YEAS-Messrs. Adams of Kentucky, Adrain, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, Anderson of Kentucky, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Carter, Case, Colfax, Conkling, Covode, Cox, Davis of Indiana, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, English, Etheridge, Farnsworth, Fenton, Foster, Frank, French, Gooch, Graham, Grow, Hale, Hall, Harris of Md., Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, Holman, Howard of Ohio, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Kellogg of Mich., Ken yon, Kilgore, Killinger, Leach of Mich., Lee, Logan, Longneck er, Loomis, Lovejoy, Martin of Ohio, McClernand, McKean, McKenty, McKnight, McPherson, Montgomery, Moorhead, Morris of Pa., Morris of Illinois, Niblack, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Perry, Pettit, Porter, Potter, Pottle, E. R. Reynolds, J. H. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Robinson of 111., Royce, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stewart of Pa., Stokes, Tappan, Thayer, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandever, Verree, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Washburne of III., Washburn of Maine, Wells, Wilson, Wood-115. NAYS-Messrs. Anderson of Missouri, Avery, Barksdale, Bouligny, Branch, Burnett, Clark of Missouri, Clopton, Cobb, Crawford, Curry, De Jarnette, Edmundson, Florence, Garnett, Gartrell, Hardeman, Hill, Hindman, Hughes, Jackson, Jenkins, Jones, Landrum, Leach of N. C., Leake, Martin of Virginia, Moore of Alabama, Noell, Pryor, Quarles, Reagan, Ruffin, Scott, Sickles, Singleton, Smith of Va., Stall Stewart, Tappan, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vanweerbereide waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Israel Washburn, Wells, Wilson, Wood-88. NAYS-Messrs. Green Adams, Adrain, Thomas L. Anderson, Ashley, Barksdale, Barrett, Bocock, Boteler, Boyce, Briggs, Brown, Burnett, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, Clemens, Clopton, Cobb, John Cochrane, Cox, James Craig, Burton Craige, Crawford, Curry, John G. Davis, De Jarnette, Edmundson, English, Florence, Fouke, Gartrell, Gilmer, Hardeman, J. Morrison Harris, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hill, Hindman, Holman, Hughes, Jackson, Jones, Kunkel, Land rum, Larrabee, Jas. Leach, Leake, Logan, Maclay, Mallory, Elbert S. Martin, McClernand, McKenty, Montgomery, Laban T. Moore, Sydenham Moore, Isaac N. Morris, Niblack, Noell, Pendleton, Peyton, Pryor, Pugh, Quarles, Reagan, Riggs, Scott, Sickles, Simms, Singleton, Wm. Smith, Wm. N. H. Smith, Stallworth, Stevenson, James A. Stewart, Stokes, Thomas, Underwood, Vance, Webster, Woodson, Wright-81. APPROVAL OF MAJOR ANDERSON'S COURSE. In the House of Representatives, January 7th, 1861, this resolution was offered by Mr. ADRAIN, of New Jersey, and adoptedyeas 125, nays 56. "Resolved, That we fully approve the bold and patriotic act of Major Anderson in withdrawing from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, and of the determination of the President to maintain that fearless officer in his present position; and that we will support the President in all constitutional measures to enforce the laws and preserve the Union." VOTE. worth, Stevenson, Thomas, Underwood, Vance, Webster, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, W. C. Anderson, Ashley, Rabbitt, Beale, Wright-44. THE CONSTITUTION AND SLAVERY. Mr. CRAWFORD, of Georgia, offered the fol lowing: "Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States recognizes property in slaves. That the Congress of the United States has passed laws to aid slaveholders in recapturing their slaves whenever they escape and make their way into the free States. That the Supreme Court of the United States have decided that negroes were not included either in the Declaration of Independence or in the Constitution of the United States except as slaves; and that they cannot become citizens of the United States. And we, the members of this House, hereby sustain and will support this construction of the Constitution, the laws, and said decisions of the Supreme Court." Dec. 18th. Mr. SHERMAN moved to lay the resolution on the table, which was rejected -yeas 89, nays 92. Subsequently a motion was made to reconsider this vote, and the House refusing-yeas 87, nays 91-to lay the motion to reconsider on the table, the motion of Mr. Sherman to lay the resolution on the table was agreed to-yeas 88, nays 81, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Aldrich, Allen, Alley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Buffinton, Burlingame, Butterfield, Carey, Carter, Case, Colfax, Conkling, Covode, Curtis, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Farnsworth, Fenton, Foster, Frank, Gooch, Graham, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Killinger, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, McK van, McKnight, McPherson, Millward, Moorhead, Edward Joy Morris, Morse, Perry, Pettit, Porter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, John H. Reynolds, Rice, Royce, Sedgwick, Sherman, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, William YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Adrain, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Campbell, Carey, Carter, Clemens, Coburn, J. Cochrane, Colfax, Corwin, Covode, Coz, Curtis, H. W. Davis, J. G. Daris, Dawes, Delano, Dimmick, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Etheridge, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Foster, Fouke, Frank, French, Gooch, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Haskin, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, Holman, William