existing Union and Constitution
The whole subject was then laid on the table.
The House to-day continued the debate in
Committee of the Whole on the National Crisis.
On motion of Mr.. Harris bill was passed ex-
tending the act relative to the collection of ton
mage dues at the port of Baltimore for the inn
provement of the same, until 1871. The same
bill was brought up in the Senate by Mr.. Pearce
and passed.
THURSDAY, January l7-In the United States
Senate to-day Hon. L. M. Morrill, took his seat
as Senator from Maine in the place of Mr.. Ham
lin. Mr.. Cameron endeavored to get the floor
to move a reconsideration of the vote on Mr.
Crittenden's resolutions, but Mr.. Hunter pressed
the consideration of the Deficiency bill. That
was amended, passed, and the Pacific Railroad
bill taken up. Without final action the Senate
went into executive session.
The House to-day with the Army bill nomi-
naly before it, continued the general debate on
the National crisis. Speeches were made on
both sides, some for conciliation, others for war.
FRIDAY, January 18.-In the United States
Senate to day Mr.. Oamerons motion for the re-
consideration of the vote by which the resolu-
tions of Mr.. Clark were substituted for the Grit
tenden Compromise was taken up. The mo-
tion to reconsider prevailed-ayes 81, nays 25.
On the call of the roll Messrs. Cameron and
Dixon, Republicans, voted for this reconsidera-
ton, but afterwards changed their votes. Mr..
Wigfall, of Texas, voted with the Republicans
against the reconsideration. Mr.. Crttenden's
resolutions were then postponed until Monday
next. The bill for the admission of Kansas was
next taken up. Mr.. Green proposed an amend
ment, which would have sent the bill back to
the House, but the Senate rejected it-ayes- %,
nays 81. The bill will probably pass by about
the same vote After an executive session, last
ing three hours, the Senate adjourned until
Monday.
The debate on federal affairs was continued
in the House today. The important feature of
the debate was speech from Mr.. Sherman, the
Republican leader in the House. He expressed
willingness to settle the Territorial question by
the admission of New Mexico as a slave State,
but could not consent to the Crttenden amend
ment because slavery was to be protected in all
territory hereafter acquired south of 36 deg. 80
min. He was willing to vote for an amend
ment of the Constitution prohibiting interfer-
ence with slavery in the States where it exists,
and also for Mr.. Stewards proposition to guard