"Whereas, The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land, and its ready and faithful obedience a duty of all good and law-abiding citizens. Therefore, | for a State to withdraw from the Union. Re- Mr. Crawford (Dem.) of Georgia, offered a motion declaring that the Constitution recog"Resolved, That we deprecate the spirit of disobe- nizes property in slaves; that Congress as dience to the Constitution wherever manifested, and passed laws to aid slave-holders in recapturthat we earnestly recommend the repeal of all Nul-ing their slaves whenever they escape and lification laws; and that it is the duty of the Presi- make their way into the Free States; that dent to protect and defend the property of the United the Supreme Court has decided that negroes States." are not included either in the Declaration of Independence or in the Constitution except as slaves; that they cannot become citizens; and we, the members of the House of Representatives, will sustain and support the construction of the Constitution, the laws, and the said decision of the Supreme Court. This resolution was tabled Tuesday. This forced a direct issue upon all. It passed by a vote of 124-the Southern members quite generally refusing to vote. Nays, none. Mr. Morris, (Dem.,) of Illinois, then brought forward, for the third time, his Union resolution, as follows: Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we properly estimate the immense value of our National Union to our collective and individual happiness; that we cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; that we will speak of it as of the palladium of our political safety and prosperity; that we will watch its preservation with jealous In the Senate, Tuesday (Dec. 18) the procedings took an additional interest by the introduction of schemes of compromise by Messrs. Lane, (Dem.) of Oregon, and Crittenden, (American) of Kentucky. The first-named declared the Government to be unfitted for the exigencies of the times and proposed Commissioners to suggest remedies, &c. This silly and impracticable scheme was, on motion of Mr. Douglas, very properly "laid over." Mr. Crittenden's series was as follows: "Whereas, Alarming differences have arisen between the Northern and Southern States, as to the and it is eminently desirable and proper that the dis- anxiety; that we will discountenance whatever may suggest, even a suspicion that it can, in any event, be abandoned, and indignantly frown upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts; that we regard it as a main pillar in the edifice of our real independence, the support of tran-rights of the common Territory of the United States, quillity at home, our peace abroad, our safety, our prosperity, and that very liberty which we so highly prize; that we have seen nothing in the past, nor do we see anything in the present, either in the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States, or from any other existing cause, to justify its dissolution; that we regard its perpetuity as of more value than the temporary triumph of any party or any man; that whatever evils or abuses exist under it ought to be corrected within the Union, in a peaceful and constitutional way; that we believe it has sufficient power to redress every wrong and en-quired, north of lat. 36 deg. 30 min., Slavery, or inforce every right growing out of its organization or pertaining to its proper functions; and that it is a patriotic duty to stand by it as our hope in peace and our defense in war." 46 Resolved, That by the Senate and House of Rep. resentatives, the following article be proposed and submitted, as an amendment to the Constitution, which shall be valid as part of the Constitution, when ratified by the Convention of three-fourths of the people of the States: First. In all the Territories now or hereafter ac voluntary servitude, except for the punishment for crime, is prohibited; while, in all the Territory South of that latitude, Slavery is hereby recognized as existing, and shall not be interfered with by Congress, but shall be protected, as property, by all departments of the Territorial Government, during its continuance. All the Territory north or south of said line, within such boundaries as Congress may Mr. Sickles, (Dem.,) of New York, intro- prescribe, when it contains a population necessary duced a resolution proposing, as an amend- for a Member of Congress, with a republican form of ment to the Constitution, an article arranging | government, shall be admitted into the Union, on an This was passed by 115 to 44--several Northern Democrats, including Messrs. Sickles and Florence, voting nay. :1 1 called for the use of force in sustaining the laws. He said: The duties now are the same as in 1793 and 1832; Second. Congress shall have no power to abolish the consequences belong to God. He intended to Slavery in the States permitting Slavery. Third. Congress shall have no power to abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia while it exists in Virginia and Maryland, or either; nor shall Congress, at any time, prohibit the officers of the Government or Members of Congress, whose duties require them to live in the District of Columbia, from bringing slaves there, and holding them as such. Fourth. Congress shall have no power to hinder the transportation of slaves from one State to another, whether by land, navigable rivers, or sea. Fifth. Congress shall have power, by law, to pay an owner who shall apply the full value for a fugitive slave, in all cases when the Marshal is prevented from discharging his duty by force or rescue, made after arrest. In all such cases the owner shall have power to sue the county in which the violence or rescue was made, and the county shall have the right to sue the individuals who committed the wrong, in the same manner as the owner could sue. Sixth. No further amendment or amendments shall affect the preceding articles, and Congress shall never have power to interfere with Slavery in the States where it is now permitted. The last resolution declared that the Southern States have a right to the faithful execution of the law for the recovery of slaves; and such laws ought not to be repealed or modified so as to impair their efficiency. All laws in conflict with the Fugitive Slave law it shall not be deemed improper for Congress to ask the repeal of. The Fugitive Slave Law ought to be so altered as to make the fee of the Commissioner