Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-02
TAIRTY.sIxTH COSGREss-Sscond Session.


ate chamber was the largest legislative chamber ever
erected since the beginning of the world except the
House OF Representatives, this memorial would cover
space thirty times large this chamber. He had al
ready presented similar memorial with o. 900 names
all urging Cancellation. The committee who brought this
memorial were the representatives OF the largest com
merce in the world-a commerce which in any other
country would be paramount to all other interests. Hap
PLY here il was not so.
He had been requested 10 support the views OF this
morial and regretted that he had disposition on
the part Of the seeding States and their friends to meet
any practicable effort at compromise the part oil the
adherng States He however held himself open to such
propositions and reoiced at the fraternal feeling
manifested by thepeope of his State in these memorials
He did not fear for the Union did he believe the diff
cultes would certainly be settled in thirty sixty or
ninety days, but nevertheless he believed they would be
settled. All platforms that stood in the way OF
the preservation of the Union would be swept away
The question Of slavery freedom 10 the Territories
had been greatest in 1880 The admission Of Kansas,
California and Oregon had reduced the question to a
very compass In that part which remained, all
being slave territory which slave code extended
| there were but twentyour saves-but one for every
Al 900 square miles
lie did not fear slave aggression which had only car
ried wentyfour slaves to all that territory Why, then,
should he despair Of the Union: Why, could he believe
that thirty millions Of people would reduce themselves TO
the scorn OF mankind by the dissolution of this Union for
this question: This confederation not impe-
rial government Submit the question to a convention
be called according to the forms of the constitution
and the world would how thirty-iour States could
peaceaby adjust this difficulty. He urged, last re-
sort, If other failed the calling of national con-
vention, according to the constitutional forms. lie con
cuded by saying that he had advised the gentlemen com
posing the committee who had brought on the memo
rial to go home and speak for the Union vote for the
Union 10 contribute their money TO preserve the Unon
and when all other eGpediens failed, TO fight for the
Union.
Mr. Mason moved that the memorial be printed He
understood it be a memorial praying for the adoption
of the Crtenden amendments. He did not think that
at this time when sI States had seeded and others
were armng the premier Of the administration had
proposed any practical measures. All knew by his votes
his opinion the Crittennen amendments and by his
Clarks resolution that the constitution needed
amendments but that the constitution and laws should
be enforced He M Seward) had urged his constitu
ents TO contribute to the Union. He would like
TO know the meaning OF that
Mr. Seward said that he meant that the people should
advance the Union funds by which the credit OF the
government should now be sustained
Mr. Mason said that he had not done him the il usce
to suppose that he meant the y to subsd11 or de-
morahZs any portion oil the South. He meant 10 pay
army to conduct the iyht.
Mr. Seward said he meant to advise that it, after all
Congressional compromises the assembling of a cOnyen-
ton OF all the people OF the United States had failed
then for all to stand, he should do himself, in the
breach for the Union.
Mr.. Mason said he now understood the Senator. lie
meant if negotiations failed, TO and bloodshed
preserve the Union. The Union gone and no at
tempt at subngation could restoreit. de wanted his
people Who medating TO restore broken Union to
understand these thingS.
Mr.. Seward said that he meant nothing that at
trbuted to him by the Senator from Virginia He did
not tn nix that blo5dshed necessary. He believed
the people would settle it, The Union not gone for
the Senator h re to sustain it,
Mr. Mason said the remarks OF the Senator in favor OF
coercion would undeceiye Virginia aud show her that
all this talk about compromise and concession amounted
to nothing. Money and the thing the North
looked TO- He would speak without angry emotion
Men on the eve of measuring swords should cOnpcri
themseves as gentlemen. He trusted that they might
avoid the ultima ratio and that the advice of the Sena
tor from New Ork would be re- ected. II there
be confederation OF Southern States he trusted that
they might be permitted TO separate 10 peace He hoped
that the good sense humanity civilization and regard
tor unborn poserity would lead the people OF both sec
tons to repudiae the counses OF the Senator from New
York.