Horead, William A. Howard, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, William Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Larrabee, De Witt C. Leach, Logan, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Maclay, Marston, Charles D. Martin, McClernand, McKean, Mc Kenty, McKnight, McPherson, Millward, Montgomery, Moorhead, Morrill, Edward Joy Morris, Morse, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Perry, Pettit, Porter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Christopher Robinson, James C. Robinson, Royce, Sedgwick, Sherman, Sickles, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stevens, William Stewart, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandever, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood-125. NAYS-Messrs. Thomas L. Anderson, Avery, Barksdale, Barrett, Bocock, Bouligny, Branch, Brown, Burch, Burnett, B. Clark, Clopton, Cobb, James Craig, Crawford, De Jarnette, Florence, Garnett, Gartrell, Gilmer, Hamilton, Hardeman, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hawkins, Hill, Hindman, Houston, Hughes, Jones, Kunkel, Landrum, James M. Leach, Love, Mallory, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, McRae, Laban T. Moore, Sydenham Moore, Peyton, Phelps, Pryor, Quaries, Reagan, Rust. Scott, Simms, Singleton, William N. H. Smith, Stevenson, Stokes, Vallandigham, Vance, Webster, Wright -56. Resolved, That any attempt to preserve the Union between the States of this Confederacy by force would be impracticable and destructive to republican liberty. Mr. STANTON moved to lay this upon the table, which was agreed to-yeas 98, nays 55, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Adams of Mass., Adams of Ky., Adrain, Aldrich, Allen, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Burnham, Campbell, Carey, Case, Clemens, Colfax, Conkling, Cor, Davis of Ind., Dawes, Duell, Edgerton, Eliot, Ely, Etheridge, Farnsworth, Fenton, Foster, Fouke, French, Gooch, Grow, Hale, Harris of Md., Hatton, Helmick, Hill, Holman, Howard of Ohio, NATS-Messrs. Alley, Anderson of Mo., Ashley, Avery, Curtis, De Jarnette, Dunn, Edmundson, Florence, Garnett, NON-INTERFERENCE WITH SLAVERY IN THE Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Case, Coburn, Colfax, Conkling, Covode, Curtis, H. Winter Davis, John G. Davis, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Edgerton, Eliot, Etheridge, Fenton, Foster, Frank, French, Gilmer, Gooch, Grow, Gurley, Hale, J. Morrison Harris, Holmick, Hoard, Holman, William Howard, William A. Howard, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, William Kellogg, Kenyon, Killinger, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Mallory, Marston, Charles D. Martin, McClernand, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Montgomery, Laban T. Moore, Moorhead, Morrill, Edward Joy Morris, Isaac N. Morris, Morse, Nelson, Niblack, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Perry, Potter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, John II. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Christopher Robinson, Royce, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stovens, Wm. Stewart, Stokes, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandover, Van Wyck, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Webster, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodruff-119. NAYS-Messrs. Avery, Bocock, Boteler, Branch, Brown, Burnett, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, James Craig, Burton Craige, De Jarnette, Edmundson, Florence, Fouke, Garnett, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hindman, Hughes, Kunkel, James M. Leach, Leake, Logan, Maclay, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, McKenty, Millson, Pendleton, Peyton, Pryor, February 11th, 1861. Mr. SHERMAN of Quarles, James C. Robinson, Scott, Simms, William N. H. Ohio, offered the following: Resolved, That neither the Congress of the United States, nor the people or governments of the non-slaveholding States have the constitutional right to legislate upon or interfere with slavery in any of the slaveholding States in the Union. Which were agreed to-yeas 162, nays none. Smith, Stevenson, Thomas, Vance, Whiteley, Winslow, The bill was debated in the Senate, recommitted, re-reported, but objected to by Mr. Mason, Mr. Green, and others, and not finally disposed of. BILL TO SUPPRESS INSURRECTION. February 18th. Mr. STANTON of Ohio, re. ported from the Committee on Military affairs a bill enacting: That the provisions of an act approved the YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Aldrich, Allen, Thomas L. Anderson, William C. Anderson, Avery, Babbitt, Carr, Barrett, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Bocock, Boteler, Brabson, Brayton, Briggs, Bristow, Brown, Euffinton, Burch, Burlingame, Burnett, Butterfield, Campbell, | 28th day of February, in the year 1795, entitled Carey, Carter, Case, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, Coburn, "An act to provide for calling forth the John Cochrane, Colfax, Conkling, Corwin, Covode, Coz, Jas. Craig, Curtis, Dawes, Delano, Dimmick, Duell, Dunn, Ed- militia to execute the laws of the Union, mundson, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, English, Etheridge, Farns- suppress insurrections, and repel invasions, worth, Ferry, Florence, Foster, Frank, French, Garnett, and to repeal the act now in force for those purposes," and of the act approved the 3d day