Mr. DOUGLAS:--It can be printed in the mean time.
Mr. FESSENDEN:--We should have time to look at it.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--It is moved that the communication be printed and referred to a select committee, with instructions to report to-morrow morning.
Mr. BIGLER:--I would be glad to make a suggestion to the Senator from Kentucky, that he name in addition an hour to-morrow at which the consideration of the report shall be in order, or else a single objection will throw it over to the next day.
Mr. CRITTENDEN:--Well, to-morrow at twelve o"clock, I would say.
["One."] I move one o"clock.
Mr. BIGLER:--With instructions to the committee to report to-morrow morning, and that the report be the special order at one o"clock?
Mr. CRITTENDEN:--Yes, sir.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--Does the Senator indicate the number of the committee?
Mr. GREEN:--Seventeen.
Mr. DOUGLAS:--Five is enough.
Mr. CRITTENDEN:--A committee of five; no more.
Mr. COLLAMER:--I would suggest to gentlemen not only that it be made the order of the day for twelve o"clock to-morrow, but that it be adopted by three-fourths of the States the next day. [Laughter.]
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--It is moved and seconded that the communication be printed and referred to a select committee of five members, to report to-morrow at one o"clock.
Mr. HALE:--I ask for a division of the question.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--The first question will be on printing.
The motion to print was agreed to.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--The next question is that the communication be referred to a select committee of five, with instructions to report to-morrow at one o"clock.
Mr. HALE:--I ask for a division of that.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--How would it be divided?
Mr. HALE:--The motion to refer to a select committee is one proposition, and the instructions are another.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--That is the form in which the Senator wants it divided?
Mr. HALE:--Yes, sir.
Mr. BIGLER:--As the Chair states the proposition, it does not reach the object which the Senator from Kentucky had in view. The instructions should be that the committee report to-morrow morning, and that the report shall be the special order at one o"clock. Unless that is done, one objection will put it over.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--The Senator from New Hampshire asks for a division of the question, and it is susceptible of division. The first question is on referring the communication to a special committee of five.
The motion was agreed to.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--The next branch of the proposition is that that committee be instructed to report to-morrow morning, and that their report be made the special order for to-morrow at one o"clock.
Mr. HALE:--On that, I should like to have the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The VICE-PRESIDENT:--The question is upon directing the committee to report to-morrow morning, and that the report be made the special order for to-morrow at one o"clock.
The Secretary proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CLINGMAN:--Though I am utterly opposed to the proposition, I am willing to give it the direction its friends desire, and I vote "yea."
Mr. LATHAM:--I desire to change my vote. I have no confidence in this thing, and I fear it will be an unnecessary consumption of time; but I yield to the judgment of my political a.s.sociates and I vote "yea."
The result was announced--yeas 26, nays 21; as follows:
YEAS.--Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bayard, Bigler, Bragg, Bright, Clingman, Crittenden, Dixon, Douglas, Fitch, Foster, Gwin, Hunter, Johnson of Tennessee, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Mason, Nicholson, Pearce, Polk, Powell, Rice, Sebastian, and Thomson--26.
NAYS.--Messrs. Bingham, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenden, Foot, Green, Grimes, Hale, Harlan, King, Morrill, Seward, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, and Wilson--21.
So the motion was agreed to.
Mr. CRITTENDEN:--I move that the committee be appointed by the Chair.
The motion was agreed to; and Mr. CRITTENDEN, Mr. BIGLER, Mr. THOMSON, Mr. SEWARD, and Mr. TRUMBULL, were appointed the committee.
On the 28th of February the committee so appointed, presented to the Senate the following report, and the following action was taken thereon:
Mr. CRITTENDEN:--The select committee, to whom was referred the communication received yesterday from the Convention a.s.sembled in this place, commonly called the Peace Convention, with instructions to report by twelve o"clock to-day, have had the subject under consideration, and have directed me to make the following report--
Mr. HALE:--I object to its consideration to-day.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. FITCH in the chair):--Objection being made, it cannot be considered until one o"clock, but it will be read.
The Secretary read the joint resolution reported by Mr. CRITTENDEN (S.
No. 70), proposing certain amendments to the Const.i.tution of the United States, as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTION _proposing certain amendments to the Const.i.tution of the United States._
WHEREAS Commissioners, appointed on the invitation of the State of Virginia, by the following States, respectively: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Ma.s.sachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Kansas, have met in Convention at the City of Washington, for the purpose of considering the distracted and perilous condition of the country, and proposing measures for the preservation of the peace, the safety of the people, and the security of the Union, and having performed that duty, and communicated to Congress the result of their deliberations, with a request and recommendation on the part and in the name of said States, that the following be proposed to the several States as amendments to the Const.i.tution of the United States, according to the fifth article of said instrument, namely: [See article preceding.]
Mr. SEWARD:--Mr. President--
Mr. GWIN:--I think I am on the floor.
Mr. SEWARD:--I desire to speak a word from the committee touching the present report.
Mr. GWIN:--Certainly.