, 1862-05-15
Mee$1ng Of DouEhfaee Members OF
Congress-.

a meeting Of the pro-slaEery members Of
Congress wa5 held in the Hall Of Represents
tives, last Saturday afternoon The object Of
the eonclave was to nrgnnsze an opposition
to the measures of the Administration, aud to
ehie1d the rebels, as far as possible, from pun
ishment and their property from condscation.
The only member elected as Republican
that WIS paeseut VAS H'm- Kellogg Of Illinois,
who seems to have made Lis bed with the pro-
ElaTeTy party.
The tone and purpose OF the meeting may
be gathered from the following extract from
the proceedings, Mr. Crittenden acted as
chairman.
Hr. Crayens, Of Indiana. This is certainly
an extraordinary meeting, in some respects.
7 do not remember Of ever having attended
meeting Of this kind. We see le,:c trrnt;e-
men representing different parties. aid yet
tu un!tld on one great basis Ior action. I've
have been notified th1t it Is not for party
purposes, and we zee here men who Voted
for M. B1cckinridge, and Mr.. Bell. and III
Douglas. l am opposed to the agitation OF
subjects prejudicial to the interests of the
Union, an opposed to the aeitatt;;,,,n of TIA
question of slavery. as lending to destroy
ln1s 1oVernf@~erl. I am for just such poll
- rs "1il satisfy these Southern men nov in
arms aga.nst the Government that they are
mistaken and must relinquish their hopes.
The Western people, whose interests are
divided, must look to their pecunsar7 inter
csts, and to all their -interests-to those in
terests involved in maintenance OF the
Goyc1nment and preservation of peace
hr. Kellogg Of Illinois, am happy and
thankful to see 80 many gentlemen here, audI
am sure there would have been many ihQTe
present Lad they only known the trus object
of the meeting. Party has tallen below our
consideration in the effort to successfully com.
bat this mighty storm I am not prepared
now, for one, to take ths preliminary steps for
party organization Sir, we have higher
mission. We stouId meet together, we should
consult together, VIC should act together, to
eecure the benefit Of wise and statesmanlike
policy. What desire is this-to hare some
concert OF action to meet those measures tint
arc ln]udlelouzly thrown before Congress. II
We only act together, We can break down and
overthrow all those Wild, mad schemes, which
go to make the life Of party excitement, in the
same ratio as they 1njuTlously affect the life
OF our ence peaceful country. I am for 4
union Of all doueh-tace men. Ny position Is
just this: am putting down this. dev1lish re-
nellon, but in restoring the Constitution and
the Union GIL for respecting and securing
the Hghes of States and individuals, (which
means confscating the property and liberating
tne slaves Of rhc leaders OF the Tcbellion).
When that result Is accomplished lam eatined
He had heard that the nItras propose to make
the Lovejoy bill Falatable. He thought We
had batter vote to lay the bill on the table
While it was in its present obnoxious state.
Mr. Cox Of 0hio-That motion has been
made ard voted down.
hr. Mallory of Kentucky read resolution.
proposing to dcfeat the Loyejoy bill rs uncon-
s1itutionat aud rninous.
Mr. Shetiield-The Secretary {Mr. Coxl has
the floor for Monday to make . motion to dis
pose Of the bill.
Mr.. Cox-After hr. Fisher shall hay. ms lie
his speech, will be entitled to thu 1loor 70
move to postpone till next December
Mr: Nocli Of Mississippi favored another
meeting.
j The motion to appoint Committee Of one
! from zach State, to d1at resolusi ms express
/! s1yc OF the object OF the meeting was ptpd
! The following is the Committee:
| Me=srs. Critts nGcn OF Kentucky, Hill Of Mis-
sou1i, Sheffield OF Rhode Island Cl1-a-ld Of Mary.
land, Allen Of Ohio, Richardson Of Illinois, Cray
! cns Il lndfara. Brown of Virgins, johnson OF
!, Tennessee. Ward of New YORK, Fisher OF Dsla-
ware. H2Ena1o Of Tennessee, and Steele Of New
| Jerecy.
| Mr, Sheffield moved that the Chairman OF
| this meeting be tlle Chairman Of the Com nit
| tee, and desired the Secretary to put the mo-
! ton.
| Il WAS put and carried.
| It was moved that when the meeting ad-
/ jourH, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday evening
at 8 o'clock.
After SC me conversation, it was carried that
! the Committee have power to enlargo itself
| by adGing to its members. The numes OF
Messrs- Nicklifie and Kellogg were added to
the Committee.