of March, in the year 1807, entitled "An act authorizing the employment of the land and naval forces of the United States in cases of insurrections," are hereby extended to the case of insurrections against the authority of the United States. Gilmer, Gooch, Graham, Grow, Gurley, Hall, Hamilton, J. rancker, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwala der C. Washburn, Elihu B. Washburne, Webster, Wells, Whiteley, Wilson, Windom, Winslow, Woodson-162. NAYS-None. BILL TO RE-ORGANIZE THE MILITIA OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. January 28th, 1860. Mr. STANTON Of Ohio, reported from the Military Committee a bill providing that every officer, non-commissioned officer, musician, and private of the militia of the District of Columbia, shall take and subscribe to the oath required by the eighteenth section of the act approved January 11, 1812, the name of any person refusing to be stricken from the roll, or if an officer his commission to be forfeited. The rules were suspended-yeas 116, nays 41. to permit its introduction, and it was finally passed-yeas 120, nays 42, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Alley, William C. Anderson, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Bristow, Ruffinton, the services of such volunteers as may offer their services, as cavalry, infantry, or artillery, organized in companies of the maximum standard, squadrons and regiments, respectively, according to the mode prescribed for the organization of the respective arms in the military establishment of the United States; and it shall be lawful for the President to commission the officers of such companies, battalions, squadrons, and regiments, in their respective grades, to continue till discharged from the service of the United States; and such volunteers, while in the service of the United States, shall be subject to the rules and articles of war, and shall be entitled to same pay and emoluments as officers and soldiers of the same grade in the regular service. A motion to reject the bill was negatived -yeas 68, nays 109, as follows: DUTIES ON IMPORTS. YEAS-Messrs. Thomas L. Anderson, William C. Ander- | BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF John T. Harris, Hatton, Hindman, William Howard, Hughes, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, Leake, Logan, Maclay, Mallory, Maynard, McKenty, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Isaac N. Morris, Nelson, Niblack, Noell, Peyton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, James C. Robinson, Ruffin, Rust, Scott, Sickles, William N. IH. Smith, Stokes, Stout, Thomas, Vallandigham, Vance, Webster, Winslow, Wood son, Wright-68. NAYS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, Ashley, Babbitt, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Carter, Case, Colfax, Conkling, Conway, Corwin, Covode, II. Winter Davis, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Farnsworth, Fenton, Frank, French, Graham, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, William A. Howard, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, William Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Killinger, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Marston, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Montgomery, Moorhead, Morrill, Morse, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Perry, Pettit, Porter, Potter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, John II. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Christopher Robinson, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spauld ing, Spinner, Stevens, William Stewart, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandever, Van Wyck, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodruff-109. 19th. A motion to lay it on the table was January 3d, 1860. Mr. BINGHAM of Ohio, reported from the Committee on the Judi ciary a bill providing That whenever by reason of unlawful obstructions, combinations or assemblages of persons, it shall become impracticable, in the judgment of the President, to execute the revenue laws and collect the duties on imports in the ordinary way in any collection district, it shall be lawful for the President to direct that the custom-house for such district be established and kept in any secure place within some port or harbor of such district, either upon land or on board any vessel; and that, in that case, it shall be the duty of the collector to reside at such place, and there to detain all vessels and cargoes arriving within the district until the duties imposed on the cargoes by law are paid in cash, any thing in the laws of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding; and that, in such cases, it shall be unlawful to take the vessel or cargo from the cus negatived-yeas 68, nays 105. The yeas tody of the proper officer of the customs un YEAS-Messrs. Adrain, Allen, Thomas L. Anderson, Wm. C. Anderson, Avery, Barr, Bocock, Boteler, Bouligny, Brabson, Branch, Bristow, Burch, Burnett, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, John Cochrane, Cox, James Craig, Burton Craige, John G. Davis, De Jarnette, Edmundson, English, Etheridge, Florence, Fouke, Garnett, Gilmer, Hamilton, J. Morrison Harris, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hindman, Wm. Howard, Hughes, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, Leake, Maclay, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, Me Kenty, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Nelson, Niblack, Noell, Peyton, Pryor, Quarles, Riggs, James C. Robinson, Ruffin, Rust, Scott, Simms, Stokes, Stout, Thomas, Vallandigham, Vance, Winslow, Woodson, Wright-68. 