Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-10
FRIpAY,s pRocREprxas.

FRIDAYS PRocREDSGs.
WASHINGTON Feb. s.-SExATE -Messrs. Seward
and Hall presented petitions from citizens of Phila-
delphia asking for the preserving of the Union and
the enforcement of the laws.
Biger presented petitions in favor of the Critten
| den resolutions.
Wade asked leave to take up the resolution ex-
tending the time for taking testimony in regard to
the patent for McCormIcks reaper.
Fitch had protest of the Commissioners of pa
tents against the extension of time He moved that
the resolution be referred to the Committee on Pa
tents.
Wade argued in favor of the extension of time
| A spicy debate sprung up between Douglas and
Fessenden, the former charged the latter with indie
| cency.
Fessen5en said, in defending himself in such
matter, lie would put himself on par with Mr.
Douglas or any other man.
| The Presidents Message ordered to Re print
ed. The Tariff bill was taken up: ayes %, noes
%. Adjourned.
HousE.-The President, in a message transmitted
to both Houses to-day, gives the correspondence be-
tween himself and Col. Hayne, of South Carolina.
Much OF IL has already been published. The fol-
lowing is the substance of the concluding part of
Col Haynes letter of January 3ist After stating
the refusal to surrender Fort Sumter to be an oc-
cason for war, and stating the question be one Of
mere property he says: = IF the evils of war are
to be encountered. it will be . calamity to the
whole civilized world. The Free States seem to re
quire it should be accepted as the unavoidable al
tentative of something still more disastrous such
as national .dishOnor. Such measures, materially
affecting the safety permanent interests of the
people, should be deliberately made and entered up
on, and of settled purpose; but that should
be the incident attendant police professedly
peaceful, not required to effect the object. South
Carolina cannot BY her silence appear to acquiesce
IN the lmputaOn that she is guilty of act of I'M
provoked aggression in firing on the Star OF the
West. Though unarmed vessel she was filed
with armed men entering her territory to act
against her"
Gov Pickens' instructions to him accompany
Haynes letter Secretary Holt replied the 9Th ae-
knowledging the Presidents reception Of Haynes
letter. The summary of Haynes instructions are,
that he does not go as military demand the
surrender of a fort, but 4 legal officer of be
State-as its Attorney Generate claim for the
State the exercise Of its undoubted right of domain
and to pledge that the State make good all injury 10
rights Of property which arise from the exercise of
the claim The proposition therefore IS TO buv
Fort Sumter, sustained blythe declaration in effect
that Carolina is not enabled to make the purchase
she viii seize the Fort by force of arms This pyo.
pOsal impresses the President as having assumed a
most unusual form. He has however investigated
the claim on which il PROCESSES 10 be based apart
Fl the declaration that accompanies it-thst the
title of the United States to the fort is Complete and
uRcout7Overuble We're its interest in the property
simply in the ordinary acceptance Of the term il
might probably be subjected the exercise of the
act of eminent domain but it has political relations
OI HUGH HiBiief dEu more important character ]
than those of mere property. 1t has absolute I
jurisdiction CFeA the fort and soil on which 1
1t Stands which Is clearly incompalibe with /
the claim Of eminent domain. This authority |
Is derived from peaceful cessOn by South Carolina
and by provision of the Constitution of the United
States South Carolina can more assert the right
Of eminent domain over Sumter than Maryland over
the District of Columbia. The President however
is relieved from the necessity of pursuing this sub
Ject, by the fact that he has not the constitutional
nIsIl ragrTrsr
reinforcing Fort Sumter has been fully discussed |
THIS discussion need not be renewed. At the pres
ent moment it is not deemed necessary to reinforce
Maj. Anderson, because he makes no such request.
Should his safety, however, require reinforcements
the effort VIII lie made to supply them. l can add
nothing TO the eXplcitness of this language which
still applies to existing States. In my letter to
Senator Sidell of January ed, the subject was
freely discussed, and in the letters OF Senator
Davis and others TO yourself, they say 1t is
especially due from South Carolina to YOU /
the Cotton States to say nothing Of other sarehod
ing States as far as consistent with her honor, to
avoid mediatng hostilities between herself and the
United States or any other power. And You now
give the PresiGent the gratifying assurance that
South Qaroln, has every disposition to preserve the
public peace, and since he is animated by the same
desire, it would seem that this common and patri-
otie object of certain attachment. 1t IS difficult,
however, to reconcile this with the declaration on
your pr. that South Caroljnas own dignity, sover-
eigHty, and the safety of her position prompts her
to demand that this property shall not longer be
military post Of Government which she no longer
After stating that IN case of an at
tempt by foreign power to capture the Charleston
batteries. Fort Sumter would be expected act for
her protection, he says "HOw the presence of a
small garrison, actuated by such a spirit can COM
promise the dignity or honor of South Carroll
na the President is at a loss to understand. !
The attitude that the Government has often de-
clared Is neither menacing, defiant, or unfriend-
Iy. L the announcement so repeatedly made
Of the fredents pacific purposes in continuing the
of Fort Sumter until the question is set
tied by competent authority has failed to impress
the government of South Carolina with the forbear-
ing conduct of his administration for the last three
months it should be received as conclusive evidence
Of his sincerity and if this would not be accepted
then neither language nor conduct can possibly fur
nish such pledge. If, with all the multiplied proofs
Of the Presidents anxiety for peace if Che authOri
ties of South Carolina shall assail Fort Sumter and
peril tae lives of handful of brave and loyal men
shut up within its walls and thus plunge COM
mon country into the horrors of civil war; than upon
them and those that they represent, must the res
possibility rest"
The Speaker laid before the House the correspon-
dence between the President and Col Hayne, and
the message of the President. Referred to Select
Committee of five and ordered 20 lie printed.
The report Of the Committee of Thirty Three was
resumed.
Hatton, of Tennessee protested against his State
being dragged into the wake of the reckless and sell
nsh leaders OF the cotton states.
Kellogg said his motto was "The Uni1n, it muss !
and shall be preserved" no matter what abandon
ment of party or platform, SO long as no abandon
Inent of honor is the consequence. He argued in
favor Of the propositions recently introduced by
him.
Smish. Of North Carolina, advocated the CFitten-
len resolutions.
A recess was taken,
In the evening session, Mr.. Chase. of Indiana
spoke against compromise, when the House adj
ourn.