Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-21
THE STATE OF TmE UNION.
Err. DOUGLAS OF INQuIRY.-IN
TEREsTIEG DEBATE IN THE "a

The scene between Senator's Douglas and
Fessenden in the Senate last Friday has been
briefly referred to BY telegraph. The follow
ing report Of Mr.. Douglas remarks on the &C.
casion will be read with agidity;
Mr.. Douglas resolutions were taken up.
Mr.. Clarke suggested an amendment to
strike out all after the words " United Sta'es,'
as follows: And by what number OF men
each is garrisoned and held and whether re-
Inducements are necessary to retain the same
and il 80, whether the Government has the
power and means, under existing laws, to
supply such reinfoTeements within such time
as the eXigenriss and necessities Of the case
may demand and whether the defense and
protection Of the United States and their inter-
ests make it necessary and wise to retain mil
itary possession Of such forts, places and
other property, except at Key West and Tor
tugas, and to recapture and reoecupy such
others as the United States Rave been deprived
Of by seizure or surrender for any other pur-
pose, and with view to any other end than
the subjugstion and occupation Of those States
which have assumed the right to seeeds from
The Union, and within whose limits such forts
aud other public property are situated and,
il such be the motives for TecapturiDg and
holding the forts and other public property,
what military force, ineludingi regulars and
volunteers, would be necessary to enable the
United States to reduce the States aforesaid,
and such others are supposed TO symPathize
with them, 70 subsection and obedience to the
laws Of the Union, and to protect the federal
capital"
Mr.. Douglas said be could not aecede to the
amendment twas important to the peace Of
the country that the resolution should be an
swered, as in both sections the inaugural lie
construed az Indicative Of a wal policy. II the
apprehension is allowed to Fipen into a con-
viction that the Administration meditated a
war policy to reduce the seeded States TO mil
itary force, be feared we would have the issue
precipitated upon US in shorter time than we
imagine. He did not believe the policy Of the
Administration was war. Tnis construction
is disputed on the Democratic side, while the
Republicans remain mute, sileDt-neither as
senting nor dissenting from his Interpretation.
In this state of the case, FOR the purpose Of
quoting the approximations Of the country that
the Administration does not mediate war, and
secondly, that there is no means Of prosecuting
war, il Mr.. Lincoln desired to do so, be (Mr.
Douglas) had brought in bis resolution for the
purpose of obtaining information important to
be known, bat an attempt was made to prevent
its consideration. II was suggested that dis
~cussion, if not improper, would be injurious.
But what bad effects could result IL it was
necessary to have the information desired7
If the policy Of the Administration be
peace, it will relieve existing apprehension,
restore confidence and cause relOicings through
out the length and breath Of the land. II, on
the contrary, the policy be war, it Is due 10 the
people Of the country that the fact should be
known. He repeated that Mr.. Lincoln does
not mediate war. Certain be was that under
existing laws the President cannot consistently
with his oath do anything to produce a colli-
sion between seeding States and the Federal
Government. In the first place, he has no
power under the existing laws to collect the
revenue on shlpbosrd, as suggested by par
tisan newspapers.
The law stands Just as it did when Jackson
called on Congress for additional legislation
to collect the revenues al the port OF Charles
ton. He bad no power to order tbe collection
anywhere else than in those places designated
by law. Congress passed the act well known
10 the country as the force bill. twas pasaed
in March, 1888, and expired At the end Of the
next session by express limitation. What
was and is true % to Charleston, Is true to all
the other ports Of the seeded States. There
was, therefore, no danger Of 4 collision, un-
less, as Senators suppose, the President is
going to violate the laws, and do that which 10
forbidden.
With regard to bIockading, there was no
mere authority to blockade New Orleans,
Charleston, or any other Of the ports in the Sc
80 1AAHAE aAAA AhNNM yin vi AAak "
They had been told that the President was GO
ing to enforce the laws in the seeded States.
How? By calling out the militia and the army
and navy? Bat the President could not employ
them without authority Of Law. These and
the preceding points Mr.. Douglas proceeded to
argue, sayingi Then what cause is there for
apprehension shst the President is going to
pursue a war policy, unless be shall call Con-
gress together for that purposs7
He tnoE 10 for rraufed that fhe naana So
making wal, or to collect the revenue, or re-
take and possess the forts, or enforce the laws
within the seeding States will not be confer
red BY Congress. lie came to this coueIusien
from the fact that while the Presidents polit-
zeal friends had the power to elothe him with
those means for the last six-wseks, they de-
eliDed doing 90.
Mr.. Fessepden inqHired-Wss there a single
day during The last Congress when the Rep1b-
llcens had a majority?
Mr.. Douglas replied that be chose to answer
the question in his own way, and reHeatea
that the Republicans bad the power to pasa
such measures through both Houses. He be-
lieyed they had the majority in consequences Of
the absence Of Messrs. Pngh and Salisbury
and the two Senators from Texas would not
have voted against them-one OF them 30
stated. The House had power to pass the
force bin, but postponed it froE time to tine
NAAA ~Mt EEuNlE1 AtEF ana hlGI
put It to sleep at once, and never allowed L to
breathe the breath o. life.
The Senate fond no difficulty in paasing a
law authorizing the Postmaster Central to
suspend the mails when obstTuctea intthe Sc
ceding S atss. II Il be The policy Of 6he Ad.
ministrstion to use the war pwer to collect the
revenue blockade ports and recspture forts,
and execute the laws In the seeding SsaAes
why not say 90? He (Mr. Douglas) had taRk
his position as a Union man and a friend
peace, and If be bad given 4 wrong interpret
tasion to the inaugural, Why not let US hate1
the Presidents answer =
Why were the Republicans thus sensitive,
be did not give a correct Interpretation OF "a
inauguFsl2 No Senator had veBtured to deHt
his Interpretation. No one bad yentured
say the Presidents policy was not peace "a
y%entured to say thatRo one w~asButhorized
eontraalehhA ats. WY did ID
Baslness is pafE
fs destroved. nnf1