equal, whether he decides for or against the claimant ; and the clause authorizing the person holding the warrant to summon a posse comiLotus to be so as to restrict it to cases where violence or rescue is attempted. The laws for the suppression of the African slave trade ought to be effectually executed. Mr. Powell's resolution for a Committee of Thirteen on the Crisis was adopted the Speaker to name the members-and Mr. Crittenden's resolutions were referred to it. Wednesday (Dec. 19) ExAndrew Johnson's Gov. Andrew Johnson, of Speech. Tennessee, had the floor of the Senate, when the resolutions offered by him proposing amendments to the Constitution were taken up. He took emphatic grounds against the right of secession, and discharge his duty, whatever the consequences may be. Have we not the power to enforce the laws in the State of South Carolina, as well as in the State of Vermont or any other State? And, notwithstanding they may resolve and declare themselves absolved from all allegiance to this Union, yet it does not save them from the compact. If South Carolina drives out the Federal Courts from the State, then the Federal Government has a right to re-establish the Courts. If she excludes the mails, the Federal Government has a right and the authority to carry the mails. If she resists the collection of revenue in the port of Charleston, or any other ports, then the Government has a right to enter and enforce the law. If she undertakes to take possession of the property of the Government, the Government has a right to take all means to retain that property. And if they make any effort to dispossess the Government, or to resist the execution of the Judicial system, then South Carolina puts herself in the wrong, and it is the duty of the Government to see the judiciary faithfully executed. Yes, Sir, faithfully executed. In December, 1805, South Carolina made a deed of cession of the land on which these forts stand-a full and free ces sion-with certain conditions, and has had possession of these forts till this day. And now has South Carolina any right to attempt to drive the Government from that property? If she secedes, and makes any attempt of this kind, does she not come within the meaning of the Constitution, where it speaks of levying war? And in levying war, she does what the Constitution declares to be treason. We may as well talk of things as they are, for if anything can be treason, within the scope of the Constitution, is not levying war upon the Government, treason? Is not attempting to take the property of the Government and expel the Government soldiers therefrom, treason? Is not attempting to resist the collection of the revenue, attempting to exclude the mails, and driving the Federal Court from her borders, treason? What is it? I ask, in the name of the Constitution, what is it? It is treason, and nothing but treason." heart of the country, to obstruct its commerce, | altar of our common country, to lay the Con to excite war on its borders, and to endanger its stability. Has South Carolina any right to draw her sister States into one common ruin? Mr. Johnson here quoted from Gov. Gist's Message and from Mr. Keitt's speeches to show that such was the intention. He (Johnson) would tell South Carolina that, as far as Tennessee was concerned, she would not be dragged into a Southern or any other Confederacy until she had time to consider about it! He would also tell the Northern States that Tennessee would not be driven out of the Confederacy either. If the Abolitionists wanted to abolish Slavery, the first step they would take would be to dissolve the Union. The existence of Slavery demands a preservation of the Union. What protection will the Border States have if the Union is dissolved, whose property is at stake, and whose interests are most endangered? If a division were commenced, where would it stop? Rather than see the Government divided into thirtythree petty, wrangling powers, he would see it a consolidated Government and consolidated power. What is the reason for disunion? Because our man was not elected! If Mr. Breckenridge had been elected, not one would have wanted to break up the Union; but Mr. Lincoln is elected, and now they say they will break up the Union. He said, No. What was there to fear? Mr. Lincoln was a minority President. Let South Carolina send her Senators back, and Mr. Lincoln cannot even make a Cabinet without the consent of the Senate. Was he to be such a coward as to retreat when it was evident the South had the power in their own hands? Was he to be so cowardly as to desert a noble band at the North who stood by the South on principle? Yet, for a temporary defeat it is proposed to turn our backs on them and leave them to their fate. We have nothing to do but to stand firmly at our posts like men, and in four years' time Lincoln and his party will both be hurled from power. What reason, then, is there for desertion and the breaking up of the Government? He believed that we could obtain all needed guarantees. He entreated every patriot to come forward in the spirit of brotherly love, to stand around the stitution upon it, and to swear that the Constitution shall be maintained and the Union preserved. He thought it better to preserve the Union, even if we had a quarrel with the North sometimes. It was better to quarrel with the North occasionally than to quarrel among ourselves. Mr. Johnson here referred to the remark of the Senator from Georgia (Iverson) about some Texas Brutus arising to relieve that State of her Governor unless he should conform to the wishes of the people. This, he (Johnson) said, does not look much like harmony. He appealed to the South to pause and consider before they rashly go too far. He earnestly appealed to the North to come forward with propositions of peace, conciliation, and concession. They know that Congress has power to-day to arrest secession and save the Union. Will they come forward, or desert the sinking ship? For one he would stand supporting the edifice of his country as long as human efforts could last. Mr. Johnson closed with a strong, earnest, and eloquent appeal for all to stand by the Constitution and the Union, Settled System of Deception. This speech from a Southern man of great influence in his State materially strengthened the cause of the Union. It awakened the Union men of the Border Slave States to a full comprehension of the crisis and its relations to their