Year: 1861




WASHINGTON, Jan. ll.-Mr. BIGLER presented
the petitions of citizens of Lancaster, Pa praying
that the resolutions of Mr.. Crttenden NAV be
adopted; laid on the table.--Mr. CAMERON
presented eight memorials of citizens of Pennsyl-
vanla, OF a similar character; tabled.-Mr BIG
LEX moved to take up the Crittenden resolutions.
which was not agreed to.-Mr. HUNTERS reso-
luton was taken up on motion, and read, as fol-
lows:


WHEREAS, Certain FORTS magazines, arsenaIs. dock
yards and other needul buildings have been placed un
der the executive jurisdiction of the United States by
cesson TO that effect from certain States and it may
the desire of of to resume the inr
dicton thus ceded now, therefore


BE it resolued That the President of the United States
ought to be authorized by law upon the application Of
the Legislature or of regular convention Of the people
OF any such States to retocede this Jurisdiction to such
States upon taking security for safe keeping
ana return OF all the property of the United States
ured by the act Of any Of the States making such app
cation. Ff
Mr.. TRUMBULL offered an amendment en-
dorsing the conduct of Major Anderson in de-
Tending the forts at Charleston. MIR.
HUNTER sad-Mr. President | have not
sought to speak hitherto because did not believe
that any good could be accomplished by speaking
The disease seems to be so deeply seated that none
but the most radical remedies would suffice [ had
| no hope that the public mind of the North would
! be in condition to receive any proposition, but
| don't know that 1t is even now prepared or would
be wiling to listen to such measure. Surely none
| can now doubt the imminence and the extremity
| of the danger. All must see that the bonds which
have hitherto bound together as members of this
confederacy are like fax before the fire, and this
great fabric is reeling and otering in the storm
that, if it not based upon the solid founda
tion OF State organization, there would be rea-
son to think it must fall entirely Be-
| fore the end of this month it is almost GER
tain that six or seven of the States will have
| left this union 1t is now no more question of
| preserving the old Union; we cannot recall the
past restore the dead but the hope and trust of
all those who desire Union, is, that we may be
able to reconstruct new government and new
| Union which may, perhaps, be more permanent
than the old. | know, sir, there are difficulties in
| the way, but | put my trust in that good sense
which has heretofore characterized the American
| people. If we would do anything, sir, for good
| we must not sit idly discussing public affairs but
in the heroic spirit of the mariner who is cast ayay
upon distant shore, seek for materials with which
to build another ship that we may once more take
J the sea and rejoin our kindred and our friends
But to-day We must face and acknowledge the
events Of the day. To-day we must deal wisely
! with the mighty present, that we may be ready
for a still more eventful future, which may be
| forces, have entered into our system, and
are demanding an enlargement of power
or are threatening to rend and destroy the sys-
tem There are portions of this government now
| where the population is beginning to press upon
the means of subsistence. In all States there is a
desire, and in there is a necessity for further
extension. 1t is this which has led to the warfare
between two social systems, which have been
brought together in one system in our government.
| which has been Taged with a bitterness and asper-
| ity hitherto unknown. This Constitution was de-
| signed to unite two social systems upon terms of
equality and fairness different in their character
but not necessarily opposite. Indeed the very
differences of these systems ought to have form
ed q mutual union and attraction. instead of
giving rise to an irrepressibe conflict. What one
| wanted the other could supply and thus thew
! would seem to have afforded the material for a
perfect system of industry, which ought to have
been stronger for mutual dependence and assist
ance. unfortunately as those who represented the
non-Slav vehoiding States increased in hbers they
| commenced warfare upon the other system which
had been introduced under the constitutiou.-It
| was commenced in 1920, when it was said the
whole system of the South was founded in sin,
| ought to be repressed and suppressed bv
| the federal government in all places where it
| has Jurisdicton; the demand was made And
so far as the Territories are concerned. tbev
should be gwen Tor the exclusive expansion of one
OF these systems at the expense of the other I'm.
happily IN that contest, the weaker system went to
the wall, for law was passed which did put it up-
| der the law OF empire, and which excluded the
South from large portion OF the fertile domain of
the United States. Now sprung up party which
commenced regular warfare upon the system of
the South; upon the social system of the States
which tolerated the institution of slavery. They
commenced system of agitation through the
press, the pulpit and the halls of legislation whose
OBJECT 1t was to wound the selfrespect of the slave
holder, and to make him odious in the eyes
OF the world. They denied that there could
| P.operV IN slaves, ana consequently
! maintained that this government was
bound to prevent its expansion and to abolish or
suppress it wherever it had jurisdiction. They
sought to put end to the slave trade between the
States and in the process of time they either evaded
or denied the constitutional obligation to return
| fugitive slaves. And at least it was proclaimed
nere In these halls that there law higher than
the constitution, which nullifed its provsions and
practclng upon this preaching a majority of the
Northern States passed liberty bills the practical
enect OF which to nulify the fugitive slave law


which was passed in pursuance ofthe constitution OF
the United States. 1t is but two years since there
was an armed invasion ofmy State, for the purpose
OF exciting servile Instruction yet not State