26th. On motion of Mr. CORWIN of Ohio, the bill was postponed till the 28th, to take up the report of the Committee of Thirtythree, which was agreed to-yeas 100, nays 74, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Green Adams, Adrain, Thos. L. Anderson, Bouligny, Brabson, Branch, Briggs, Bristow, Brown, Burch, Wm. C. Anderson, Avery, Barr, Barrett, Bocock, Boteler, Burnett, Campbell, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, John Cochrane, Corwin, Cox, Jas. Craig, Burton Craige, H. Winter Davis, John G. Davis, De Jarnette, Edmundson, Etheridge, Florence, Fouke, Garnett, Gilmer, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, J. Morrison Harris, Jno. T. Harris, Hatton, Holman, Wm. Howard, Hughes, Jenkins, Junkin, W. Kellogg, Kilgore, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, Leake, Logan, Maclay, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, McClernand, McKenty, McKnight, McPherson, Millson, Millward. Montgomery, Laban T. Moore, Moorhead, Edward Joy Morris, Isaac N. Morris, Nelson, Niblack, Nixon, Noell, Peyton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, John II. Reynolds, Riggs, James C. Robinson, Rufin, Scranton, Sickles, Simms. William N. H. Smith, Stevenson, James A. Stewart, Wm. Stewart, Stokes, Stout, Stratton, Thayer, Thomas, Vallandigham, Vance, Verree, Webster, Winslow, Wood, Woodson, Wright-100. NATS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Alley, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Buffinton, Burlingame, Burnham, Butterfield, Carey, Carter, Case, Coburn, Colfax, Conkling, Curtis, Delano, Duell, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Gooch, Grow, Gurley, Haskin, Hickman, Hoard, William A. Howard, Hutchins, Francis W. Kellogg, Kenyon, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Marston, Morrill, Morse, Olin, Palmer, Porter, Potter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, Christopher Robinson, Royce, Sedgwick, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stevens, Tappan, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Woodruff -74. The bill was not again reached. less by process from some court of the United States; and that, in case of any attempt otherwise to take such vessel or cargo by any force, or combination, or assemblage of persons, too great to be overcome by the officers of the customs, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States or such person or persons as he shall have empowered for that purpose, to employ such part of the land or naval forces, or militia of the United States, as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of preventing the removal of such vessel or cargo, and protecting the officers of the customs in retaining the custody thereof. March 2d. On a motion to take up the bill, by a suspension of the rules, the yeas were 103, the nays 62, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Alley, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Butterfield, Carey, Carter, Coburn, Colfax, Conkling, Conway, Covode, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Eliot, Ely, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Foster, Frank, French, Gooch, Graham, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Haskin, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, Holman, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, William Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Killinger, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Marston, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Millward, Edward Joy Morris, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Pettit, Porter, Potter, Pottle, Rice, Christopher Robinson, Royce, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stevens, William Stewart, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandever, Van Wyck, Verree, Wade, Waldron. Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodruff-103. NAYS-Messrs. William C. Anderson, Barr, Barrett, Brabson, Branch, Bristow, Brown, Burch, Burnett, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, Clemens, John Cochrane, Corwin, Cor, James Craig, John G. Davis, De Jarnette, Edmundson, Etheridge, Florence, Fouke, Garnett, Gilmer, Hamilton, J. Morrison Harris, John T. Harris, Hatton, William Howard, Hughes, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, Leake, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, McKenty, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Nelson, Niblack, Pendleton, Pey ton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, Riggs, James C. Robinson, Simms, William N. H. Smith, James A. Stewart, Stokes, Thomas, Vallandigham, Vance, Webster, Whiteley, Winslow, Woodson, Wright-62. Two-thirds not having voted in the affirm- | which it must perform. It holds valuable ative, the bill was not taken up, nor was it property in every part of the territory over again reached. which its jurisdiction has been, by the solemn mandate of the people of all the States, ex January 30th, 1861. Mr. JOHN COCHRANE from the Select Committee on the Presi-tended; and it holds every article of this dent's message reported a bill for the "Collection of Duties on Imports," which was ordered to be printed and re-committed to the committee. It was not again heard from. His views of the subject were expressed as follows: While fully concurring with the President in the opinion that no State possesses, under and by virtue of the Federal Constitution, any right or authority to secede, or