The Buchanan County Guardian

Congress.

On the 23d, in the Senate, the Tariff bill was referred to a committee of five, with instructions to report back on Wednesday next. Mr. Bigler moved to take up the Crittenden resolutions, which was lost by 24 to 27. The Pacific Railroad bill was taken up, and an amendment adopted for a branch to Portland, Oregon. A large number of names were added as incorporators.

In the House the report of the Committee of Thirty-three was taken up, and Mr. Etheridge, of Tennessee, made a strong Union speech. He showed the madness and folly of subverting the government, and declared the revolution now threatening unjustifiable and unpardonable. He said the Personal Liberty Bills would soon be swept from the statute book. If they are constitutional, the South has no right to complain; if not, they are void. As to the fugitive slave law, Mr. Orr, of the kingdom of South Carolina, said it was as strong as anybody wished. The Northern people will always be opposed to slavery, but no one in the House claimed to be an abolitionist. No other party but the Republican denounced the John Brown raid in their platform. So long as the stars and stripes waved over Tennessee he never would submit to disunion. He continued at great length, and contended that the North had always submitted to the demands of the South, and referred to acts of Congress to support his statement. He said it was well known that wherever the disunion sentiment prevailed in the South, there was a reign of terror. He would return to Tennessee to resist disunion. The members from Georgia, excepting Mr. Hill, announced the secession of that State and their withdrawal from the House. Mr. Hill sent a communication to the speaker, stating that being satisfied that his State no longer desired to be represented, he resigned his seat.

Mr. Lovejoy argued that secession was a wild dogma—treason, rebellion, a crime against God and man. He would not conciliate with rebels who defy the government. He would never vote for a particle of compromise until the insult to the flag at Charleston was apologised for or avenged.

On the 24th, in considering the Post Route bill, the Senate's amendment was adopted, making the postage on letters to and from San Francisco, whether carried by water or overland, ten cents.

The House considered the Senate's amendments, as modified by Mr. Colfax, authorizing proposals to be received till the first Monday in April for the daily transportation of the entire overland mail service, to commence on the 1st of July, for four years. On the 26th, in the House, Mr. Grow, of Pennsylvania, offered a resolution that the Select Committee of five be instructed to inquire whether any secret organization, hostile to the government of the United States, whether any officer or employees of the City of Washington, or officers or employees of the Federal Government, in the Executive or Judicial Departments, are members thereof. After much filibustering on the part of Southern members, the resolution was adopted.

In the Senate, on the 20th, Mr. Douglas reported back from Committee on Judiciary. Mr. Iverson of Georgia bade farewell to the Senate.

In the House Mr. Rice presented the petition of 14,000 citizens of Boston of various political opinions, asking for a peaceful adjustment of our national difficulties. The committee to whom it was intrusted asked it to be presented to the House, which was accordingly done. The petition was enclosed in an American flag, and its presentation caused applause on the floor and in the galleries. The Boston committee were in the gallery during these proceedings. The petition was laid on the table in order to be printed. Mr. Vandever offered joint resolutions that no grounds exists for a dissolution, that it is inexpedient to amend the Constitution, and that a Government which cannot execute its own laws is not fit to be maintained. These were referred to the committee of five. The President sent in a special message, submitting a series of resolutions passed by the Virginia Legislature, and delivered to him by Ex-President Tyler. The resolutions favor a convention of delegates from the several States, to be held at Washington, Feb. 4th, and request the Federal and State governments to refrain from acts of hostility while the Convention is in session. The President favors the mediation of Virginia, but says it is his duty to enforce the laws, and he cannot enter into any such agreement as proposed.