New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04


neutrality-suspicious., 26; Democrats, 49, Amer
leans, 2; vacancies, 9. Total 66.
House-william Pennington, of New-Jersey
Rep), Speaker; Republicans ia; Administra-
ton Democrats, 81: Anti-Lecompton Democrats.
6; South Americans. "a; vacancies. o. Total Z'''
President Buchanans message at this session
referred to the exciting political events of the
year. and attributed the discomfort in the South
to the incessant and violent agitation OK the
slavery question throughout the North for the
last quarter Of a century. 'the negroes having
been inspired thereby with vague notions OF Iree-
dem" and the South led to dread negro upris-
ing Sooner or later" he said. the bonds OF
such Union must be disrupted; but he declared
that the fatal period had not yet arrived. ana
urged that the election Of a Republican 10 the
Presidency and the apprehensions OF future dan
ger were not reasons for immedia'ei! oisS'i's
the Union.
The Presidents feeble denial Of the propriety
OF secession was fercely attacked In the senate
by Mr.. Clingman CDem.). Of North Carolina. Inc
general effect Of the Message was to encourage
the Disunionists Debate soon began in Congress
on the state of the Union. 1t became apparent.
almost at once that the controlling elements IN
D. Democratic party, which had opposed the
adoption Of the Constitution originally, which
afterward sought to restrict its operation, ana
which had never kept promise longer than its
convenience required. having now lost the Presi-
dency were resolved not to bow to the VIII OF the
people but to destroy the Union Of the States.
On December IS, 1860, the famous compromise
OF John J. Crit .enden. OF Kentucky (American)'
was introduced by him In the Senate. In SUBJ
stance it proposed to revive the Missouri COM
premise line Of SO degrees 30 minutes; TO pro-
hibit slavery north Of the line and permit IL
south; to admit new States. with or without
slavery, as their people desired; to prohibit Con-
gress from abolishing slavery in the States and
in the District Of Columbia as long as 1t should
exist in Virginia or Maryland; to permit free
transmission Of slaves by land or water in any
State to pay for fugitive slaves rescued after ar
rest, and to ask the repeal Of personal liberty
laws in the Northern States These concessions
were TO be submitted to the people as amend
ments to the Constitution. and. if adopted. were
never to be changed.
But Southern Democrats were resolved to have
no compromise Of any kind; and on March =. the
last day Of the session, several Southern States
having seeded and the Shareholders rebellion
having fairly begun. the Crittenden compromise
was defeated in the Senate by Republics votes
90 yeas to 90 Nays.
South Carolina passed an ordinance OF seces-
sion from the Union December a. 1850, on the
grounds that slaves were to be excluded from
the Territories that agitation was in progress
at the North aimed against the institution or
slavery, and that a President had been elected
who had declared that the Government cannot
endure permanently half slave, half free" Other
States passed ordinances Of secession as follows:
Mississippi, January 0. 1861; Florida January
10: Alabama, January II; Georgia. January 49,
Representatives Of the seeded States in Con-
gress resigned in each case promptly, and aban-
doned their seats, reducing the Democratic vote
in the Senate by IA and in the House by 80, thus
leaving the Republicans In control Of both
branches Of Congress
PROTECTION ENACTED.
Several noteworthy acts were passed by this
session Of Congress. One was a resolution. ap-
proved March ., 1861, to submit to the people
Of the United States amendment to the
Constitution which would guarantee to the
South no interference with slavery. 1t was as
follows:
Article H. No amendment shall be made 20
the Constitution which will authorize or give
to Congress the power to abolish or interfere
within any State. with the domestic insttu-
tons thereof, including that OF persons held
to labor or service by the laws Of said State
The most important act Of the session was
the passage. by the Senate. Of the Morrill, Pro-
tective Tariff bill on February 20. 1861 by a
vote Of % yeas CD Republicans. Democrats)
to II nays tall Democrats). large number Of
the Northern Democrats lodged the vote on the |
bill The act became law March 9, 1861
This tarff left tea and coffee free but taxed
nearly every other variety OF foreign goods
imported This famous law was not a war
ed N