withdraw, or separate itself from the Federal Union, I am equally convinced that, not having been prohibited, the justification of the exercise of such right is referable to the na ture and extent of those rights reserved to the States or the people thereof. Therefore all the acts and ordinances of secession which have been or may be enacted by any State or States, acting separately, in my opinion, are, in as far as the same may be carried into effect, to be considered as revolutionary infractions of the supreme law of the land, however they may be regarded as the proper exercise of an indefeasible right of "resisting acts which are plainly unconstitutional and too oppressive to be endured." I also concur with the President that the Federal Constitution has abstained from conferring upon the Federal Government, or any department thereof, authority to declare and wage oppressive war against a seceding State, in order to coerce the repeal of any act or ordinance of secession which she may have passed, or the renunciation of any purpose of secession which she may entertain, or to compel her to remain nominally, as well as in fact, a member of the Federal Union. On the contrary, the plenary power of offensive war and reprisals, conferred by the Constitution upon Congress, is, in my judgment, designed exclusively to authorize property as the common trustee of all the people of all the States for their common use and benefit; and to them, and to all of them, it is directly responsible for the safe keeping and protection of such property. By constitutional legislation, supreme in its character and irrepealable except by the authority which created it, the Federal Government has established a system of revenue laws which it is bound to maintain, and against all obstructions to the execution of which it is equally bound adequately to provide. No extra constitutional action of any State can possibly release the Federal Government in any of its departments from this imperative obligation. It is to this aspect of the duty of Congress in the unfortunate and unexampled state of facts presented for its consideration by the President, in his late message, that the attention of the committee has been specially directed, and they report herewith a bill designed, as is believed, peaceably and in a spirit of moderation and forbearance fully to protect the entire revenue system of the United States from all the unconstitutional and unlawlul obstructions and disturbances with which it is now or may be hereafter threatened. In framing this measure there has been kept steadily in view, first, the obstacles of every character which oppose any attempt by the Federal Government to coerce a State; and, secondly, the principle upon which, as is conceived, the whole coercive action of our revenue system has, from its inception, been founded. The just and rightful coercion exercised under the Constitution by the Federal Government in the collection of its revenue from foreign commerce is a coercion, not directed against State authority, nor even against and empower such war by the Federal Gov-, unlawful action by assemblages of persons ernment, in its discretion, against such gov-within any State. That coercion on the ernments and communities as may be right- contrary, applies itself directly to the bulk fully considered foreign to the United States. and body of the foreign importations upon States which profess to have seceded from which the revenue is chargeable, and to the the Federal Union, by their separate State action, cannot, in my opinion, be rightfully so considered; and, therefore, a just conception of the constitutional authority of Congress combines with other and, if possible, higher and more commanding motives to prescribe other measures than aggressive and coercive war to remedy the grave inconveniences, perils, and evils of such secession. vessels and the agents by which they are brought into our ports, opened to such commerce only under the protection and by the regulation of the Federal law. The well-understood and just assumption upon which all this foreign commerce proceeds is, that the Federal Government provides for it ports of entry and delivery in which it may be entered and delivered, and in which the lawful duties chargeable upon it shall It is, on the other hand, entirely manifest be collected and paid to the Federal Governthat the Federal Government, throughout ment, whose laws have, for that very conthe whole extent of its constitutional juris-sideration, established and protected and diction, both territorial and maritime, is regulated such entry and delivery. The vested with powers which it cannot surren- failure to observe those regulations is, by der, and charged with trusts and duties our whole code of revenue law, visited in penalties upon the agents by whom the merchandise is transported, the vessels in which it is carried, and finally in the form of seizure and forfeiture upon the merchandise itself. All this is a coercion of law upon foreign commerce, and not a coercion of force upon any State to which it may be bound. No State can rightfully expect that the United States shall permit foreign commerce to be carried on in ports and places open to it only under their authority, without compliance with the constitutional conditions under which those ports or places have been thus opened. It is in this view that the bill proposes that vessels from a foreign port bound to a port within the scope of its provisions shall, with its foreign cargo, be liable to seizure and conderenation, and in the same view of applying