Tue first Efforts OF those desiring peace should be to
prevent Il collision, which now imminent The cOul
sci of tie Senator from New York wac that the people
OF the North should speak for the Unon for the
Union contribute their money for the preservation OF the
Mon and fight for the MON. Now for the first time
II was Swallowed forth that the cry Of the Republican
leaders would be force force, force lie hoped this
would open the ewes OF the South to what she might ex
civil war ensued after years Of devastation, military
despotsn would be the result
Mr Seward was astonshed the selfdelusion of the
Senator from Virginia, who had made of a speech
plcifc and iraternal declaration OF war. lie wished
the Union saved by the pacific and constitutional action
of the people and had spoken OF force the last resort
when every other expedient had been exhausted He
had been willing to hear and consider all propositions
and was still willing do so. New York stood ready
do likewise and settle the question peaceaby without
tb. ord all i,,rta lad N
the intense scccssonsts in whose interests the Senator
from Virginia seemed to speak, he would appeal to the
States to say whether for twenyfour negro slaves this
great government was to be destroyed
Mr. Mason denied that he spoke for any other interest
than that OF VII nia and there authority for the
Senator'S statement.
Mr.. Seward apologzei. lie had meant nothing often
Mr.. Cameron asked what Maryland and Virginia want
edg
Mr. Mason said the demands of Virginia express
ed in the resolutions of her Legislature, before the
Senate. He made alluson to dispatches sent by
Mr.. Douglas to Virginia, saying that settlement woold
be reached.
Mr. Douglas said he bad only expressed his views when
asked by Virgin!ans. Everything depended on the ac
ton Of Virginia and the bOr:er States 1t very clear
that the Senator from Virginia had object in view
aud he another. lie for saving the Union by fair
and honorable adjustment, but had nothing in the
action of the Senator from Virginia looking TO such
result lie had repealed the advances made by the Sen
ator from Pennsylvania and bad been appauded by the
republicans Tor his declaration that the South wished no
concession. The secessonsts and republicans conceded
in their efforts to destroy the government and acted in
concert.
Mr. Mason-"Do you mean that we consult"
Mr. Douglas Certainly not" He then remarked
that by the refusal of Southern Senators to vote the
Clark substitute adopted in lieu OF the Crittenden
resolutions
Mr. johnson, of Arkansas, said he could not permit
that statement 60 abroad without correcting it, As
compromises adopted by ma GRITTY Of both part es
in the Senate would be useless, following the action of
the committee OF thirteen, certain Southern Senators
manned passive to what the other side would do
they had ALL without solitary exception, voted against
the Critenden resolves That the fact and he did not
wish the Senator send the deceptive statements abroad
that Southern Senators had acted in concert with the
publcans Applause in the galleries
Mr. Douglas said he could not know the motives of in
dvidual Senator's. He only knew the refusal of certain
of them caused the adoption of Clarks substitute
aud upon that, Dispatches sent South that there
no hope.
Mr. Johnson-There was no deception in that there
is no hope.
Mr. Douglas said he never would despair Of IT,, Union
War could only lead to dsunion aud final separation. He
saw no why the irnlty could not be adjusted
The Senator from New York had shosn that the gov
eminent had been in the hands Of the South for twelve
years and yet in that time had only planted twenyOur
slaves in all the territories. That showed that slavery
could not be carried in opposition to natural laws Why
then seek to break up the Union abstraction of
practical value simple clause in the Constitution for
bidding Congress to interfere with slavery 10 the States
T rIitories would close the whole controversy
Mr.. Douglas offered an amendment TO the bill organ
zng the Territory of Idaho, and it ordered be
printed.
On motion of Mr. Latham the special order was post
poned until tomorrow, at p. N.
Mr. Hale expressed his surprise at the remarks of the
Sanator from Illinois in regard 70 the APPRECIATION he