Year: 1861

will not enter into any controversy as to the Tor
iolk speech, nor with regard to the late canvass
have long since repeatedly said, "et by cones be


by-gones." am only looking to the line of policg


to save the country from civil and conflict, aud
am pressing on both sides of the Chamber and on
the Executive, and on every citizen whose heart


and mlnd,l can reach the pursuit of such pacific pol
icy as will arrest the further destruction of the
Government, prevent civil war, and lead to a re


union even of those States which have withdrawn
from the Union.-Mr. WIGFALL was happy


that the Senator was willing to let by-gones be by


cones, of which the Norfolk speech was one. He


willing to meet the Senator to the future
MIR. DOUGLAS replied that he had no other mo-
tive than to deal with the future, without crimi-
fa aation or recrimnation as to the past. For the
future, he advocated a pacific policy.--Mr.WlG-
FALL-All wanted to say was, that did not de-
sire that Texas should be put in false position of
making war when she is not doing it.--Mr.
MASON said that the debate had been in pro-
gress Tor two days, and yet the
Republican side had made single com
ment on the inaugural. The Senator from
Illinois, after giving it a careful perusal, had
made a proclamation that it was a decla-
ration of peace. He (Mr. Mason) was sur
prised to hear this. lie had read the document
and heard the reverberations of the public press


not only of the South but elsewhere, and the
Senator was the only source from which he
learned that it would be interpreted as peaceful


Inc Union is In disintregation We have already
lost seven states. Senators have retired from this
Chamber after having filed copies of the ordinance
OF secession. 1t is known historical fact that
these States have confederated and have
established new Government and flag and
provided for the collection of revenues The Gov
ernment Is complete in all its parts-prOvsion is
made for land and sea forces-in fact, no feature
that Is necessary for perfect and stable govern
ment has been omitted The States which have
separated embrace five millions of people, three
of them white. In this condition of things and in
view of these facts, the President SAYS that the
Union is unbroken. But we wished to ascertain
what the Southern States are to expect from the
policy of the Administration-not only the Con
tederate States, but the others, which necessarily
sympathize with them from affection, intercourse
ana alliance, and, more than all, from the great
oona otona which can never be broken, ard which holds
the great social fabric. He repeated, that if there
was any man here who had found in the Inaugural
what the Senator from Illinois had found, name
~, "a peaceful policy he yet to see him.
II inns peaceful policy" had been found, it would
have been proclaimed in the tongue of the trumpet
to the country.--Mr. Mason proceeded to ex-
anime the inaugural, coming to the conclusion
that it is a proclamation of war. The President
naa eft out OF that paper the time when the force
Is TO be employed. He had omitted the fact that
the Union is broken. lie should have admitted it,
recognized the separate existence of the seeding
States, and withdrawn the troops from the forts
AS TO virginia, he could say if any attempt should
De made to use the public force under the policy
OF executing the laws, or of taking possession Of
the forts, arsenals, or any other property and if
the President should march hostile army for such
purpose, virginia will, by the unanimous consent
OF her peo pie, become party to the war when the
hrst gun is fired. In further discussion, Mr. Mason
argued that Mr.. Lincoln regards the Chicago plat
form as his law.-Mr. DOUGLAS, in reioinder
to such parts of Mr.. Mason's speech as
referred to him, said that the simple
reason why an attempt would not be made to rein
iorce Fort Sumter, that it was impossible
Whilst he had no knowledge of theviews of any,
BODY connected with the Government, having con-
troll OF the question as to Fort Sumter he took it
Tor granted that an army as large as would be re-
qulred could not be got together for some months,
as the raising of it would require session of Con-
gress.-Mr. MASON-What would you do with
the tort?-Mr. DOUGLAS-If the Senator had
voted right last November, would tell him what
the control of constitutional duties. The revenue
could not be collected without further legislation,
and this Mr.. Douglas proceeded to show, and
do SO by the means of military force
After the arrival of the President elect the
Force Bills were not pressed to a vote in Congress,
and this for patriotic purpose A Congress
which would have passed them, withheld the pow
er to do these very things, even if the President
had desired to possess it. He had no doubt, not
only that the President is in favor of a foreign
policy, but also the Republican party, believing
tnat such policy, under present circumstances,
would be the best. Ii the administration antici-
pate the use OF arms, we shall soon see procama-
nation for an extra session of Congress-, in order
tnat laws may be passed for increasing the regular
forces and calling volunteers into the field to such
extent as the military authority may estimate to
be necessary.--Without further action the Sen
ate adjourned.