its restrictions only to foreign commerce on which revenue is by law collected, all vessels lawfully engaged in the coastwise trade are exempted from the operation of its purely remedial and defensive provisions. REPORTS RELATIVE TO MILITARY AND NAVAL MATTERS. January 8th, 1861. The President sent a message relative to the condition of the country, urging upon Congress to devote itself exclusively to the question how the Union can be preserved in peace, and recommending the establishment of a line and "letting the North have exclusive control of the Territory above it, and giving Southern institutions protection below it." He transmits copies of the correspondence between himself and the "commissioners" of South Carolina, pledges himself to preserve the public peace in the District of Columbia, warns his countrymen of the dangers which now surround us, and says that he shall carry to his grave the consciousness that he at least meant well for his country. 9th. Mr. HOWARD of Michigan, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the message be referred to a special committee of five members of this House, and that they be instructed to report on the same as early as possible; and that said committee make immediate and report: inquiry, 1st. Whether any executive officer of the United States has been or is now treating or holding communication with any person or persons concerning the surrender of any forts, fortresses, or public property of the United States, and whether any demand for such surrender has been made, when and by whom, and what answer has been given. ! when, where, and with whom it was made, and on what consideration. 3d. What demand for reinforcements of the said forts has been made, and for what reason such reinforcements have not been furnished. 4th. Where the ships of the United States are now stationed, with what commands, and with what orders. 5th. Whether the custom-house, post-office, arsenal, and other public buildings of the United States at Charleston have been seized and are held in possession by any person or persons, and the particulars of such seizure and possession. 6th. Whether any revenue cutter of the United States has been seized and is now held in possession by any person or persons, and the particulars thereof; and whether any efforts have been made by the head of the Treasury Department to recapture or recover possession of said vessel. That the committee have power to send for persons and papers, to take testimony, and report from time to time, as facts material to the national safety and national honor may be disclosed by the evidence. Which was adopted-yeas 133, nays 62, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, William C. Anderson, Ashley, Bab bitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair Blake, Baston, Briggs Bri tow, Buffinton, Burch, Burlingame, Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Carter, Clemens, Coburn, John Cochrane, Colfax, Covode, Cor, Curtis, John G. Davis, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Etheridge, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Foster, Fouke, Frank, French, Gilmer, Gooch, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Haskin, Helnick, Hickman, Hoard, Holman, Wm. Howard, Wm. A. Howard, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, Wm. Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Larrabee, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Logan, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Maclay, Marston, McClernand, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Millward, Montgomery, Moorhead, Morrill, Edward Joy Morris, Morse, Nelson, Nixon, Nocll, Olin, Palmer, Perty, Pettit, Porter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, John H. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Christopher Robinson, James C. Robinson, Royce, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stevens, Wm. Stewart, Stokes, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Van dever, Wade, Waldron, Cadwalader Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Webster, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodruff-133. NAYS-Messrs. Thomas L. Anderson, Avery, Barksdale, Barrett, Bocock, Boteler, Bouligny, Branch, Brown, Burnett, John B. Clark, Clapton, Cobb, Crawford, De Jarnette, Dimmick, Edmundson, English, Florence, Garnett Gartrell, Hardeman, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hawkins, Hill, Houston, Hughes, Jones, Kunkel, Landrum, James M. Leach, Leake, Love, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, McKenty, Mc Rac, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Syden ham Moore, Niblack, Pendleton, Peyton, Phelps, Iryor, Quarles, Reagan, Rust, Sickles, Simms, Wm. Smith, Wm. N. H. Smith, Taylor, Vallandigham, Vance, Whiteley, Winslow, Woodson, Wright-62. January 10th. The Committee was announced, consisting of Messrs. HOWARD of Michigan, BRANCH of North Carolina, JOHN COCHRANE of New York, DAWES of Massachusetts, and HICKMAN Of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hickman was subsequently excused from serving, and Mr. JOHN H. REYNOLDS of New York, was substituted. SECRET ORGANIZATION TO ATTACK THE CAP 2d. Whether any officer of this Government has at any time entered into any pledge, agreement, or understanding, with any person or persons, not to send reinforcements to the forts of the United States in the harbor of Charleston, and the particulars of February 14th. The committee reported such agreement, pledge, or understanding; unanimously that "the evidence produced ITAL. |