interests; for, unlike all other Union speeches, it had a large circulation among the people of those States. [A part of the system of disunion tactics, from the early stages of the movement, was to keep the large body of the people ignorant of the true nature of the relations and sentiments of the North by suppressing except in garbled and perverted versions-all documents and statements calculated to enlighten the Southern people, in the fullest sense. Probably the world never has known so intelligent a people to be so hoodwinked and deceived by its orators and presses as the people of the Southern States during the year 1860. A Northern man, cognisant of all sides of the argument, and knowing all the given facts of parties, principles and men, in reading a paper published anywhere South of Kentucky would be GOVERNOR PICKENS' INAUGURAL. Resolution of 93 amazed at its apparent ignorance. It was but (Republican), of Massachuapparent, however; for, with free access to all setts, read a resolution, “for correct sources of information, Southern edi-information," as follows: tors could have produced as correct journals as their readers had a right to demand. That they, daily and weekly, issued papers, every column of which was loaded with misstatements, and with matter calculated to in-sation, and subsequently in a written communication fluence the passions and prejudices of Southern men against the North, against the Union, against individuals and enterprises, is to their lasting dishonor; and the future historian will refer to them as exemplars of a policy from which Machiavelli could have drawn rich materials with which to instruct his Prince. Constant familiarity with Southern journals for several years past has forced us to believe that the press of the South is more directly responsible for the revolution than the leading actors in it. This view is confirmed by the opinions of many eminent and candid Southern men.] "Whereas, by report of the proceedings in the State Convention of South Carolina, held on the 19th inst., the Hon. Wm. Porcher Miles, a Member of this House, used the following language: In a conver to the President, I know this to have been said: 'If you send a solitary soldier to these forts, the instant the intelligence reaches our people, and we shall take care that it does reach us before it can reach the forts, the forts will be taken, because such a course is necessary to our safety and self-preservation; therefore, The Committee of "Resolved, That the President be required to communicate to the House what information he has received, either oral or in writing, to the effect that if the forts of Charleston are further reinforced, the forts will be taken by any force or authority hostile to the authority and supremacy of the United States." The reading of this resolution and preamMr. Breckenridge, Speak-ble caused much excitement on the Southern Taken in connection er of the Senate, on the side of the House. 20th, announced the Com- with Mr. Clarke's Resolution of Inquiry in mittee of Thirteen, on the Crisis, under Mr. the Senate, it foreshadowed a purpose to Powell's resolution, viz. :-Messrs. Powell, compel the President to reveal all his dealHunter, Crittenden, Seward, Toombs, Doug-ings with the conspirators against the Union las, Collamer, Davis, Wade, Bigler, Rice, -a revelation which Southern Members, and Doolittle and Grimes. Mr. Davis (Reuben), a few Northern Democrats strenuously opposed. of Mississippi, was, at his own request, excused, "on account of the position in which the State stood." He afterwards, however, consented, at the request of Southern Senators, to serve. No further proceedings of interest to our subject transpired in either Houses during the week, the Pacific Railroad Bill, the Deficiency Bill, &c., &c., being under considera In the House, December 20th, Mr. Delano | tion. Assembling of the THE South Carolina Con- | ordinance proper to be vention of Delegates assembled in Columbia, December 17th. After four ballots for Presi adopted by the Conven- The Ordinance of Secession. dent, General D. F. Jamison was chosen to" AN ORDINANCE to dissolve the Union between the preside over its deliberations. The smallpox raging as an epidemic at Columbia, induced the Convention to adjourn to Charleston. The Convention's State of South Carolina and other States united with her under the Compact entitled the Constitution of the United States of America.' 66 We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, that the ordinance adopted by us in Convention, on the 23d day of May, in the year of our Lord 1788, whereby the Constitu. tion of the United States of America was ratified, and also all Acts and parts of Acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying the amendments of the said Constitution, are hereby repealed, and that the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States under the name of the United States of America is hereby dissolved." Dec. 19th, the Convention assembled in Charleston, and held a session, on that This was passed by the unanimous vote of day, chiefly to organize, name committees, 169, at quarter past one o'clock, P.M., (Deand prepare for business. As preliminary to cember 20th.) The fact of its adoption, was ima full understanding of the responsibilities mediately given to the great crowd gathered and changes to be incurred by secession, mem- in front of the building, created the wildbers had a free interchange of sentiments-est enthusiasm, while the news flew over Chancellor Dunken and Judge Magrath mak- the wires to the uttermost corners of the ing speeches. Several important resolutions, Union, to excite and interest the public. looking to a Conference of States to form a An interesting debate new Government, to a Commission of adjust-followed, in the Convenment to the President, &c., &c., were referred to the proper Committees. Interesting Debate. tion, upon the adoption. On the 20th, a Committee was named to draft a Summary of Causes of the secession of South Carolina. Mr. Rhett's resolution to appoint a Committee of Thirteen for the pur-marks; pose of providing for the assemblage of a Convention of the Seceding States, and to form a constitution, was adopted. A report from the Committee to prepare and draft an Mr Magrath--I think the special matter of the ordinance should be immediately considered. To my understanding there is no collector of the port nor postmaster now |