Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-03-27
Mr. Douglass Speech in the Senate, March 25.

I
| Senator from Wisconsin, lie recapitulaied
| his objections, which he regarded as incOn-
| sistent. Fort Pickens was the only fort IN
the Confederate States concerning which any
! collision was likely to arise, and it would re-
lieye the country 70 know what the policy OF
| the administration was to be. The TortugaS
forts were outside the Confederate States,
and were of Il national character. lie saw
no reason for holding on to Fort PleEens, UNI
| less the object was to secure Pensacola har-
Dor as base Of operations for war upon
the seeded States. Notwithstanding his
construction of his inauguration had been
spoken of as unlimited by the other side, he
| still believed it was the correct one.
His arguments had been objected to-
| Could thcv be answered? ile had shown
| that the revenue could not be collected on
shiphoard, that the Southern ports could not
| be blockaded, and the President could not
use the military power to entorce the law
unless authorized to do so BY Congress. For
this he was accused Of beiittling the coun-
try. Was it belittling the country to show
what the laws were? Did they want their
President to perure himself and violate the
! law?
Mr.. Howe said he did not find fault with
the Senator for pointing out the laws, but
for failing to see the Necessity ol collecting
all the revenue of the country.
Mr.. Douglas said he mad opposed the reck-
less passage of the Morrill, bill as measure
calculated to destroy the revenue and he be-
| lieyed that an extra session would be neces.
sary TO repeal II.
The Senator said that his (Douglas'1 arGu-
mcnts reminded him of incidents oF the revo-
luton, and by Implication compared him to
the traitors of that period. lie would enter
into no defence Of his patriotism; he had no
fear that the people would look upon him as
an enemy. 1t seemed that the Republican
Senators could not make = speech without
assailing him, and inpugniug his motives.
If he were to die, he would doubtless have
the largest funeral cortege ever seen-thcre
would be so many politicians deprived of the
material out Of which they manufactured
their speeches. Laughter.
The Senator from Wisconsin objected TO
his proposition for amending the Constitn-
ton, so as 10 restore tranquility and trater-
nity as the worst of all his suggestiOns.-
Now, unless fraternity was restored, the
Union was irretrievably gone, and he could
not agree with those who favored Il dissolu'
ton. The whole question to be settled was,
whether they would have union or disunion.
and consequently peace or war
Mr.. Clark said he thought it better to
stand on the Constitution us it was, than IL
attempt any compromise.
Mr.. Douglas had no doubt that was the
Senator'S position. He would rather let war
come than amend the Constitution.
MIR. Clark said he deprecated war az mucll
rs any one lie wished to stand upon the
Consultation as it was, as the best means oil
preventing war.
Mr.. Douglns said reducing States to obedi'
ence was not the way to prevent war.
Mr. Clark disclamed any such intention.
Mr.. Doug -"Ihen 70" don't intend IL
enforce the laws"
Mr.. Clark.-"I wish to explain. mean
that believe the time will soou come when
the laws will be enforced all over the coun-
try, add without a resort to bayonets. The
States of the South will return to their allie
glance"
Mr.. Doug las said he was dealing with facts
as they were Ii was Il fact that certain
States had seeded, and that the laws o! the
United States were imperative.
Mr.. Clark asked If the mails were not car.
ried in the seeded States.
Mr.. Douglas -"Only by their permission.
He then went on to say that as the Senator
from New Hampshire did not propose to en-
force the laws while the people were op-
posed to them, there WAS no difference be-
tween them on that point He did not sup
pose. then, that the Senator proposed to col
lect the revenue everywhere.
Mr.. Clark said, when the President was
authorized, he could collect the revenue on
shipboard.
MIR. Douglas said of course, but he had not
been authorized lie interpreted this is an
admission that there would be no attempt 10
collect the revenue South, till the law was
changed by Congress.
Mr.. Clark said he meant to commit no
body but himself lie knew nothing Of the
Intentions of the administration.
Mr.. Douglas said though he had been re-
buked for impertinence when he made his
speech 8! ort time ago, it now appeared
he was right in his interpretation Of the
Presidents inaugural. Before the 18th Of
March, the Republicans talked Of collecting
the revenue right off they wanted to find
out whether they had government, etc.
Mr. Clark denied that any such decIarl-
tons had come from Senators on the Repub-
lican side.
Mr.. Douglas said he was now satisfied his
views were right. and the Republicans did
not intend to collect the revenue, and the
President would take no steps till Congress-
made it his duty to do 50. This treasured
him, for he had no idea the Republicans
were sensible enough to pursue such policy.
If he had, he would not have opposed them
80 strongly as he did in the last election.
Mr.. Douglas then replied to Mr., Breckin.
ridge, and said he thought the South Was
now receiving all she had asked for, and
should be satisfied. The Republican party
had adopted his doctrine OF popular sover-
eighty, and the South now had free access to
all the Territories.
Mr. breckenridge obtained the floor.
CnrruN SpINNERs' CONVENTION This DO
iy met at Atlanta, GA, on the 18th instant.
Four States and eight manufacturing estab-
lishments were represented, and the body
was composed Of Il number Of men who are
prominently known all over the South as
experienced manufacturers and economists,
and some as statesmen. The convention
elected Hon Wm. Gregg, of Granitevlle, 5.
c.. as President: Daniel Pratt, OF Ala, and